Gambling on a Scoundrel

by Sheridan Jeane

  Lady Clementina's first public exhibit of her work took place in 1863 in an annual event hosted by the Photographic Society of London, and then again in the following year. She won a silver medal both years. Sadly, she died of pneumonia in January of 1865 at the age 42, leaving behind ten children and a large body of work.

  To see many of her photographs, visit the website for the Victoria and Albert Museum.

  Another historical figure I used in my story was Wilkie Collins (8 January 1824 – 23 September 1889). He was a longtime friend to Charles Dickens and wrote a number of books. The serialized version of No Name was his second novel to be published with All the Year Round. His first to be serialized, The Woman in White, was pivotal in starting a new genre of "sensation novels" (a blend of Gothic horror and domestic realism) and is considered by many to be the first mystery novel. He also wrote more than sixty short stories and fourteen plays, some of which were performed by Mr. Dickens's acting company.

  Mr. Collins initially studied to become a lawyer, but after the death of his father he published his first book. He met Dickens in 1851, and following that, he became heavily involved in Dickens's world, performing in his acting company and publishing short stories in Dickens's magazine "Household Words." He also began writing essays, dramatic criticisms, and a travel book.

  In the late 1850s he began to suffer from "rheumatic gout," which we now call rheumatoid arthritis, and in January 1862 he finally resigned from the staff of All the Year Round so that he could spend some time in Bath for his health. In 1863 he traveled to spas in Germany and Italy. Over time, he became addicted to laudanum, and this is thought to have contributed to his death. His book "The Moonstone" was published in 1868, and Dorothy L Sayers described it as "probably the very finest detective story ever written."

  I inaccurately promoted the Village Hall in Porlock to a Town Hall, a building which I entirely invented for this story. Most of Porlock, however, is much as described, with the exception of "No Common Scents," a store which actually exists in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

  Sheridan Jeane is the pen name of Sheridan Edmondson (formerly Ferguson). She grew up in Huber Heights, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, and now lives in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.

  Sheridan has always been a reader and a writer, and her bachelor's degree was in Computer Science with a minor in English.

  She's thrilled to be able to share her stories with her readers.