At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Cincinnati mystery writer and Sherlock Holmes scholar Dan Andriacco will be at the Clark County Public Library to give a presentation called “What Every Writer Can Learn From Sherlock Holmes.”

Andriacco discovered Sherlock Holmes stories at about the age of nine. 

His ambition was to become a mystery writer. He eventually did, while holding down day jobs at The Cincinnati Post as a reporter and editor from 1973 to 1997 and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as communications director from 1997 to 2017.

From 1977 to 1982, he wrote a monthly mystery review column for The Post. He also taught non-credit classes in mystery fiction and mystery writing.

He has been a member of the Tankerville Club, a Cincinnati-based scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, since 1981. That connection is reflected in his book “Baker Street Beat: An Eclectic Collection of Sherlockian Scribblings.”

He is also a member of several other Sherlockian societies. 

Dan has published 15 mystery novels. His two most recent books are “House of the Doomed,” a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and “Queen City Corpse,” which features his own sleuthing duo, Jeff Cody and Sebastian McCabe.  He has written mystery articles and short stories that have appeared in Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Sherlock Holmes Journal, The Baker Street Journal and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. 

You can read about Dan and his books at his website, bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com.

Dan gives talks and readings at Sherlock Holmes conferences and book fairs all across the country. 

He will be joining Winchester resident Tim Janes’ Sherlock Holmes reading group at Brooks Place for a book discussion on Thursday and then will finish his day at the library.

Dan is a fine writer and an enthusiastic speaker. His library presentation will be perfect for both writers (especially mystery writers) and fans of Sherlock Holmes and mystery fiction. 

He will also have a limited number of his books for sale after his presentation. 

This program is free and open to the public. Please register to attend by calling the library at 744-5661, or use the Evanced online registration system on the library’s website, www.clarkbooks.org. 

If you have any questions, contact me at the library, ext. 110.

Deerstalkers and capes are encouraged but not required dress. 

From 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Library Director Julie Maruskin begins her popular annual gardening program series with “Heirloom Peppers from Seed to Plate.”

Julie will show you how to start even the finickiest pepper seeds from scratch at home, including best seed sources for hot and sweet varieties and recommendations for starting, fertilizing and saving seeds.

Everyone who attends will receive five packets of heirloom pepper seeds and two pepper seedlings. You will get recipes for using your garden’s bounty, too!

This program is free and open to the public. Please register in advance by calling the Library or using the Evanced online registration system. 

Warm weather the last couple of weeks has contradicted the groundhog’s prediction of a late spring. Julie’s gardening classes are a sure sign spring is here and it’s time to get seeds growing.

Other programs this week:

— At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Kentucky Picture Show presents a touching 2017 film starring Cloris Leachman, Jacinda Barrett and Talitha Eliana Bateman about a young girl named Heidi, who lives with her mentally-disabled mother and travels across the country to find out about their past. Rated PG 13.

— At 10 a.m. Friday, Write Local discusses works in progress. Bring some of your own work in and join the discussion. All genres and styles welcome.

— At 10 a.m. Saturday, Outside the Lines adult coloring gets the jump on spring as far as making Winchester more colorful is concerned.

Make coming to the library an elementary part of your week.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.