HELLO NEWSLETTER | FALL 2024

Wow this year is rolling by fast!!! Fall is threatening to land hard, and IMSONOTREADYFORIT, haha! Lot's of yummy updates to share:

🍂 When The Rose Speaks It's Name | The book release is official! Get your copy here! @whentherosespeaks featuring illustrations by Illustrations by @khorazir  @chained-to-the-mirror & @gooolabatooo and 31 collaborating authors! #when the rose speaks its name

🎃 Sherlock & Co. | Goalhanger Podcast's award winning show keeps taunting the Reichenbach and Moriarty ... has it happened yet??? (Somebody keep us posted??) #sherlock & co.

🍂 Holmestice Winter 2024 | sign-ups are now open until Oct 6th! Holmestice is a twice-yearly digital fanworks exchange for the Sherlock Holmes fandom. All holmes, all media versions have a home here! | @holmestice #holmestice

🎃 Our own Bluebellofbakerstreet's annual Inktober prompt list is out! Art, fics, any media can join in! | @bluebellofbakerstreet !

🍂 Don't forget Whumptober is upon us also! #whumptober @whumptober and the official Inktober prompt list as well! #inktober2024 @inktobertime

🎃 BRAND NEW! A Yuletide Johnlock Exchange is now open! We have @tylered-up-in-blue and @rhubarbtriangle to thank for moding this event! @yuletidejohnlockexchange check out their page for more info!

🍂 The Inversion of Hope and Sin in A Study in Scarlet | @victorianpining recently hosted a talk on John Watson’s rhetorical mastery in A Study in Scarlet! For those who couldn’t make it, here’s the recording ♥️💍✍️ Check it out!

🎃 The annual Mark Gatiss Birthday Drive is on for 2024! Mark’s birthday is October 17th, and you can check out @markgatissbirthdayproject to find out how to participate!!!

🍂 Sherlock Challenge for the month of Sept is: MILK #sherlockchallenge @ sherlockchallenge follow for monthly prompts!

and @fluffbruary hosts INFINIFLUFF! with a prompt each month!

and @giftober is also hosting a GIF maker prompt challenge for the month!

And as always, don't forget the Giant Chat of Sumatra, and the weekly Wednesday & Sunday watchalongs hosted by @finalproblem @nixxie-pic ! #giant chat of sumatra #wednesday watchalong #sunday watchalong

Message me anytime to include your fandom event or news!

Sherlock fandom.

Home At Last

Sherlock is restless. He hates waiting. Especially when he doesn’t know how long he has to wait. It’s fine when he’s on a case, but not when it’s related to the two Watsons. His patience is stretched to its limits and his skin feels taut and itchy.

“We’ll be around some time in the afternoon on Sunday,” John had said when he last visited.

What Sherlock wants to know this instant, is what John had meant by some time. Was it 1 pm or 4 pm? 

He paces back and forth in front of the fireplace and startles when he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His curls look like a birds’ nest and that is intolerable. He must look his best when John and Rosie come home.

Did he shower at all today?

The last couple of days have passed in a frenzy of organising, planning, rearranging, and tidying – making 221B fit to be inhabited by three people instead of one. Sherlock doesn’t know what to do with his hands. Everything is in place; there’s nothing more he can do but wait. One more look in the mirror makes him stride to the bathroom.

The hot water pours down his body. He sighs contentedly and revisits his last encounter with John. 

He’d left Rosie downstairs with Mrs. Hudson. Sherlock’s heart leapt to his throat when he realised that John wanted to talk to him undisturbed. This could mean all sorts of things. He dared not hope for anything positive for his own part, though things had improved between them. John’s hostility and reluctance to even look at Sherlock, had evaporated.

“A stern talking to from Molly,” John explained.

“Oh,” was Sherlock’s response.

What did that mean? Didn’t John know that he needed it spelled out to him? 

“You need more data, I reckon,” John said, his lovely smile from before directed at Sherlock.

Sherlock nodded and didn’t take his eyes off John’s face, lest he miss something important, some clue that could enlighten him if John left anything out.

John sat down in his chair opposite Sherlock. He was tense but not excessively so, and Sherlock relaxed a fraction.

“Molly made me realise what I was about to lose. That you wouldn’t wait forever,” John started.

I would wait for eternity if it meant that I would have you back in my life, Sherlock thought to himself, but he stayed silent.

“I’ve been an idiot. Nothing new, really.”

John chuckled but Sherlock couldn’t detect any mirth. Before he could respond, John continued.

“My legendary stubbornness and anger got the better of me. Again. But then I realised that…this, 221B, is the only place I’ve ever felt..it…”

When Sherlock met John’s gaze he saw tears in those ocean-blue eyes, and he knew what John couldn’t say.

“Home,” Sherlock murmured. “From the first time you set foot in this flat, it felt like home.”

“Yeah,” John agreed. “That.”

John’s breath was heavy, and Sherlock didn’t known what to do. Before he could make a fool of himself, John asked the question there was only one answer to.

“Can I come home, Sherlock? With Rosie.”

The glee Sherlock felt at that moment, still lingers in his chest. His expectations are great, grand, glorious, and the sensation is utterly addictive. When he hears the familiar steps ascending, Sherlock stands in the doorway, ready to greet the two people he loves the most.

Rosie beams at him and stretches out her chubby arms, chanting “Lock!”

He takes her in his arms and buries his nose in the nape of her neck. A sharp pain makes him yelp a little. The little girl’s tiny fingers have grabbed a handful of hair and pulled hard.

“Careful, darling. You don’t want Sherlock without those beautiful curls,” John says and carefully entangles Sherlock’s hair from the surprisingly strong grip.

Sherlock expects John to move away, so he’s taken by surprise when a strong arm is placed around his waist. John rests his head on Sherlock’s shoulder and exhales.

“Home at last,” he whispers.

Finally, Sherlock wants to say, but his throat is uncooperative. So, instead he pulls John tighter and tries to just breathe.

The trio stands enveloped in a cocoon of bliss and contentment for a small amount of time; Rosie isn’t a patient girl, but it’s enough for Sherlock to create an art installation in the newest wing in his Mind Palace. A wing that is light, kept entirely in pastel colours reminiscent of Turkish delights. 

A sign over the door, white with green letters, reads:

The Baker Street Family

----------------------------------------------

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@gay-ass-bitch

(Tell me if you want to be tagged or removed from the list)

Happy tears!! 💕

hi tumblr im posting my johnlock fanart here aswell. in the year of our lord and savior 2024....

Very old BBC Sherlock and Granada Holmes art for the soul <3 I still think they look good, esp all together like that !

Im trying to learn how to post here bc I'm tired of the Insta bullshit, so I hope I wont fuck up LMAO

In rememberance of D-day, the remarkable PatPrecieux has written a sweet but also a thought-provoking fic with emotional end notes. I nudge you towards AO3 to read 🌹80 Years🌹

Lest we forget 🌹

@totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @7-percent @a-victorian-girl @raina-at

@meetinginsamarra @peanitbear @ninasnakie @safedistancefrombeingsmart @gregorovitch-adler

what is sherlock & co and would a casual bbc sherlock fan who is a less-than-causal johnlock shipper like it??? i keep seeing the fanart on my dash and its piqued my interest

yes! seconding the other notes so far. according to an interview with the writer on the i hear of sherlock everywhere podcast, the plan is to work through all the original stories, eventually. so far it's been short stories, each one taking up 2-3 episodes (with one 4 part). so there's LOTS of goodness ahead, and plenty of time for the friendship to develop.

it's also nice listening to a show that comes out once a week, like we wish our tv shows would go back to. a cliffhanger has a chance to BE a cliffhanger. and it doesn't seem like the writer is going around congratulating himself on his cleverness, he's just getting on with writing a damn fine show.

Our full weekend schedule all in one place! Come to hang out, consume eggplants and peaches (literally), do crafts, give stuff away, get stuff, learn from your friends' 5 minute Powerpoint presentations, learn/squee about ATEEZ, and more!

oh, i hope lots of ttis finds its way into the three patch podcast future episodes!

HELLO SUMMER 2024

All Holmes have a Home here

SHERLOCK & CO - @sandcobangevent kicked off a flashbang event with 38(!) teams pairing up to create works! Check out those now posted on their page. And if you haven't yet tried out the podcast? Check it out at Goalhanger Podcasts (and available on all streaming music services). Follow & tags: #sherlock & co and #goalhanger podcasts

WATSON - @mugenmine reminded us of the tv show premiering on CBS staring John Watson as the central character ... without a Holmes?!! specifically 1 year after the death of his friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty! Can't wait to see what Morris Chestnut brings to the role! Hazard a guess at #cbs watson

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES - if you're in the need for more British detective stories with a fun twist, i hear this one is worth a try as well! Written by Neil Gaiman and hosted on Netflix! #dead boy detectives

REICHENBACH DAY - May 4th is not for just Star Wars fans :) ... but our Holmies too!!! #TRF (bbc fans) #FINA (acd abbrev.) The Adventure of the Final Problem is the original story that contained the Reichenbach Falls.

HASHTAGS & ABBREVIATIONS - Constantly seeing Sherlock related hashtags, but unable to parse them? For a full list of ACD canon abbreviations see The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia post here; and for all BBC fandom and general Sherlock Holmes related tags ... I shared an (almost) comprehensive pdf link awhile back here to get you all up to speed!! Happy tagging!

FAWX & STALLION - @224bbaker presents a mystery-comedy podcast about the best detective team on Baker Street ... not that one! Set at 224B Baker Street, this podcast 'isn’t afraid to be silly, but also doesn’t avoid more tender moments'. I haven't heard much about this one yet, so please do share if you've checked it out! #fawx & stallion and #224bbaker

HOLMESTICE - @holmestice event summer solstice matches went out April 10th for those of you that signed up for this round! Keep an eye on the schedule for Summer 2024 as follows:

Even for those of you who did not participate this round (like me!) you can still see the goodies that post on Tumblr and AO3! Follow tag: #holmestice summer 2024

THE GAME IS NOW - the London Escape room experience transcripts have been shared with us by none other than @garkgatiss! Check it out here and ty Amy! #the game is now

WHEN THE ROSE SPEAKS - When the Rose Speaks Its Name: A Sherlock Holmes Anthology w/ original illustrated short stories, micro fiction, 221Bs and poetry is coming out this spring. Celebrating the original ACD canon stories all being in public domain w queer Holmes & Watson. To benefit akt.org that supports queer youth in UK. Sign up for pre-order information at whentherosespeaks.com 🌈🎉💜 @whentherosespeaks & Instagram @whentherosespeaks1895 Follow & tag: #when the rose speaks its name

THE WATSONIAN - new issue is available on PDF for members and in print on Amazon here! Featuring contributions from all over the fandom re: our favourite doctor!

221BCON - was held in April. And according to the hosts, next year [2025] has been announced as the final convention in Atlanta, GA! For those of you that have gone before or have been considering going ... this will be the last chance to make it! #221bcon @221bcon

KICKSTARTER - just for giggles ... I checked out how many Sherlock Holmes related projects have found there way onto kickstarter. Was not expecting to see over 300??? Granted most of these were funded/gone, but ... cool???!

MAY DAILY PROMPTS - @calaisreno is hosting daily prompts for the month of may, if you are in need of some writing inspo!

WATCHALONG - May's Sherlock Wednesday Watchalong hosted by @finalproblem is called: MAYbe, MAYbe Not! This month, it's time for more Holmes we haven't watch-a-longed before!!! Will these become new favorites or future Awful April candidates?? Maybe! (Maybe not???) Bahaha! #the giant chat of sumatra also follow @nixxie-pic for each Sunday's feature, as tumblr likes to hide posts!

If you haven't yet hopped in, check the timezones to join! and follow the links on their pages to enter discord chat group! See you there!

📰 IDK what else is going on this summer? Feel free to share, submit, ask or tag me with the info if you want it added in, thanks all! ✌️☕🗞️

HELLO FANDOM NEWSLETTER! SPR 2024

I hope the fandom is ready to turn out in droves! Calling all ACD Holmes fans, all Sherlock & Co. fans, all BBC Sherlock fans, all Grenada Holmes and all RDJ Holmes fans!!! Sign up and benefit a great cause!!!

💿 FANDOM TRUMPS HATE - sign-ups begin tomorrow! All fandoms welcome, and some get very little love! Be the exception to the rule! What is FTH? (I'm glad you asked!!) Tag & Follow: #FTH 2024 || # Fandom Trumps Hate || @fandomtrumpshate

💿 FLUFFBRUARY - has begun! Join in for the month of February, and every month after on the 14th! Tag & Follow: #fluffbruary || #fluffbruary 2024 || @fluffbruary even if you find fluff in the wild!

💿 THE WATSONIAN - deadline for the Spring (May) issue is February 15th! Be sure to check out the website and send in your submissions via the email instructions there! Accepting works for all versions of John H. Watson, resident doctor, blogger, writer, and overall best friend of Sherlock Holmes! Check it out!

💿 SHERLOCK & CO. - someone is casting a spell and drawing all Sherlockians in, and I think we all know who!!! Can't wait to join in the fun. Love to hear your thoughts on the podcast so far! Tag & Follow: #sherlock & co || #sherlock podcast || @sherlockand-co

💿 HOLMESTICE SUMMER 2024 - signups usually begin end of March. Nothing has yet been announced, but be sure to keep an eye out for anything around then, if you plan to participate! (Actual commitment would be for April creations, May-June posting.) Tag & Follow: #holmestice || @holmestice

💿 LETTERS FROM WATSON - is celebrating over 10,000 subscribers! That's fantastic! I love that Tumblr is breathing new life into classics as we get to see them with new eyes!

💿 SHERLOCK CHALLENGE for February is: * FEAR * follow & Tag: #sherlock challenge || @sherlockchallenge when posting to the monthly challenge so they see it! 💋

Check out last months entries for ENVELOPE

💿 SHERLOCKED 2024 (aka The Liriels Awards) are back, beginning March 10th for the BBC community! Because I have this Sherlock in a sheet ... and because you can't stop me giving it out to whomever for whatever I wanna! IT'S AWARD SEASON BABY!!! 🏆💧🐘🗝️🐇🏆Join me! || #hello award season ||

... If Oscar can do it, we're gonna have a Wilde time!

💿 THE BEEKEEPERS PICNIC - is going strong with updates!:

Tag & Follow: #beekeepers picnic || @beekeeperspicnic when discussing on Tumblr!

💿ANY OTHER SHERLOCK HOLMES RELATED NEWS, UPCOMING ADAPTATIONS, BOOKS, GAMES, EVENTS or other means of interaction in the works??? I know I've inevitably missed something! Please let me know in the comments or message me! Happy to share and link at ANY time! Newsletter bumping to Quarterly until further notice and updates as this is my busy (work) season!! *muah!*

ENVELOPE, PLEASE ... !

Because I have this Sherlock in a Sheet ...😋and because you can't stop me giving it out to whomever for whatever I wanna!

... IT'S AWARD SEASON BABY!!!!

It's time to get shouty about the things we love!! | HELLO AWARD SEASON 🏆 SHERLOCKED 2024 | Who would you nominate?

This shiny gold envelope prompt was made possible by @sherlockchallenge for the idea!!, and can I just say ... what perfectly excellent timing babes?!

i nominate @wimpytentacleofficial for the sweetest blog on the internet.

Is the BBC Sherlock/Johnlock community here still active?

@avathffs asked: Has any new madness of note gone on the last few years?

If you don’t mind, I’ll answer here.

I left Tumblr in 2017, when Sherlock fandom was full of pain and broken dreams, and came back just a month ago.

Here’s what I’ve noticed in 2023:

I'm so glad old fans rejoins Sherlock fandom. It means this community never dies.❤

Thank you so much for taggin' me, @pressurepoint221!! 🫂

I landed here at the beginning of this year (2023), thanks to Pinterest (where I saw thousands of screenshots of Sherlock meta from Tumblr, lol)

Idk how it was here in 2017, but I've been told a lot about that time. So sad.... Unfortunately there are still haters of that past fandom, but there are still many talented people (writers, retouchers, illustrators) who continue posting beautiful fanarts and fanfics about Sherlock. We even have Sabri (@sabsi221b), who is now recording Sherlock podfics!! 🩷

I get it that a smaller fandom looks like one heading toward extinction. But it isn't. I'm thrilled with all the activity and creativity in this community (the Johnlock corner of the Sherlock fandom) and can honestly not keep up.

Every chapter of the fics I post on AO3 contains a fic rec or two, a habit I got from the inimitable @quesarasara, and I reblog like a madwoman on tumblr.

I'd also suggest following @helloliriels who puts out a fandom newsletter on tumblr; @cupidford @inevitably-johnlocked @my-johnlockficrecs @7-percent @calaisreno @discordantwords @thegildedbee @blogstandbygo who are all generous fic reccers

@safedistancefrombeingsmart for great gifsets

@bluebellofbakerstreet @ceruleanmindpalace @justanobsessedpan @petite-madame @willietheplaidjacket fanart

oi I've been summoned to dinner, damn that man from Porlock, more another time

I always act all posh about reading all these old books.

But in reality I only read all of Jane austen, because of the Crowley/Aziraphael break up scene

I only read all of Sherlock Holmes because i hoped they would kiss in BBC Sherlock season 4

And I only read the Three Musketeers because I wanted to see Luke Evans as a slutty priest in the 2011 movie

mmhmm, i bet a lot of peopl read oscar wilde in the run up to TAB, and i have a tale of two cities on librivox in an open tab because of good omens. and already listened to persuasion, and pride & prejudice.

I genuinely believe I went to grad school a decade after graduating college to get a Master's in English Lit bc of Sherlock meta. And now I'm about to be a published scholar.

that's awesome!! wahoo!!

oh my god I have made a terrible mistake, I just watched series 1 of Sherlock for the first tie, and holy SHIT I am already in so deep, just 3 episodes and already these 2 idiot men have a strangle hold on my whole entire soul. If there's one thing I definitely didn't need it was another obsession, but too late now! I will be obsessed forever. I can tell. why have I done this. Help.

welcome! seconding the advice to read garkgatiss' metas before s4. there are some real shifts in tone between series, it's not just "more like that". going in prepared is helpful. also for TAB, do read Ghost Stories Are Gay Stories by @heimishtheidealhusband . absolutelyxmade the difference for me between WTF and total glee and enjoyment.

for a bit of a palate cleanser, check out the tree patch podcast, and start right at the beginning. very restorative for the sense of humor and balance. <3

Signs of Three is a webcomic take on the Sherlock Holmes novels and shorts, taking familiar and beloved mysteries and adding a bit of modern science, organized crime, and queer energy.

You should read Signs of Three if you…

Follow our Tumblr or Instagram to keep up with updates and news, or check out the Comic on ComicFury.com for free!

@helloliriels !!

Tysm!!!!!

HELLO FANDOM NEWS NOV 2023

Was halfway to celebrating 🗞 No News November 📰 ... but there were a few things to remember, remember! So for a quick recap:

🍁 FANDOM TRUMPS HATE - for anyone still working away at their FTH gifts 🎁 now is the time to finish wrapping up! Once you finish your fanwork, please remember to use the completed fanwork form! to let FTH know! @fandomtrumpshate // #fandom trumps hate // or check out @fth2023fanworks to see works posted so far!!

🍂 SHERLOCK WATCHALONG - the wednesday watchalong is featuring creatures on the case for Nov! Jump in and experience a variety of sherlockian tails! @finalproblem // @nixxie-pic // #the giant chat of sumatra (since Tumblr likes to hide links!) 🍿

🍁 SHERLOCK CHALLENGE - Nov 2023 prompt is ❄️ COLD 🧊 ... if you're feeling the void from all the 'tober happenings? Go through the archives for prompts to fill! (Join me!) in the @sherlockchallenge // #sherlock challenge❄️

🍂 BEEKEEPERS PICNIC - appears to be on track and to have hit their Oct goals?! DEMO is available here and the game is set to release in Q3 of 2024!!! Congrats!!! 🎉🐝🧺@beekeeperspicnic

🍁 SHERLOCK & CO. podcast has 5 episodes up! John Watson is a true crime podcaster, documenting all of their adventures!🎙️

🍂 HOLMESTICE WINTER 2023 - Refer to your emails received for instructions on posting and sharing! We can't wait to see what Sherlock mayhem ensues this holiday season with the big reveals!! And as always, have LOTS of fun!!! @holmestice // #holmestice // Works due: Nov 24 // Posting Begins: Dec 1 //🎁

🍂 JEREMY BRETT - would have been 90 yrs old this Nov 3rd, and 'I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere' podcast did a tribute episode to our beloved Grenada Holmes to celebrate! (psst! they also did a shared podcast episode w/ the new Sherlock & Co.!! go go go!!!) @ihose 🔍

That's all I have for now lovelies, unless you have something to share?! (Oh!) and happy NaNoWriMo month to those who celebrate! ✍️ (my hat's off to you crazies!) (go break a pen!)

sherlock and co is fun! looks like the new episodes come out on tuesday, which means i can add it to my weekly rotation document of links.

Right something needs to be said, I’ve been in the Sherlock fandom for almost three years and now it feels like a toxic ex. Don’t get me wrong, I have so much love for that show and so many amazing memories, but now being in the OFMD fandom… it feels like I’m healing. I think the thing that makes me happy is that I’m not being queerbaited, I still sometimes have to pinch myself that we’re getting more episodes of two queer people in love. I think it’s the found family aspect of the show that makes me feel so loved, with Sherlock I just felt like I was waiting for something and it never happened. I know some people will say “Sherlock wasn’t always about a relationship, it was about solving cases” yeah but it’s the fact that the writers intentionally add small details to keep queers hooked and then never act on it, I know that’s common but it pisses me off still. Another thing that makes me happy is that the two main characters are actually best friends irl and have been for twenty years, whereas Benedict and Martin fell out a few years ago, it ruins the show knowing the actors actually hate each other. All I’m saying is that OFMD has canon queer people, canon trans people, people of colour and it’s just so amazing, the show is about being loved for who you are and as someone who sometimes thinks they’re unlovable, it’s really beautiful. Another thing that’s beautiful is that the writers take on board what we’ve made as a fandom and added it to their work, if you did that with Moffat, he’d just laugh in your face.

Like I said, I’ll always love Sherlock but I’m so happy that I moved on too.

It also feels amazing that the fandom is so kind and not as toxic :)

I am struck by this person's view -and saddened

The Sherlock FANDOM is more than the episodes that went on air. The FANDOM is not queerbaiting; it's the opposite. This is a fandom born, bred and sustained by the belief that we can do better than the writers of the show. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are fictional characters beloved by writers, readers and the general public for more than a century. The fandom is more than any two actors who played the roles in one of countless adaptations.

One of the abiding strengths of the Sherlock fandom is that WE are in the driving seat now. I find that amazingly liberating.

We are a kind, supportive, non-toxic fandom that I celebrate every day.

i get where op is coming from, i too have a bit of that "ex" feeling (for me it was TEH and s3 that made me feel like i'd been dumped) about the show sherlock, and especially the creators. FANDOM turned it around for me, i am a fan of the fandom more than the show itself, a fan of our collective "take it and run with it".

sherlock holmes and dr john watson loved each other for a century before mofftiss came along, and they still do.

i also get what fans of ofmd (and good omens) are saying about the relief and healing, and how different it feels to have real allies creating the shows. it's like we have turned a corner, and we're not going back. we bring OUR john and sherlock around that corner with us.