#gooolabatooo

"Movie Night" (2023) From my 1970s Holmes and Watson AU.

Watson takes a depressed Holmes out to a movie theater. Unfortunately for the other patrons Holmes can't stop critiquing Clouseau's antics in "The Pink Panther Strikes Again' (1976). Watson just finds it endearing.

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Brainstorming notes:

For our favorite Detective Inspector...

Inspector Lestrade

Lestrade is an east Asian man holding a pencil and notebook dressed in an ao dai and his hair is combed back.

Original illustration by @gooolabatooo for When the Rose Speaks Its Name: A Sherlock Holmes Anthology.

To learn more about the anthology or to join the pre-order mailing list visit:

In the Anthology, we have stories, poems and microfiction by 30 authors. We have written about Holmes and Watson in different eras, of different genders, and with many different events and interpretations of their lives - together and apart.

We wanted to have illustrations that would bring them to life - Holmes and Watson are vivid and striking to the imagination over a hundred years on, partly because they are drawn so well in Conan Doyle's words, but also because Sydney Paget gave us these wonderful images of them and the other colorful folks in their London, to enjoy and believe in.

Our goal was to do something similar - to create images from the 16 short stories in the book, to bring a moment to life for each of them. We were lucky enough to have Fufu (@gooolabatooo) who has done exquisite Victorian Holmes art in the past, sign on and be willing to help us with this epic task.

This gave us an opportunity to create a unique set of characters that would be in all of the illustrations - bringing a unity to the many different versions in writing. Fufu and Emily (@keirgreeneyes) had an equally epic session of brainstorming, and came up with this delightful crew:

Left to right are Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mary Morstan, Irene Adler, Lestrade.

Holmes is a white man, holding a cigarette between his fingers is wearing a black suit, with a chain that goes across his waistcoat and his hair is slicked back.

Watson is a south Asian man in a sherwani, he has a pocket watch chained to one of his buttons, his hair is curly and he has a mustache.

Mary is a black woman holding a tiny purse in in a casual mutton chop jacket and bell shaped skirt, her curly hair is tied into a bun.

Irene Adler is a Hispanic woman holding a walking stick has a hat with feathers and flowers and a clean cut dress with buttons on the front and a flower in her lapel.

Lestrade is an east Asian man holding a pencil and notebook dressed in an ao dai and his hair is combed back.