Susan Mac Nicol's Blog, page 44
March 4, 2013
After Sherlock- No More Music
After Sherlock – No more music
John opened the door to 221B and stood silently aside as he waited for Mrs. Hudson to go in before him. The housekeeper entered the dwelling as if it was a strange, unfamiliar place. He followed her in, closing the door behind him. He walked slowly up the stairs behind Mrs. Hudson. His leg ached and his left hand held onto the wall as he ascended, his cane propping him up on the other side. He reached the top of the stairs and drew a deep breath. He didn’t want to enter that room. It would be empty, bleak and desolate –like his heart. But he was a bloody soldier damn it and he could do this. His friend would have expected him to. He could hear Sherlock’s sarcastic words ringing in his ears.
“Christ, John, I’m sure you’ve been through much worse than being at my bloody funeral! Stop being such a cry baby. “
But John didn’t think he’d ever been through anything worse that what he felt now, war or no war. Mrs. Hudson pushed open the door and he followed her. Mrs. Hudson’s eyes looked everywhere, as if she expected to see something or someone. When she didn’t, she heaved a heavy sigh and turned to him.
“Cup of tea, John,” she said quietly. Her eyes were red rimmed from tears. The sodden handkerchief in her hands twisted around and around and John’s eyes were drawn to it. “He would have said that would’ve been the first thing I did when I got home after such a terrible day.”
John nodded, not trusting himself to speak. His body was cold. His mind was still numb from standing over a grave that he’d simply wished would swallow him too up into its dank, earthy depths. He didn’t think his mind had quite processed everything yet. It was too stuffed with what seemed like cotton wool, making his thoughts muggy. She immediately bustled off to the kitchen. John stood in the quiet of the room, his eyes gritty and prickling. He’d not cried yet. He knew he would, but he’d been damned if he was going to do at Sherlock’s funeral. He’d had Mrs. Hudson to support. He’d needed to be strong for her.
She’d leaned into him at one stage and whispered, “You can let go, John. He’d not mind. If he was anywhere now watching you, it might even raise a tear from his own eyes. It would be a miracle indeed seeing as how he was what he was but I think he might shed a small tear.”
John had gritted his teeth, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t give the miserable bastard that satisfaction,” he’d whispered softly, the smile on his face belying the insult in his words. “He’d never let me live it down. Perhaps he’d even come back to haunt me and tease me about it.”
But his throat had closed up and it had taken all his strength not to simply sink down to the ground and weep. The room had a sense of stillness. John was so used to Sherlock’s frenetic activity, his boundless energy that reverberated off the walls and made John tired just watching it. This complete lack of his friend’s manic presence made the air heavy and claustrophobic. He walked over to the arm chair and lowered himself into it with a sigh of relief. His leg had really been playing up today. He imagined it had been due to when he’d run blindly towards Sherlock’s body lying smashed and broken on the pavement-
Stop it. You don’t need that memory now. You need the other ones. The one where Sherlock stood playing that awful violin of his. The one where he sat moodily in his chair waiting for the phone to ring. The sight of his back wrapped in his favourite robe as he lay sulkily on the divan ignoring everyone. And the one where he smiled at John, that wide, open grin that said ‘The game , Mrs. Hudson, is on!” That was the one he treasured the most. It was when Sherlock had been at his happiest.
Mrs. Hudson came back in proffering a steaming cup of tea. John took it with a slight smile and set it down on the side table.
“I can make you a sandwich if you’d like?” she offered. “You haven’t eaten properly in days, John.”
John had been about to say he really wasn’t hungry but he saw the slight hope in Mrs. Hudson’s eyes that this small gesture would give her something to do, take her mind off things. He nodded.
“That would be very nice, thank you.”
The housekeeper patted his shoulder and bustled off back to the kitchen. John stared with blank eyes around the room. It just seemed so- empty. He thought back to his words at the cemetery when he’d finally had a quiet moment to be by himself with Sherlock.
You… you told me once… that you weren’t a hero. Umm… There were times I didn’t even think you were human, but let me tell you this. You were the best man, the most human… human being that I’ve ever known and no one will ever convince me that you told me a lie, so… there. I was so alone… and I owe you so much. But please, there’s just one more thing, one more miracle Sherlock, for me, don’t be… dead. Would you do that just for me? Just stop it. Stop this…
He’d known in his bones that saying the words wouldn’t make it so. John’s eyes wandered the room, looking at the familiar as if by doing so it might conjure up the man who had been so much a part of his life. The music stand, the chaos of paperwork, maps, random items of who knew what, the violin sprawled untidily in the corner – they were all reminders that once there had once been another in this room. His chest ached, his eyes smarting with unshed tears, his throat tight. He looked down at his hands, hands that started to tremble and he clenched them fiercely. An overwhelming sense of grief pervaded his body like rising steam, leaking right from the core of him and exiting via his skin, skin that was cold and clammy.
John closed his eyes as the dam within finally broke its walls, the incredible sense of loss that he felt washing over him like a tidal wave. He vaguely heard Mrs. Hudson placing his sandwich on the table, as she perched her bottom on the arm of the chair he sat in. Her warm arms braced his shoulders as the first shudders shook his body. He raised his hands to his face and covered his eyes as the first hot and salty tears fell. John’s own groan of sheer despair echoed in the still room as he gave vent to the emotions that he had suppressed for so long. Mrs. Hudson made comforting noises, rubbing his back as he wept for their loss and a future that no longer seemed so bright.
There was no more music in the air.
After Sherlock - No More Music
After Sherlock - No More Music
March 3, 2013
thescienceofjohnlock:
imjohnlocked:
Source:...
brigwife:
thelilnan:
Captain Winnie the Pooh and crew!
Gosh...
Captain Winnie the Pooh and crew!
Gosh this was fun UvU~
This is so perfect I could cry
So sad this series is over, I hope there’s another one in the works. Cabin Pressure was just such a great series -what am I supposed to listen to? It will have to be Neverwhere….
March 2, 2013
Recent news and appearances
I thought I’d keep an update here of where I’ve been and where I’m going. Time seems to run away from me….
Still to come
Appearing here on 22nd April to talk about my latest release, ‘Together in Starlight.’
Cassandra by Starlight Book Blog Tour - Begins 20 April
Together in Starlight Book Blog tour -March
Laurence O’Bryan’s Blog - Have submitted guest post, awaiting publication date.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Up and running
Your Book Authors Promotional Site - March 2nd
http://yourbookauthors.com/books/show-books/1312/Cassandra-by-Starlight/Romance/
The Blog of James Landrith - 1st March
http://jameslandrith.com/content/view/3927/79/
Romance Novel News Blog - 27th Feb
Joind Librarything.com - Book Showcase - Feb 26th
Kellyann’s Genie Blog - Feb 23rd
http://genielover.com/2013/02/23/starlight-stories/
British Romance Fiction Blog - Feb 22nd
http://britishromancefiction.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/guest-blog-susan-mac-nicol-together-in.html
Boroughs Newsletter - Feb 22nd - Bennett Saville interview
http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/about/enews/february-2013-e-newsletter
Ask David.com Promotion -22nd Feb
Samantha Aitken-Passionate About Books - 22nd Feb
http://passionatebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/review-of-together-in-starlight.html?spref=fb
Heroes and Heartbreakers Cover Reveal - 21st February
http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/
Addicted to Books -Front Cover Page - 20th February
Kim - Read your Writes Book reviews -15 Feb
http://readyourwrites.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/confounding-cupid-by-susan-mac-nicol.html
Kent Elms Library -Book signing - Feb 14th
Priscilla Shay Blog - Feb 13th
http://priscillashay.com/2013/02/13/writer-wednesday-susan-mac-nicol/
Angie’s Blog -Twinsie Talk - Feb 9th
http://twinsietalk.blogspot.com/2013/02/confounding-cupid-by-susan-mac-nicol.html?spref=fb
Serena Clarke’s Blog - 4th Feb
http://www.serenaclarke.com/writing/susan-macnicol/
Romance Lives Forever -Boroughs Publisher Week - Feb 3rd
http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/publisher-week-boroughs-1.html
http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/true-love-romance-and.html?spref=fb Feb 9th
Started Paper.Li newspaper - early Feb
Sam Crescent’s Blog - 2nd January
http://samcrescent.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/guest-susan-mac-nicol/
My Starlight Series and Benedict Cumberbatch
The leading man, Bennett Saville, of my debut novel, Cassandra by Starlight, was inspired by the wonderful British actor, Benedict Cumberbatch of BBC Sherlock fame. You can read all about the beautiful Cassie Wallace, Bennett’s one true love, and her love for a man who is ten years younger than she is, by clicking on the link below. It’s spicy, sensuous and full of suspense. A suicidal brother, a crazy mother, celebrity obsessed stalkers and a lot of action in the bedroom (and elsewhere!) should keep you entertained…
Together in Starlight, the second book has just been released. Want to read about …
Tibet, yak, sex, cello, randy neighbour, handcuffs, tattoos, ex husbands, justice, Savillicious, phone sex, more sex, hit and run, bereavement, candle sticks, Wicca, ghosts, social networking, money laundering, guns, a desk, a gentle giant, psychics, auras, blackmail, wedding, panty throwing, Geisha Girls, more sex??
If this whets the appetite then ‘Together In Starlight’ is for you….
http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/authors/susan-mac-nicol
Publishers Week spotlight - Romance Lives Foever Blog
My publisher Boroughs was canny enough to secure a lengthy promotional spot on the blog of one of the foremost romance blogs, Romance Lives Forever.
Publishers Week ran (surprisingly enough) for a week and showcased authors from the wonderful Boroughs stable. I was fortunate enough to be featured as well, and you can see the posts here.
http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/publisher-week-bad-boy-heroes.html
http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/suspense-cassandra-by-starlight.html
The blog posts certainly did the trick as you can see on the stats here
http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/rlf-gems-blog-stats-for-feb-2013-rlfblog.html
It’s truly wonderful having people like Kayelle Allen supporting authors like myself and showcasing our work. Too often a writer’s life is a solitary one when it comes to promoting themselves and opportunities like these ones are greatly appreciated.
March 1, 2013
enerjax:
John Harrison drawing tutorial
Had a couple inquiries...
John Harrison drawing tutorial
Had a couple inquiries for a drawing tut, so I actually remembered to screen capture this beech!
Threw in a blink at the end IJUSTCANTHELPMYSELF
Bonus closeup:
This is a truly incredible piece of work, well done to the artist!
cumberbuddy:
Could watch him reading for well…...
Could watch him reading for well… ages…
Cumberbatch and Books - could life get any better?
I love Chuck Wendig, he always seems to make so much sense.
I love Chuck Wendig, he always seems to make so much sense.
