Fannish update

I had about two full weeks with minimal internet while on vacation last month, and while I'm sure it was a healthy thing, I'm happy to be back and finally breathing normally again. A couple fannish items for you, plus some recs.

IN FANNISH NEWS:

* lgbtq_recs finished up another year of posting! The master list of fun stuff to read or watch or listen to--including everything from lesbian steampunk to queer-themed webseries about twenty-first century life--is over here. Thanks enormously to folks who recced!

* In festy news...I'm moving into second gear with my hp_friendship fic (deadline approaching!) and will be asking for beta help soon...It turns out that even if you missed the deadline you can sign up for minerva_fest through August, so drop by and peruse their list of prompts if you think you might be interested....hp_silencio is open for prompt claiming! Check out the prompt list--this sounds like such a great fest.

* Action item! howifoundfandom fest--Y/Y? Would anyone be interested in a fest (perhaps in August, when fandom is especially quiet?) for autobiographical stories about how we got into fandom? Perhaps posted anonymously, with names added later for those who want to do so (i.e., leaving open the possibility of staying anonymous)? buckle_berry mentioned the idea recently, noting that we all have such compelling stories about how we found fandom and that we love hearing them and re-telling them. If you're interested or have ideas, could I ask you to comment below? With suggestions on how it might work? Thank you!

RECS:

Masked Ball by waid, Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD), Characters: Holmes, Watson, Álvaro de León (OC), Nathan Grey (OC), Friedrich of Havelberg (OC); 32,000 words, gen casefic with background Holmes/Watson
Six months after Holmes’ return from the dead, the delicate equilibrium in Baker Street is disturbed when a stranger walks out of the London fog with a case – for Watson. Holmes is wary, Watson is fascinated. But who is the man calling himself Álvaro de León? And what does he really want?

Perhaps my favorite ACD Holmes fic to date--a clever and rewarding premise (a case offered to Watson rather than Holmes), executed with style. It's a great mystery with compelling OCs and a writing style that retains something of ACD without sounding mannered. (tarteaucitron, do you read ACD fic? If so, read this one!)

From holmestice: You Say Surrender Like it's a Bad Thing by goddessdster; Fandom: Elementary; Characters: Alfredo Llamosa, Sherlock Holmes, Joan Watson, Ken Whitman, Clyde; about 2000 words, gen
The Third Step is just about making the decision. Just that, and nothing more. So why is Alfredo having such a hard time getting Sherlock to do that?

A spare, beautifully written little fic focusing on the relationship between Alfredo and Holmes and Holmes' resistance to the emotional heavy-lifting of recovery.

From queer_fest: Vale of Friendship by queen_ypolita; Fandom: Maurice; Characters: Kitty Hall; 1500 words, gen
Kitty Hall, growing up to understand she loves women.

A brief, quiet character sketch, doing exactly what it says on the tin, which works well in contrast with Maurice's own growing up to understand he loves men.