The Art Of Corruption ~ A BBC Sherlock Fanfiction {Book III}

Chapter 70- Author's Note

It is on that wonderfully upbeat ending point, I conclude The Art of Corruption.

I am struggling to comprehend it, if I am perfectly honest with you.

It is nearing my one year anniversary on Wattpad, and my God, things have changed. I started it all with little to no knowledge regarding Sherlock or Sherlock fanfiction, my only incentive being a deep-rooted appreciation for Benedict Cumberbatch's face. Those of you who remember my work from the dark days of GGMA and early SOTA will most probably have noted the change in both my online persona and the quality of my writing - I suppose that is the result of finally sitting down to watch the Sherlock episodes in their entirety.

It was a harsh reality check.

I am, however, stunned by the overwhelmingly positive response that this rather morbid, rambling 'book' has received - it stands as my most popular work to date (I will be forever indebted to the individual who can explain why the third book in my series has almost four times as many reads as the first), and the sheer quantity of furiously passionate comments per chapter continues to amaze me. I know that I do not update as frequently as I should, and for that you have my sincerest apologies, but please know that I am exceptionally appreciative of every vote and each capitalized exclamation. I think it is fair to say that writing this series has served as a much welcomed escapism.

A few special thanks go to @KThierry and @DevilsWear_Westwood, for being my partners in crime, @WorldsWithWords, who loathes me vehemently but deserves a thank you nonetheless, @-GrandLarceny-, for her irritatingly well-written oneshot and marvellous edits, @ThoseMissilePlans for her artwork, and tea, for providing me with the determination to continue in bleak times. I could not function without you.

Let us not forget you, my brilliant, questionable, occasionally alarming Shemoires. Your violent threats geared at fictional characters act as a constant inspiration (@twirlyswirly wins the prize for being the most original sadist), and I look to you all as both my critics and my dear acquaintances.

I am sure you are well aware that, after much deliberation and a near existential crisis, I have chosen to continue this ongoing story into a fourth book. I simply cannot bear to let Emily and Millie go, for I am hopelessly attached to them as characters. I do not expect book four to be as popular or as well-received as The Art of Corruption, but I shall persist regardless for the sake of selfish expressionism (take that as you will, Emily-Schott-is-Shem conspiracy theorists).

And so, with that in mind, it is time for me to inaugurate you all to my fourth, and final book in this series.

Shemoires, it is with slightly hesitant pleasure, do I introduce you to book number four: Human Error.

I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

The trailer is, as of now, up for viewing. It shall be present in the media section of this 'chapter' for a limited period of time, and on my profile. Please share your opinion/plot speculations in the comments - I have been waiting to post this for a very, very long time, and am extremely eager to hear what you have to say.

Thank you once again. I wish you all a delightful Pancha Ganapati, a Happy Hanukkah and a very Merry Christmas.

~Shem