My Storytelling Mind

A little thing they don't tell you about wisps: they don't look the same for everyone. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

She had followed the woman almost a mile into the forest, as she entered the dilapidated cemetery. The woman pulled out a long candle, lighting it with an unknown source in her hand, and held it steadily over one of the gravestones. Anna felt her breath catch in her chest, sure that the woman was performing some sort of spell. The woman straightened after placing the candle, securely, on top of the stone, and looked straight at her. Anna gasped, but was unable to move or to hide.  Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Freyja Schimkus Photography

This is the twelfth post in a series leading up to the premiere of Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' on January 13, 2017. The series will cover each of the 13 books and 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.' Be warned: there are spoilers ahead. This is the second-to-last Baudelaire adventure our melancholy author writes for us. Here, with some introduction from Kit Snicket, the Baudelaires begin work as concierges at the enigmatic Hotel Denouement, just as the intriguing VFD meeting brings together several familiar characters from the Baudelaires' story. Tasked with discovering if J.S. is villain or volunteer, the Baudelaires must also contend with identical twin managers - one who is a villain named Ernest and the other who is a volunteer named Frank. Violet completes a task for Esme Squalor and Carmelita Spats, involving a harpoon gun, and discovers J.S. might spoil Esme's party; she also overhears that Esme's unusual glasses

The mirror fascinated her; it was part of her husband's latest conquest but was the only piece that felt so different, as though it held a vibration completely separate from her own reality. Upon her request, he sent her a librarian who could tell her the strange heirloom's complete history - and what a history it was. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Andrew Yee.

It was the first recorded attempt of robbery against a mermaid. Her necklace was found in her hands, and it was evident the robber had run off quickly. As few people attempt to rob mermaids, clearly this robber hadn't expected one to put up a fight. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Justin & Annie Stegg (c) Gallery Gerard.

"Miss?" She glanced over her shoulder as the stable boy came in. "I would offer to saddle him for you, Miss, but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be getting married right about now." "I thought just one more ride," she started, but trailed off as she glanced down at the cumbersome white lace that seemed to swath her like a small child. "Not in that nice dress, Miss, if you don't mind me saying," he replied. "It'll get ruined. Especially on a stallion like him." "I know." Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Ting Bridal , Etsy

The room was alive with giggling as the girls finally undressed for the evening; the prospect of removing dreadful corsets was too exciting for straight faces. The laughter and gossip subsided, however, as each of the girls became aware of the thudding footsteps reverberating from above. "We none of us are dressed," whispered one of the girls as the room fell silent. "Someone has to look," another girl said, rifling around in a large drawer. She finally pulled out a small revolver, causing loud gasps. "Alice, no!" "Hand me a flashlight," she said, pulling on her robe. "Alice, be careful," said the first girl taking one out of the dresser. Alice smiled. "You lot stay down here," Alice ordered and opened the door. "If I'm not back in ten minutes, call the police." Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Brooke Bayless and Shabay in Vicious Dolls by Winterwolf Studios

He thought, perhaps, that she was dead. He felt it very tragic, but wasn't particularly put out by it. At this time of year, death was rampant; though, the dead usually wore a bit more and weren't quite so iced over. She opened her eyes and he flailed backward into the snow bank with an embarrassing yelp. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

"Margot," he called, through the swirling snow. She glanced back only once, meeting his gaze for a split second, her lips parting just so, and then continued on to the house. He shook the gate in frustration, tossed his hat to the ground, and swore. He saw it in her hand, she had held it right in front of his eyes, and she remained innocently ignorant. "Margot," he muttered to himself, picking up his hat and brushing off the snow. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

This is the eleventh post in a series leading up to the premiere of Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' on January 13, 2017. The series will cover each of the 13 books and 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.' Be warned: there are spoilers ahead. The submarine "Queequeg" saves the Baudelaires from the river, and they meet eccentric Captain Widdershins, his aspiring mycologist stepdaughter Fiona, and the ship's cook, Phil, whose optimism you may recall from The Miserable Mill. Sailing under the motto "He (or she) who hesitates is lost," the Queequeg crew are searching for the mysterious sugar bowl. Thanks to Klaus' interpretive work with some tidal charts, he determines it to be in the Gorgonian Grotto. Count Olaf is still in pursuit, with his own octopus-shaped submarine, but there is also a suspicious question-mark-shaped sub that continually drives the villain off. Fiona discovers, in her mycological textboo

An accident, they said, the wrong place at the wrong time. But why was he there? In the middle of the storm, no shoes, no coat, no identification... It seemed too surreal, too abnormal... How could this be an accident? Find this blurb on Pinterest !

He paused, lighter still half an inch from his cigarette, and turned. Considering the sign for a moment, he put his lighter away. He slouched toward the sign, hand digging in his pocket for his knife. Occupied by the idea of what he could possibly carve, he didn't realize the sign was radiating. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Down These Mean Streets (c) Will Steacy, 2009.

"The shine, the refractions, the multi-faceted beauty of such a perfectly cut gem. Diamonds, my good sir, are what each woman longs to have - if only to compare them to another woman's." Find this blurb on Pinterest !

"On... off... on... and... off." "Okay, alright, I believe you," she said. He put his hands down as she turned away, crossing her arms. "Isn't that a fire hazard, anyway?" He shrugged. "I never thought about that." "Of course not," she replied, turning back to him with a sigh. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Gif: Dimensao7, Tumblr

It was early morning when she found herself on someone's back porch, covered by a warm blanket. She could hear whispers from people inside as she sat up. "But where did she come from?" demanded one voice. "She, um... fell... from the sky," replied another voice. "Don't be ridiculous," said the first voice. "Where am I?" she asked, reaching the open window. The two speakers turned to look at her, both with eyes widening at her appearance. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Singularity (c) Marvel

He waited, just watching her, confused that anyone would want to visit him. "You've been here a long time, haven't you?" she asked. He shrugged. "Three years, isn't it? A long time for a crime you hardly know about," she continued. "What do know about that?" he asked, his voice cracking just a little from disuse. "More than you do," she replied. He scoffed a little. "How would you like to get out of here?" "Is that a trick question?" he asked, gesturing to the chains holding his hands. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: AnxiousPineapples, Tumblr

"You know, having a portrait done is not as difficult as you insist," said the painter as she stared at him. She shook her head slightly, still refusing to sit up. "Can't you paint me like this?" she asked. "That wouldn't be the most appropriate position, Miss Amelia," he replied, sighing. "It's not your decision," she pointed out, and positioned her arms on the velvet throw beneath her. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Anne Neville in The White Queen (2013)

This is the tenth post in a series leading up to the premiere of Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' on January 13, 2017. The series will cover each of the 13 books and 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.' Be warned: there are spoilers ahead. With Sunny held hostage by Olaf and Esme, Klaus and Violet must make their way up Mortmain Mountain, surviving the cold and the rather odd group of Snow Scouts. This makes the return of Carmelita Spats and the introduction of someone working with VFD. Olaf's troupe grows as two unknown villains, whom Olaf seems afraid of, arrive and begin dispensing advice and "in" cigarettes. A story of fire and ice, The Slippery Slope leads the way to deeper, darker secrets. This time the disguise is worn by Quigley Quagmire, the missing and presumed dead Quagmire triplet. The codes, usually abbreviating to VFD, are used by nearly everyone from each direction. Through the Vertical Flame Diversion

She glanced at him. "Then why are you here? You shouldn't even hold a gun!" "I'm here to learn," he replied as she grabbed the gun from his hand. "You know you need a certain amount of experience..." "Just do me a favor and don't kill anyone," she interrupted. "I can't afford that kind of paperwork." Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Promptuarium

You may not believe what I am about to tell you, or how despicable my actions were, but I hope you do believe the remorse in my soul. Now that I am soon to see that light at the end of the tunnel, my conscience tells me it is time.  It is time.  Time for the truth. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

Lost things sometimes have a way of being found; on the other hand, many times, our lost things stay lost until we need them again. And, sometimes, we lose ourselves, caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the noise of other voices drowning out our own. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

Her troops were gathered and the princess had given solemn orders that they be ready for war but hope for no battle. She, following her promotion, found that the princess was more hopeful than she should be. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Queen Mary, CW's Reign

He had passed at least five boats now, only one of which still had a live, breathing paddler; even then, that man had refused to speak to him, believing him to be a hallucination. He hadn't tried the shores yet - he was sure it wouldn't be any safer.  Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Mike Worrall.

She adjusted the mirror on the tree trunk almost as soon as she had appeared. From his spot behind another tree, he could see her adjusting something on the bark behind the mirror. As she set the mirror back again, it swung just enough to the left to catch his fascinated face in the reflection. Her eyes widened but she smiled, and he found himself weak in the knees before he could find the courage to step out from behind the tree. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

The child gazed with wonder at the large dragonfly on his finger and, later, would have sworn that it smiled, quite warmly, at him. Find this blurb on Pinterest !

This is the ninth post in a series leading up to the premiere of Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' on January 13, 2017. The series will cover each of the 13 books and 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.' Be warned: there are spoilers ahead. Hiding in the trunk of Olaf's car leads the Baudelaires to the Caligari Carnival, where he and Esme seek the mysterious Madame Lulu, owner of the carnival and a fortune-teller who might know the whereabouts of the Snicket files. The Baudelaires try their hands at disguises again, they learn something more about VFD, and more people tragically die. In addition to the cruelty surrounding the 'freaks' and abused lions, the Baudelaires discover the cruelty of the truth that no person is truly noble or good. With limited disguise resources, the siblings still manage convincing 'freaks' costumes: Violet and Klaus become two-headed Beverly and Elliot, while Sunny becomes Chabo the

Her skirts tossed up behind her as the wind blew up around the field. He watched her as he came up the lane, resisting the urge to run up to her. Her father was watching from the front lawn but it was clear from her smile that she'd forgotten her father ever existed or that he had serious objections to their relationship. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Svetlana Ray by Tatyana Zarubina, DeviantArt

The wolves stopped in their activities, watching her intently as she picked her way through the overgrown grass. They had seen her before, become accustomed to her scent; she had earned safe passage through their territory. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Daniel Parent, Omega Park

She'd never seriously thought about the story book by her grandfather's favorite window. It was a model village, nothing more, despite what her grandfather had told her on so many nights of her childhood. Now that he was gone, she couldn't bring herself to start dismantling it. It didn't help that things in the little village kept moving, as if someone were playing a cruel joke. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: The Diary (c) Jeannette Woitzik

She was watching them from above, watching their clandestine meeting, and pulled a pair of binoculars out of her pocket. Snapping her gum, she adjusted her headphones.  "You must do better," said the woman below.  "And what would you have me do?" the man asked, loosening his tie.  "I would have you do your job," the woman replied, glancing around in a nonchalant way.  "I can do it, I can do it," he muttered.  She smiled and lowered her binoculars; she was getting very close now, so very close. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Lukas Wawrzinek.

He'd fallen asleep again. It was the sixth time that month that she'd found him there, candles still burning and face pressed against the printed pages. She began to close the books spread around him, tucking loose pages away, and folding up the opened charts and maps. She reached a certain chart and paused; usually, she didn't know most of what he researched, but this was different. This was something she recognized. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: (c) Supernatural, CW.

"You don't look very happy, darling," said the prince as he straightened his tie. She stroked the fabric of her skirt, trying to evade his question. "You know, I had that dress specially made. It suits a princess better than those common dresses you were wearing..." "I happen to like those dresses," she interrupted. He raised an eyebrow and she looked away again. "But this dress is beautiful." Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Olga Malyarova gown by Julia Prudence.

She stood at the edge of the wood, a blazing lantern in her hands. The reports of her vigil had been frequent and consistent; some thought she was a statue, some incredible artist's monument to a lost love. If anyone had bothered to talk to her, she might have been pleased with that story, but she would be the first to tell them how wrong they were - if only she could tell them the truth. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: (c) Alex Smutko.

She sat still, staring at the same sentence on the same page of the book on her lap, ignoring the other passengers in the train car. It had been so long since she last made this journey. Perhaps, this time, she wouldn't be so miserable. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: (c) The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec.

This is the eighth post in a series leading up to the premiere of Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' on January 13, 2017. The series will cover each of the 13 books and 'Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.' Be warned: there are spoilers ahead. On their first misadventure entirely on their own, the Baudelaires travel to the Heimlich Hospital, home of a Library of Records that might hold clues about VFD and the Baudelaires themselves. Unfortunately, Olaf and Esme know all about the records and are intent on destroying any incriminating them. When Violet is captured, Klaus and Sunny use anagrams and amateur disguises to help her escape from a deadly craniectomy. Although they escape the hospital, they aren't yet much closer to discovering the truth. The dynamics of the Baudelaire story have clearly changed at the start of this eighth installment. Instead of Olaf fiendishly following the Baudelaires, the Baudelaires have struck out on

"Warning... Warning... Warning..."  The boy tugged on his mother's skirt, using his other hand to cover one of his ears. "Mommy, what's my label going to say?" he asked. His mother shrugged, uncomfortable herself with the high volume of the label system.  As they neared the main door, she knelt down and fixed his shirt. "You be brave for Mommy, darling. It’s going to be very loud, but I promise it won’t hurt. Just stay extra still, alright? Can you do that for Mommy?" she said. The boy nodded. She stood again, adjusting her blouse; they were now second in line.  "What's your label say, Mommy?" he asked. She sighed and glanced at her label for the twentieth time that morning.  "My label warns people about my poor balance.”  He nodded, watching the boy in front of him part from his father and step onto the conveyor belt. “How does the machine know what to put on your label?” the boy asked.  “Well, it – I don’t know, darlin

"I hear there's going to be a party," Jeremy announced as he passed them in the line. They stopped immediately, nearly spilling their food.  "You're crazy, Wentworth," Thomas said, shaking his head.  "Come on," he replied, shrugging. "I hear the Saint Margaret girls are really something, Albright. What about you, Sampson?"  "What?" the smaller boy asked, startled by his name.  "You game for some games?" Jeremy asked, winking. Adam blushed furiously.  "Adam and I aren't interested," said Thomas. Jeremy shrugged and continued to the cafeteria line.  "Come on, Tom," Adam said, when Thomas still didn't move, and pushed him toward a table.  Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Victoria Hely-Hutchinson .

He stood on the sidewalk outside the gate, hands in his pockets, looking through the bars intently. His gaze was on his favorite window, in which was the light he watched flicker off every Thursday evening and the faded curtains he watched give him a small wave in the dark. He had only seen the other boy once.  Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Prompt: Promptuarium.

The creature was hardly believable, and even less believable was the fact that she had created it - simply by overstretching an ordinary balloon. All he could do was watch it wriggle its little nubs and gaze at them, full of curiosity and naïveté. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Art installation by Hans Hemmert.

The cocoon was found in the woods, not to far from the south end where the King and his sons rode in for sport. Gently, with great care for the delicacy of the twigs and leaves, the royal family ordered the cocoon brought into the palace. The King, and his council, hemmed and hawed over whether to open such a fascinating object. The council was so engrossed in their thoughts that they hardly noticed the small yellow butterfly larking about the room. Find this blurb on Pinterest ! Photo: Model Milena Stepien, photo by Luki, for Hian Tjen.