Monday, September 5, 2011

First Campaigner Challenge

(source)
A PEEK INTO A FAIRY TALE
The door swung open to my surprise as I walked up to my little garden shed.  Had I left it half closed yesterday? I thought.  As I got closer and stepped inside I noticed my garden pots strewn about. Then I saw something peculiar.

Just below my workbench stood open another little door.  I bent down to get a better look and froze; there before me stood a thing I had only heard about in fairy tales.  She had bright red hair unbound and curling down her back and beautiful sparkling little green eyes.  Her complexion was a creamy white with rosy red cheeks.  She wore an earthen colored garment like that of a small dress.  She gave a quirk of a smile and said, “Hello, I am glad to finally meet you.”

“Hel-lo,” I slowly said; still not believing what I saw.

“We did not wish to bother you, but your cat has been stalking us as we gather berries from your briar patch.  Please keep her from the briars for three days more.  We are collecting for the winter.”

“Sorry, I’ll do as you ask,” I said shaking my head.  She grinned and then the door swung shut.
Posted by Sheri L. Swift, Author at 10:41 AM

62 comments:

  1. 1000th.monkeySeptember 5, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    "She gave a quirk of a smile..."

    VERY nice ;)

    ...I have no idea what she is, though... is she a specific kind of fairy-tale creature?

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  2. Marie AndrewsSeptember 5, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    Very sweet and I immediately visualized this beautiful garden. It drew me right in :)

    Marie

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  3. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 5, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    1oooth.monkey, thank you. I was limited to 200 words! Lol! I imagine her to be a sort of pixie (wood sprite).

    Marie, thank you. The photo was the inspiration. ; )

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  4. Alleged AuthorSeptember 5, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    Too cute. I imagined her to be more of a pixie as well. :)

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  5. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 5, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    Thank you, I guess that's why I titled it a *peek* ; )

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  6. bridgetstraub.comSeptember 5, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    I like it and it's the first fairytale i've come across. I'm #72

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  7. Avery MarshSeptember 5, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    Such a sweet and lighthearted read. A nice balance to all the dark, spooky and sad entries I've been reading all day (mine included). ;)

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  8. Coleen PatrickSeptember 5, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    Hi Sheri! Wish I could turn the page, I love fairy tale elements!

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  9. Bethany LopezSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    Very nice! These are a lot of fun! I am #19.

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  10. Tara TylerSeptember 6, 2011 at 5:31 AM

    what a nice surprise! wonder what happens next =)

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  11. alberta rossSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    nice one - well done

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  12. Elizabeth Varadan, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    What a darling story. I can see a real adventure coming out of this, a chapter book. I'd love to know where you go with it!

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  13. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Wow, I went to bed (East Coaster) & found 6 more comments. : )

    Bridget, thank you. I like yours too. ; )

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  14. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Thanks Avery, fairytales have always been my favs.

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  15. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    Thank you Coleen, she's actually a smaller version of a fairytale that I'm working on.

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  16. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Thank you Bethany, I'm not sure what # I am! Lol! I'll have to go & see.

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  17. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    Thank you Tara. Its so hard when you're only limited to 200 words.

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  18. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Thank you Alberta.

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  19. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    Thank you Elizabeth. I do have a chapter book in mind that will combine two of my elf stories. For now I'm busy working on the sequel to my book.

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  20. Elizabeth Varadan, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    Hi, again, Sheri, thanks for following me. I tried to come from my blogsite, but only get your picture, no blog site. I'm not sure why that is. Can you "re-follow" in a way that will allow me to click right onto your site when I want to read your posts?

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  21. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Sure, I'll add my link.

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  22. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    We're actually having a pretty good storm right now & that might have messed with things.

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  23. Gary GauthierSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    A lighthearted and imaginative piece Sheri. I enjoyed it!

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  24. Jill CampbellSeptember 6, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    Cute story.

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  25. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Thank you Gary, liked yours too! ; )

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  26. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Thanks Jill. ; )

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  27. Elizabeth Varadan, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    BTW: Because you are a new follower, you have been entered in the contest to win a free copy of my MG Fantasy, The Fourth Wish. Check out the rules for increasing your chances on my August 26th post, and good luck. Friday, Sept. 9th is the last day.

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  28. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Thank you Elizabeth, I will if I have the time. VERY busy right now.

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  29. Julie HedlundSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    Cute. My daughter would love this!

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  30. Dawn M. HamsherSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    The fairy has some nerve! She wants you to keep the cat away while she steal your berries? :0)

    The Write Soil

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  31. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    Thank you Julie, my youngest (21) loved it too!

    Yes Dawn, she's quite pesty. ; )

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  32. Pam WilliamsSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    Loved this! Brought a huge smile to my lips!
    Blessings!
    Pam

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  33. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Thank you Pam, love to make people smile! ; )

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  34. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    love fairy stories!! "quirk of a smile" is probably my favourite phrase in this short "peek." nicely done! Sarah xx

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  35. Sonia LalSeptember 7, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Sweet little flash! I liked the "quirk of a smile" line best.

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  36. Jocelyn RishSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    What a light, fun story. I like how the narrator just accepts this magical encounter in such a nonchalant kind of way.

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  37. Denise Covey September 8, 2011 at 2:39 AM

    Sheri. I love this. So evocative. I love using fairy tales in different ways and you've done this so well.

    Denise

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  38. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Thank you Sarah, Sonia, Jocelyn, Denise and Alica. I do love a good fairy story. My husband & I noticed that we were growing fairy rings below our hill. Lol! Two rings of mushrooms, one small and the other large. Science says that they grow in rings around dead oaks, but I wonder??? ; )

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  39. Christine RainsSeptember 8, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    That was a sweet surprise. Good job!

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  40. DoreenSeptember 8, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    This was just so sweet! I love fairytales:)

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  41. MC RogersonSeptember 9, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    I would have loved to find a fairy in my garden shed when I was younger. Very enjoyable!

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  42. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 9, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Thanks Christine

    Thanks Doreen, I do too!

    Thanks MC, I always imagined them & even leprechauns! ; )

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  43. Christine TylerSeptember 9, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Hey! You've been shortlisted in the first level of the challenge! You are now on to Round 2 of 4!

    p.s. Just so you know though, the hyphen in your "hel-lo" peaks you at 201 words. I took out the hyphen to see if it took you down to 200 and it did, so you cleared on my mac. I thought this was fair because it wasn't actually a word adjustment. Just watch out for this in proceeding rounds!

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  44. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    This was really nice! I enjoyed it and can see it being turned into a children's story :)

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  45. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 9, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Thanks Christine, my computer showed 200 in Word. That will help me in the future though. Wow, I didn't know if I would make it past round 1! Lol! ; )

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  46. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    Thank you Catherine, I'm working on an Elven story and a sequel to my book. ; )

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  47. Deniz BevanSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    Oh, how sweet! I'd like to meet her too.

    Hope you feel better soon!

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  48. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    Thank you Deniz. I'm getting around a little better today. ; )

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  49. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Also wanted to say that I'm glad to meet another fantasy Deniz! ; )

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  50. Tia BachSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    So sweet and endearing. Excellent!

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  51. Maeve FrazierSeptember 10, 2011 at 4:40 AM

    Nice fairy tale. Loved the little pixie. I could read more.

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  52. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 10, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Thanks Tia and Maeve, I couldn't resist with Rachal's image, it seemed that a fairy tale was hidden just behind the door. ; )

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  53. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 10, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Also Maeve, I stopped by your site and can't believe that you made your daughter's wedding gown, bridesmaid's & even your own. I also love you & your husbands names! ; )

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  54. MariaSeptember 10, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Its ages since I've read a fairy tale,very sweet. Thank you.

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  55. Yvie GonyaSeptember 10, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    I loved the imagery so much! And the "quirk of a smile"--so cute! And congratulations on making it to the next round!

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  56. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 10, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Thank you Maria and Yvie, this has been fun getting to know all of you! ; )

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  57. UnknownSeptember 11, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    Hi Sheri, a cute little tale. I like the way the elf is so matter of fact. Good luck in the next round! I got through too.

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  58. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 11, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    Congrats Michele! I had a lot of fun & am looking forward to more! ; )

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  59. K.T. HannaSeptember 12, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    This is really sweet :D Reminds me of the things we imagine as children.

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  60. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 12, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Thank you K. T., yes, I'm afraid that my mind does still work that way! ; )

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  61. F.E. SewellSeptember 17, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    Thank you so much for the lighthearted read! It was exactly what I needed. I thoroughly enjoyed it! :)

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  62. Sheri L. Swift, AuthorSeptember 18, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    Thank you F. E., thanks for stopping by! ; )

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