Whatnot Wednesday and Inspiration for #TDWC

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Hi, everyone.  May just might be my favorite month, and that’s because of Dan Antion‘s 2026 Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC).  This morning Dan posted all the “doors” images that people submitted for storytellers to use as inspiration prompts for the challenge, throughout the month of May.  I say storytellers because it’s open to whatever kind of creative work the images inspire in you.  There’s more information at Dan’s blog.

1920s New Orleans home iron balconies gate on vintage newspaper composite Teagan R Geneviene
1920s New Orleans home with iron balconies and gate on vintage newspaper, composite image by Teagan R Geneviene

UPDATED:  Stinkin’ WordPress… I just saw that it ate my explanation of the above image.  Readers of my 1920s paranormal series might recognize this composite using a real 1920s newspaper as an illustration from A Peril in the Vines.  For Thursday Doors purposes, gates are acceptable as doors.

Whale-house, city below composite by Teagan R Geneviene
Concept for a Whale House, composite image by Teagan R Geneviene

Admittedly the paths inside my mind are awfully twisty.  A video mentioned “Jonah in the belly of the whale” and him being there for 3 days.  Participants could submit 3 images.  The next thing I knew, I was imagining a real house constructed to look like a whale.  It would need a huge pool around it, and a boat to ferry the occupants across the water.  Maybe it should be up high somewhere, for a nice view of the city.  Oh, and the door… that should look like one from Captain Nemo’s submarine…  Hence my composite image above.

 

1937 Ford Model 78 Deluxe Roadster at gate, Siamese cat on fender, composite by Teagan R Geneviene
1937 Ford Model 78 Deluxe Roadster at gate composite by Teagan R Geneviene

Most of you will recognize the vintage Ford and Tiamat the cat from my current writing exercises, The Dragons of Cronesboro.  I was so infatuated with the wonderful car John W. Howell suggested to kickoff those stories, and the Siamese cat too… that I had to share one of the many car images I made for Dan’s challenge, hoping others would be as inspired by the splendid vehicle as I was. 

I hope to do at least a few story-posts for the challenge during May.  I’m bringing back the Pumpkin Hat Girls for my first offering.  That story is inspired by one of the images from DennyHo at Thoughts of an E’ville Woman.  I’m polishing up that short story now.  The Pumpkin Hat Girls and I will see you on May 1st.

Daphne: How dare Yummy Human use that stupid Siamese for a picture, instead of me.

Friendly comments are welcome.  Thanks for opening this door.  Hugs!

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Naturally, the obligatory shameless self-promotion must be included.

A Peril in the Vines

Universal Purchase Links

A Peril in the Vines

e-book:  relinks.me/B0DS4G7RSD

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0DS69GJDV

A Medium’s Peril full series link: relinks.me/B0CG2SXX24

 

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This post is part of Dan Antion 6th Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC). Click the blue link for more information about the challenge and how to showcase your stories.)  Fortunately for me, Dan’s rules for the writing challenge are wonderfully flexible and include any sort of creativity. 

This blog is entirely human-written.  Furthermore, the author expressly prohibits any entity from using this publication for purposes of training AI technologies to generate text.  No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author, or used with permission, or from free sources.

Copyright © 2026 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

61 thoughts on “Whatnot Wednesday and Inspiration for #TDWC”

  1. Your whale door and vehicle is really neat! FYI-I’ve finally down to your book Thistletown Midsomer Bedlam in my TBR stack. It’s great I’m already at Part II. It’s a fast read, and I’m looking forward to finding out how it all goes for Bedlam. I still have my faerie name and alternate world faerie name from all those years ago when you prompted us to find ours. Now, I get it! 😊

    I hope your image inspires many stories! Happy May writing, Teagan!

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    1. Hi, Deborah — it’s so good to see you. Thanks about the image. I had fun thinking of it and putting the pieces together.

      That’s music to my ears! I’m delighted that you’re enjoying Bedlam Thunder and her friends. Sumer is a great time for that story. I really appreciate your feedback. Now I’m off to conclude the little ditty about the Pumpkin Hat Girls. Have a splendid rest of the week. Big hugs.

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  5. Pingback: The Gate on Clara Street – The Elephant's Trunk

    1. Awesome! Thanks, Robbie — I’m happy you’re feeling inspired. Yes, it’s really great of Dan to host this challenge. He doesn’t admit it, but I’m sure it’s a ton of work especially tracking all the stories and matching them to the photos. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs.

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      1. Hi Teagan, I’m sure it is a lot of work. The articles on LatinosUSA are a lot of work for me but I like doing it. I am sure Dan feels the same way. I am the late submitter – hides head in shame. Mom has been ill again and is on a second antibiotic again.

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  9. I’m with you, Daphne! You’ve been jilted. Go bite her hand! Seriously, that whale house is amazing. I would love to live there. Did you think of making a bridge instead of using a boat? You could slide off the balcony down the waterfall for a swim!

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  10. What fabulous images, Teagan, and I love the Pumpkin Hat Girls, so I’m looking forward to their next adventure! Thanks Teagan, and thanks to Dan and all the contributors for such wonderful inspiration and challenge. Big hugs to you and love to the Scoobies!

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          1. Ohh, thank you, Teagan. I love those.
            I might use another… Just in the searching through fabrics (Barbie gowns again!) and I have another Barbie… so 2 Barbie’s in gowns.
            HUGS

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            1. Your Barbies in Gowns remind me of how very much I loved my Barbie as a little girl. Isolated as evil-mother kept me, the doll was very important to me. I love looking at pictures of the ones in Bob Mackie gowns too. LOL. Some things I guess I never outgrow. ❤

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                2. It’s only a couple of years old, at most. I watched it on Tubi, and it may be on Netflix.
                  It is super!! ❦🕊

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  15. I just looked at the doors Dan posted and I don’t know how I’ll choose. It usually ends up choosing something that works with a prompt I’m doing–as with everything I never plan ahead. Looking forward as always to your stories! (K)

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    1. Thanks, Kerfe. Yes, hard to choose. I couldn’t help noticing that a lot of them didn’t have any sort of door, gate, or even an open doorway. So those could illustrate anything, I guess.

      I love the ones you submitted. One of those might work for something in Cronesboro. Hugs.

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  16. Thank you so much for contributing doors to this year’s challenge and for supporting this challenge since its inception. I am so looking forward to your stories, and I love the Pumpkin Hat Girls!. I’m getting excited.

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    1. My pleasure about the link, John. Thanks! It was fun to imagine a bedroom balcony that had a waterfall-fountain pouring off the edge of it. LOL, and a double-hatch submarine door, incase the house gets a mind of its own and makes for the open ocean. Hugs.

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