Reader: Dear Mr. Snicket, What is the best way to keep a secret? Lemony Snicket : Tell it to everyone you know, but pretend you are kidding.

I decided that it might be interesting to have terrible things happen to orphans over and over again.

Never, under any circumstances, let the Virginian wolfsnake near a typewriter.

Blank paper has always inspired me.

It has been said that the hardest job in the world is raising a child, but the people who says this have probably never worked at a comb factory or captured pirates on the high seas.

Just because something is typed-whether it is typed on a business card or typed in a newspaper or book-this does not mean that it is true.

Hal is on his way." The nurse announced reentering the room.