Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 33

Perseverance

I think one of the most trying things about being a writer is not knowing what the future is. You never know if people are going to buy your book or like it. It can be scary, especially if you're trying to make a living at this.  
Writers are dreamers. We have big plans for our books, as well as for ourselves. We build up big expectations for ourselves, and when things don't automatically work out the way we want them to, it can disappointing and frustrating. But it's important not to let it rob of us of those dreams. I know that it's hard. I worry practically every day about these books of mine. Yet I know that I can't just give up. I've considered it, and it leaves me feeling hollow. I don't know about you, but I do not want to go through life feeling that way.
There are a lot of tough days when you feel like giving up. It's been weeks, or months, since you've sold a book and you just don't see the point in trying anymore. Sometimes you'll go weeks without writing a single sentence that you're happy with. And then someone will stop you at the grocery store and tell you how much they loved your book. Or someone will buy your book out of the blue. Sometimes you'll even write ten pages in a row. And then you remember why you wanted to this is first place. You get that feeling deep in your soul that allows it all to make sense. They're little things, but they make all the difference. God is looking out for you.
Sometimes being a writer is tough. But be patient (I know that's a hard one!) because someday, somehow, some way, it will work. It just will. You simply have to keep going.
Happy writing, friends.

-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #53 "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel PieSociety by Marry Ann Shaffer and Annie BarrowsThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was a secret book club held on Guernsey Island during the German Occupation. Now, in 1946, author Juliet Ashton is looking for a new idea for a book. When Dawsey Adams writes to her upon finding book with her name and address written in the cover, he tells her of secret society. And so begins a new journey. She comes love all the members of the society and is enchanted by the island. When she visits Guernsey, she begins writing down the stories of people's lives on the island during the war. She learns of their sorrows, hardships, and the strong leader of the group whose disappearance has remained a mystery since the end of the war.
I had never heard of this book when I saw it at my local library's annual book sale. I didn't know anything about it, but I really liked the cover, so I decided to buy it. Not to mention the quirky title caught my attention. I think the title very much suits this book, for it does lean on the quirky side. Though, seeing as it takes place during the German Occupation, it has very serious moments.
I think this book was very well balanced. It does tell sobering tales of WWII and you read of the sorrows that the people who lived through it faced. Yet there is also happiness and laughter in the book. You read of people's simple joys after the war. It feels real. It's as though Juliet really found all of these people on Guernsey. And the characters are just as complex as the book itself. Put simply, it's a very well written novel.
All in all, this was a good read. Sobering, yet also brining its moments of joy after a terrible period in time.

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Book of the Week #52 "The Ringmaster's Wife"

The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron
Mable Burton grew up in the late 1800s in rural Ohio. She always longed for a glamorous life away from the farm, but kept her dreams in the cigar box under her bed for years. When she learned of the Chicago World's Fair, she ran away from home to pursue her dreams. Yet instead of doing something marvelous like she'd always planned, she wound up working in restaurants and chasing her friend Sally, who was a singer, around the east coast. When a mysterious and wealthy man who would only tell her his name was John asked her to take a walk with him, she found herself falling in love. He disappeared and she didn't see him for another ten years on a sad night when she walked along the board walk alone. He revealed to her that his last name was Ringling, and that he was one of the owners of The Ringling Brother's traveling circus. When he asked her to marry him, Mable accepted, and ran away with him to travel with him and his circus.
Now, in the late 1920s, Lady Rosamund Easling finds herself being forced into a marriage she doesn't want, while simultaneously being separated from her beloved horse, given to her by her brother shortly before he was killed in WWI. When two men that work for The Ringling Brother's circus come to purchase Ingénue, she finds her heart breaking. At the last minute, she decides to leave her home and go with the circus to America to help them train Ingénue with plans to return to England just in time to marry. Yet when she takes this great leap of fate, she finds herself sucked into the bizarre world in which she finds herself and joins the circus. Things won't be easy for the daughter of an earl in the cutthroat world of the circus, but the trials she faces might be worth it to a part of the greatest show on earth!
I was excited about this book when I heard about it. I love the 1920s, and a novel about two women leaving all they've known behind to join the circus sounds so charming. For who hasn't thought of running away from home to chase a dream? This book definitely lived up to my expectations. True, it may have had a bit of a slow start, but once the story gets going, it flies. As I read the performance scenes, I could almost smell the popcorn and earth and hear the crowd cheering as the trick horses ran by and the acrobats flew under the Big Top. And the wonderment level is only elevated by the time in which the story takes place. The late 1920s were such a lively time and is the perfect setting for a novel about the circus, when traveling shows were at their most thrilling.
It's interesting to see where Mable and Rosamund's stories overlap and connect. The two women come from very different backgrounds, yet they still have quite a lot in common. Mable grew up on a farm with little money and few luxuries, while Rosamund was pampered at Easling Park, with anything that she wanted at her fingertips. And still the two both wind up as part of The Ringling Brother's circus, in very different ways, for the rest of their lives. And the men in their lives come from very different backgrounds, yet are similar in that they are supportive of Mable and Rosamund. It's nice to read about husbands that challenge their wives to dream.
All in all, The Ringmaster's Wife is a lovely novel that any fan of historical fiction would enjoy.

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Abroad

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish .
One of the best parts about reading is learning about new places. Books are like magical portals that take you to new places. I can't count how many times reading has stirred wanderlust within me. I wouldn't know much about other countries if I didn't read, and many of the books I've read take place outside of the U.S. That's why this week's Top Ten Tuesday is delightful to me. This week we were asked to list ten books that take place outside of the U.S.


10: Cinder by Marissa MeyersAs far as I can recall, is the only book I've read set in China. I don't know why I haven't read more books set there, or in other Asian countries, because I'm sure they're probably very interesting. I'll have to look into some more books set there. Hint, hint; suggestions, please!


9: The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. WhiteThis book may not have been one of my absolute favorites, but I still enjoyed it for the most part. It takes place partly in the Mediterranean, but mostly in England. If you love Downton Abbey, this book is certainly worth a try.


8: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. RowlingI haven't read the entire Harry Potter series, but of all the ones I have read, I think The Chamber of Secrets is my favorite.


7: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne FrankOne of the most heart-breaking books in history, Anne Frank's diary details the lives of two families as they live in an annex in Germany during WWII. This is a book every person should read.


6: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. LewisThis book not only takes place partially in another country, but also in another world. Narnia is a magical place and this book is my favorite in The Chronicles of Narnia.


5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenOne of the most well-known classics takes place in Bath, England. It's a classic tale of two stubborn people who fall in love. Every bibliophile needs to read it at least once.


4: I Capture the Castle by Dodie SmithThis is a lovely classic that I rarely hear other's talk about. It is a coming of age novel set in rural England and is one of my favorites.


3: The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillanTaking place in Edwardian Toronto, Rachel McMillan's debut novel was a treat to read that I would recommend to anyone. It's a cozy mystery filled with humor, suspense, romance, and strong female characters. What more could you ask for?


2: The Blue Castleby L.M. MontgomeryThe Blue Castleis one of Montgomery's lesser known novels, as well as one of her few adult novels, is also her only story that doesn't take place on Prince Edward Island. It's such a charming tale that almost leans on the quirky side. I loved this book set in Canada.


1: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
My favorite novel of all time has such a lovely setting. I so looked forward to the day when I finally get to see Prince Edward Island, Canada someday and visit all the places Lucy Maud loved so much.

Book of the Week #51 "The Ghost of Briardale"

The Ghost of Briardale by Grace Mullins
On her eighteenth birthday, King Pintamore had a disagreement with his daughter. Angry, the princess ran to the highest tower and hid in the stairwell. Upon finding a very old woman in a room with a spindle, the princess became infatuated with the spinning wheel and asked to spin it herself. Her finger was pricked upon the spindle and she fell to the ground, immediately becoming still. The princess was turned to stone, and her three aunties into animals. Now, five hundred years later, the princess is still a stone, and her aunties are still animals. A ghost by the name of Roselee has been searching for the True Hero, the one whom can break the spell and set the princess and her aunties free. The True Hero must have either saved a kingdom, slain a dragon, or moved a mountain. Roselee has found a few men that she has believed to be True Heroes, for they had each accomplished one of the tasks a True Hero must perform. Yet they were unable to find the fairies' wands and set them and the princess free.  Franz, a resident of Yoleton, has been banished to the asylum of Briardale by the towns people for claiming to have seen a green ghost girl. Roselee believes him to be the True Hero, yet he has not performed any of the tasks requested of a True Hero. Yet there may be more to being a True Hero than what meets the eye.
The Ghost of Briardale is Grace Mullins's debut, as well as a part of Five Magic Spindles, which is a collection of Sleeping Beautyretellings. Upon receiving an advanced reading copy, I was asked to specifically write a review for The Ghost of Briardale. And I must admit, it is a sparkling debut. The Ghost of Briardale is a mix of many different elements and is very well-balanced. There's humor, suspense, fantasy, bits of romance, and a happy- as well as surprising- ending. Everything flows together beautifully and creates a wonderful reading experience. It feels more like a traditional fairytale. There are somany fairytale retellings out there, in genres ranging from science fiction, to Western, and contemporary romance. I think this is a great thing, but I will say that I find it nice to read an old fashioned fairytale.
There's something so charming about the setting of this book; in some ways it reminds me of the novel Ella Enchanted. It's lovely, though the time in which it takes place isn't stated. There are so many neat and delightfully quirky characters in this story. You find yourself becoming interested in them and rooting for them as the story goes along. Well, except for Lady Mara, for she is the villain of the story. But hey, every fairytale needs one.
All in all I enjoyed The Ghost of Briardale and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairytales.
I give this book a 5 out of 5.
Five Magic Spindleswill release on July 22, 2016. Be sure and check it out!

*I received an ARC of Five Magic Spindles, yet as always, all opinions are my own.*

Lately 7.12.2016

Hi, readers and friends. I hope you're all doing well. I suppose it is officially summer, which I'm not too thrilled about. I'm not a fan of hot weather at all, and it's been awfully humid lately, leaving the air so heavy that it feels like a blanket. But fall will be here soon enough and I'll be feeling like myself yet again. Silver linings, you know.
Today I wanted to check in with another lately post. Sometimes it's just fun to talk about what I've been reading, writing, or listening to.
ReadingI've been reading Grace Mullins's debut The Ghost of Briardale and it's a blast. I can't wait to share more with you all in my review coming soon. Other than that, I've been reading Roseanna M. White's The Lost Heiress and am planning on reading The Reluctant Duchess. I also have Kristy Cambron's newest book The Ringmaster's Wife on my Kindle, though I haven't spent much time on it with my other reads. I plan on getting more into it soon, though. I re-read Go Set A Watchman over the weekend. Goodness, I love that book.
WritingI'm still working on a sequel to A Castle in the Sky . It's going a bit slow, though I made a few changes to the plot. Something just didn't feel right with the original plot, and when I made a certain change, things started coming together a little more. Some more changes may be in the works, but I'm beginning to get somewhere. I'd love to have this book out by the end of the year, though it may be early 2017 before its ready.
ListeningSucre has been playing a lot on my iPod lately, especially Young and Free. I've also been listening to The Smashing Pumpkins a lot. I love Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
And that's my lately. Hope you're all doing well! Thanks for stopping by today.

-Miranda Atchley

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Facts About Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish .
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is "Ten Facts About Me". We could either choose facts that are bookish, or just general facts about ourselves. I decided to go with general facts. Nothing too soul bearing, but the facts I've listed are things I like about myself and things I think make me "me". I hope you enjoy!
10: I am a Christian.It's probably evident if you've read my books, and I hope it is evident to those that know me in person, but I am a Christian. It's important to me and one of the best facts about me, I feel, because I believe that God is the truth.
9: I was homeschooled.I went to public school from pre-K through the fifth grade. That last year was pretty hard for me, so when sixth grade came around, my mom began homeschooling me. I used to never meet other homeschoolers, but since I've become more involved in the book community, I've met a bunch, and that is really neat.
8: I went to graduation one year after I graduated.When I was seventeen and finished with homeschool, I got my G.E.D. I took the test the week of graduation that year, and it takes a few weeks for your results to come back, so I wasn't able to go to graduation that year. I ended up passing on the first try and received my diploma in June of 2012. The next spring, the community college I got my G.E.D through sent me a letter inviting me to graduation since I didn't get to go to the last one. It was kind of awkward, but I am glad that I went.
7: Pink is my favorite color.I'm sure it's pretty obvious given the layout of my blog, but yes; pink is my favorite color. It makes me happy.
6: I don't like coffee.I know a lot of people would be shocked to hear this because it seems like almost everyone drinks coffee, but I do not like it. I just don't like the taste. Sometimes I like the smell of it, yet not always. 
5: I love peacocks.I think peacocks are some of the prettiest things in God's creation. I love their colors and designs in their feathers. They're just beautiful.



4: Fall is my favorite season.There are so many reasons why I love fall. The leaves, the weather, the holidays, the pumpkins, my birthday..... It's just a magical time of year.


I took this picture a few years ago. These trees are directly across the street from my window. So beautiful!
3: I love Tim Burton movies.I just love the style of his movies. They're quirky and fun. My all-time favorite movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. Some of my other favorites are; Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland, and Alice Through the Looking Glass.
2: I love period dramas and classic literature.Again, this is pretty obvious if you've followed my blog for a while, but for those of you who are just discovering A Real Writer's Life, know that those two things are mentioned often around here. I love reading books written/set in eras long since passed and the same for movie and T.V. shows. There's just something about it that draws me in and I just love it.





1: I am an author.I've been writing since my early teens, and I self-published my first book when I was nineteen. I've written four novels, and hope to write many more. Writing is my passion, and one of the most important things to me. You can find out more information about my books here.
And those are some facts about me. Thank you all for stopping by today. If you're a new reader, I want to welcome you to my blog. And since I love reading about my readers, feel free to leave ten facts about you in the comments!

-Miranda Atchley

Top Ten Tuesday: Lovely Lesser Known Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish .
Happy Tuesday, readers and friends! I hope you all had a lovely Fourth of July. Today the ladies at The Broke and The Bookish asked us to list our top ten books that have a Goodreads rating under 2000. Initially, I thought this would be a breeze, but it proved to be a little bit harder than I anticipated. I thought of a few novels that I love that I rarely hear others mention, only to find that they had many more ratings on Goodreads than I realized. Yet I found some gems that I truly enjoyed and that I feel more people should know about.

10: When I Married My Mother by Jo MaderThis book isn't too far from 2000 ratings on Goodreads. It's a quirky memoir about a woman who caring for her aging mother. There are a few risqué moments, but they are few and far between.


9: Ain't We Got Fun by Emily Chapman and Emily Ann PutzkeThis is a nice indie novel about two young women, sisters in fact, that write each other letters during The Great Depression.


8: Finding Aliceby Melody CarlsonThis is another book that is just below 2000 ratings on Goodreads. Melody Carlson is a veteran of Christian fiction and an author that I grew up reading. I loved her young adult books as a teen, but this has become my favorite of her's. It's the story of Alice, a college student, who is suffering from schizophrenia. It's a heavy subject matter, but a great story of hope.


7: The Bronte Plot by Katherine ReayDear Mr. Knightleyseems to be Katherine Reay's most popular novel. It is a very good book, but I also love The Bronte Plot. I love the English setting and reading about all the literary sites Lucy and Helen visit.

6: Amy Inspired by Bethany PeirceI love this novel about a woman approaching thirty, who wants to be an author but struggles to become one.

5: How a Star Fallsby Amber StokesAmber Stokes is a talented indie author. Her new adult novella is a charming tale set in Oregon that will make you yearn for the Pacific Northwest even more than you already do.

4: While You're Awake by Amber Stokes I've featured this book many times on my blog, and for good reason; it is a lovely novelette. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys light Christian romance.

3: A Singular and Whimsical Problem by Rachel McMillan

2: The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan

1: Of Dubious and Questionable Memory by Rachel McMillanRachel's novels are fairly new, but I have a feeling they'll be reaching thousands of ratings before too long. If you love cozy mysteries and historical fiction, you musttry The Herringford and Watts Series.
Thanks for stopping by today!
-Miranda Atchley

Independence Day Sale

Hey readers and friends. I'm just popping in to let you all know that the Kindle editions of all my books will be $0.99 for the Fourth of July weekend! The sale will start July 1st and end July 4th. And if you download and read the books, please consider leaving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. It's a huge help and I would appreciate it ever so much. Happy reading and happy Fourth of July!

-Miranda Atchley

Anne of Green Gables Read-Along

Hello, readers and friends. Can you all believe that this is the last week of the Anne of Green Gables read-along? I can't! It makes me sad, but I am glad we have done this. It's been fun.These chapters bring about more of that bittersweet feeling as Anne leaves Green Gables for a year to attend Queen's. We read as Anne experiences homesickness, but eventually finds friends and sets her sights on the Avery scholarship. After working hard throughout the year, Anne obtains the scholarship with plans to attend Redman college the following year.  And then the saddest part of the book takes place; Matthew's unexpected passing. Anne is devastated by her loss, as is Marilla, who's sight is getting worse. When Anne learns of Marilla's plans to sell Green Gables, she decides to stay home and help Marilla while teaching in Avonlea and studying what she would have at Redman.
Discussion Questions
Do you think it was wise for Anne to stay home with Marilla rather than go to college after graduating from Queen's?At first I would almost say no, because she had the scholarship and chances are she wouldn't go to college if she took time off from school. But it was better for her in the long run. Marilla needed her, and Anne got to teach at the Avonlea school, so she gained experience for her future career as a principal. And she wound up going to college down the line, so it didn't turn out to be a bad decision after all. So yes; I think it was wise for Anne to stay home with Marilla.
Do you think Anne and the other characters changed throughout the book? If so, in what ways?I think Anne changed a little bit, but not too much. She's still imaginative and whimsical, but she's more mature toward the end of the book. She's a little quieter, and thinks more before she speaks and doesn't let her temper fly like she once did. I think Marilla changed more than anyone. Even though she still holds a tough veneer, she's much softer and realizes how much she loves Anne.
If this was your second (or third, fourth, etc...) time reading Anne of Green Gables, what do you think about the book now? Was it the same as you remembered it to be?It really wasn't too different than I remembered it to be. I think one thing I notice more in Montgomery's writing now is her sense of humor. It's very subtle and a bit dry, but it's definitely there. You don't notice it's there until you find yourself laughing.
Favorite Quotes
It's nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one's heart like treasures.
But if the path set before her feet was to be narrow she knew that flowers of quiet happiness would bloom about it. (This quote reminds me of my friend Kara. :) )
"God is in His heaven," whispered Anne. "All's right with the world."
Thank you all so much for participating in this read-along. It was a lot of fun and I loved reading your thoughts.
-Miranda Atchley