Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 37

Top Ten Tuesday: Then and Now

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is childhood characters you'd like to revisit as an adult. I decided to do things a little bit differently and list five characters I loved growing up and four that I've loved as an adult.
Now
 9: Amy GhallagerAmy is a kindred spirit. She loves reading books of any kind. She has a degree in English and teaches creative writing at a local college, though what she really wants is to be an author. Yet she's been rejected by numerous publishers, and doesn't help that her roommate can crank out pieces like *that* and sell them to magazines. It's almost depressing reading about a struggling author, but when I got past that feeling, I just felt like I wanted to be Amy's best friend.
8: Skeeter PheleanI really loved Skeeter in The Help. Really, I loved all of the narrators, but I related the most to Skeeter. She was awkward, she didn't fit in with the girls she went to high school with, and she loved to read and write. We're basically the same person. I really admire this character for all the work she put into changing the views of her town to create a more equal environment.

7: Elizabeth BennetLizzy is witty and stubborn. She's unwilling to settle in her life, and that makes a more "real" character. It definitely makes her more respectable in my eyes.
6: Valancy StirlingIn the beginning of The Blue Castle, Valancy is quite a pitiful character. She's bossed by both her mother and live-in cousin, and her days are spent quietly sewing quilts. Yet after some life changing news about her health, she decides to start living life on her own terms and doing things that really mean something to her. For this, Valancy is an admirable character that I consider a favorite.

Then
5: Millie KeithWhen I was 15, I loved the Life of Faith series. I didn't read all of the parts of the series, but I read most of Millie's books. I don't know that I would love it as much now, but I'd be up for reading the books again someday.
4: Katniss EverdeenI was 17 when I read The Hunger Games for the first time (and I was very thankful to be 17, if you know what I mean). Katniss is a strong character who isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in and that makes her admirable.
3: Emily StarrI don't know how much of a "child" I was when I read these books. I read them when I was either 17 or 18. I loved the television series, though I do know that they stray quite far from the books. Either way, I loved both the book and the films because Emily is such spunky and relatable character. I'd like to revisit these books now a few years later.
2: Jo MarchI love all of the March sisters, but Jo is my favorite (with Beth being a close second). She's spunky, a tomboy, loves books, wants to be an author, and detests the idea of growing up.
1: Anne Shirley
Truthfully, Anne is probably my all-time favorite fictional character, both back when I was a young teenager, and now that I'm an adult. But I thought since I was 15 or 16 when I first read Anne of Green Gables, I'd list it under the "then" category.

NaNo in May

A Castle in the Skywas my first every NaNoWriMo project. In case you're unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, the basic gist of it is that November has been declared national novel writing month, and so NaNoWriMo challenges writers to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. That breaks down to 1,667 words per day. I found this really worked for me, and so I've decided to use this routine again to write the sequel. It's a little intimidating, but I am looking forward to it. I also have this little word count widget that I'm hoping will keep me more accountable. So wish me luck, everyone!
Thanks for stopping by.

-Miranda Atchley

April in Review

April was quite an exciting month in my little corner of the world. The biggest contributing factor being that my novel A Castle in the Sky released. It makes me so happy to see this book out in the world and to see all of you getting excited about it. Thank you all so much for your support!
My favorite posts from April were:
All posts about ACastle in the SkyTop Ten Tuesday: Bookworm DelightsFavorite Word Friday #24 "Grateful"
So now I bid adieu to April, 2016. You've been a great month to me, and I hope to see another like you.

-Miranda Atchley

The Message of "A Castle in the Sky"

The message of A Castle in the Sky, I feel, is one of hope. It's all about pursuing your dreams, and never giving up, no matter how unlikely it seems that they'll come true. It's about trusting God to see you through the tough times that you'll face, and relying on Him when those hard times hit. It's about being who you are and who you were created to be, even when those around you don't understand and want to change you.
I really hope you've all enjoyed this week. Thank you all so much for taking the time to stop by and read about A Castle in the Sky .

-Miranda Atchley

The Edwardian Era: The Setting of "A Castle in the Sky"

A Castle in the Skybegins in 1915 and ends in 1916. I don't think I intentionally chose this era, even though I do admire this time period. I don't know if I was thinking about Downton Abbey, since that is one of my favorite shows, which is entirely possible. I can just remember that I wanted to write a story about someone who spontaneously left the only home they had ever known, and I knew I wanted it to be historical. Whatever the reason for choosing the Edwardian era, it was a blessing, and I'm very glad I wrote about the 1910s.
The 1910s were a very elegant time. I love the clothing styles for both men and women, the cars were nice to look at. There was just a different sort of air about the 1910s that you don't get from modern time periods. But there were also some serious things going on in the Edwardian era. In 1912, the Titanic sank, shaking the whole world. People were terrified of travel after a ship once thought to be unsinkable crashed into a glacier and killed hundreds of people. Then, four years later, World War I broke out. Millions lost their lives and loved ones all across the world. This era caused quite a bit of sadness for the people living in it, but there were also many great things taking place in the 1910s. The suffragette movement had been going for quite a while, yet it was gaining more speed in the 1910s. Women were gaining more rights. Though they weren't allowed to vote during the years that A Castle in the Sky takes place, they were not far from it. In 1919, the 19th amendment was instated. And aside from social changes, more modern conveniences were becoming more common. Wealthier families were buying automobiles and putting electricity in their homes. Telephones were much more common than they had been previously. A lot of progress took place in the 1910s.
I wanted to take a little time to talk about the clothes. Abi is definitely not a girl who fixes her mind on fashion, though I do feel that the dress of the time was very elegant. Evening gowns had a more square shape and higher neckline than the infamous Victorian frocks, though they weren't as straight as the dresses of the twenties. Tiny waists were the fashion, and tight corsets were key in achieving this look. During the day women wore blouses and skirts, and when going out for walks and errands they wore day suits. Men usually wore dinner jackets with tails and trousers for dinners and waistcoats with button down shirts and trousers during the day.




I love the 1910s. It's just a neat period in time. I hope you enjoyed this post about the Edwardian era. Come back tomorrow to read about the message of A Castle in the Sky .

-Miranda Atchley

The Characters of "A Castle in the Sky"

Continuing the week of celebration for A Castle in the Sky, I'd like to introduce you to some people. I've gotten to know these people fairly well over the last five months, but I still feel like I'm learning about them. So, readers and friends, meet the characters, the people that make A Castle in the Sky what it is.
(Photo found on Pinterest)
Abi Leigh Hensley
Our protagonist, Abi, is the sweetest. She's the nicest girl in the world, but she's got a little bit of spunk, and that rounds her out and gives her the strength needed in facing some of the obstacles in her life. She loves books, writing, and anything to do with words. She is very smart, often smarter than most like to give her credit for. She doesn't care much for looks, but rather what a person does. She longs for freedom, for herself, and for the rest of the world.
(Photo of  Ethel Parks, played by Amy Nuttall, of Downton Abbey)
Elizabeth "Lizzy" Taft
Lizzy was the maid at the Hensley home for four years. She and Abi were very close; best friends, actually. Like Abi, Lizzy dreams of traveling and living a different life. She has a nurturing spirit and is good at building others up, though there's also a sadness about her because of certain circumstances in her life.
Ruth Starr Hensley
Upon meeting Abi's mother, Mrs. Hensley, one finds her to be quite harsh; and she is. She's quite superficial and very concerned with the opinions of others. Yet she's a layered person, and there are many things to her personality and in her history that she rarely shows others. (I couldn't find an image that reminded me of Mrs. Hensley.)
 (Richard Gilmore, played by Edward Herrmann, reminds me of what a modern day Mr. Hensley might look like.)
George Hensley
Abi's father is a very strict man who goes by the rules and puts up a brave front. He's very set in his ways and stubborn. Yet inwardly, Mr. Hensley has a soft spot for his daughter, small, though it may be, and ultimately wants what is best for her, though he doesn't always know what that is.
(Photo found on Pinterest)
Daniel Bloom
Abi meets newspaper writer Daniel Bloom on the train ride to New York City, and the two quickly become friends. Daniel is a gentleman of the truest form. He's loyal to the end and would do anything for his friends. He's kind and understanding, a humble person, but a strong person, too.
Mrs. Wood
On a cold evening, Abi meets her sweet older neighbor, Mrs. Wood. She is a delightful woman and a true joy to write about. She's a very comforting person and the type of woman you want to pour your heart out to; someone you want to share a cup of tea with. She'll give you advice, tell you everything is going to be okay, and then serve you the best piece of pie you've ever tasted. Mrs. Wood would make the perfect grandmother for anyone. Everyone needs a Mrs. Wood. (I couldn't find a photo that reminded me of Mrs. Wood, either.)
Through Pinterest, I've found some photos that remind me of some of the supporting characters in A Castle in the Sky. Enjoy!

Jonathan SmithThe man Mr. and Mrs. Hensley wish their   daughter to marry.(I totally pictured Thomas Barrow, played by Rob-James Collier, from Downton Abbey, as I    wrote about Jonathan Smith.)


Mr. and Mrs. RamoneOwners of The White Rose boarding house.(I don't know who this couple is, but they look almost exactly like I envisioned the Ramones.)

Mr. StrattonThe Hensley's chauffer.(I always thought of Matthew Cuthbert, played by Richard Farnsworth, from Anne of Green Gables when I wrote about Mr. Stratton.)


Thanks for taking the time to meet the characters of A Castle in the Sky! If you enjoyed meeting these characters, you can get to know them even better in the book, which is now available on Amazon!
-Miranda Atchley

A Castle in the Sky + Giveaway Winner

It's April 26th; the day I have been waiting on for quite some time. The day that my newest novel, A Castle in the Sky releases! I still can't believe that this day is here. It's crazy to think that as of today, people will be reading this book. It's amazing. I am so excited for you all to read it! If you read A Castle in the Sky, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I would appreciate it so very much!
So, throw the book-shaped glitter confetti in the air and put your party hat on, because today is A Castle in the Sky's birthday!
And now it's time to announce the winner of the giveaway!
*drumroll*
The winner is.....
Julie G.

Congratulations, Julie! You should have an email in your inbox from me notifying you of your win. :)
Thank you so very much to all those that entered! It's means the world to me and I am so happy to know that there are people like you in the world that support authors like me and our dreams. Many, many hugs to you all!
The rest of the week, I'll be posting "behind the scenes" snippets of A Castle in the Sky. Today, I'm talking about what it was like writing the book. Enjoy!
Writing A Castle in the Sky
I started writing A Castle in the Sky November 1, 2015 as my first ever NaNoWriMo project. It seems so odd to think that only five months ago, I was just starting this novel. And now we're here. It kind of makes me want to cry!
A Castle in the Skyhas been my favorite thing I've written. I had always wanted to write a historical novel, and writing this is like coming home for me. I've always loved reading historical fiction; it's my favorite genre. And Abi is writer, which I obviously relate to, and that makes it fun, too. Writers are fun to write about. They're emotional, they're deep thinkers; they're just interesting people. And Abi is a dear. Really, she's just the sweetest thing, and someone you really love instantly. At times she has a bit of a temper when pushed to a certain limit, and she's a very sensitive person. But she wants desperately to do the right thing, and never gives up hope. Abi and I could be best friends!
This book holds a lot of firsts for me. This is the first historical novel I've written, the first novel I've written in third person, and my first venture out of young adult fiction. It's a pretty big deal! It's been so exciting and wonderful, and I can't wait to write another novel like it.
Of course since this is a historical novel, I had to do research. Sometimes that can be a bit of a pain, but I really can't complain. Most of the things that I was unsure of were easy to research. And I knew a lot of the basic things like how people dressed in the 1910s, what dances were like, what houses looked like, etc... from books that I've read. Honestly, when you're a writer, books are your best friends. They're your teachers. You can't write without reading.
This was the first time I've ever participated in NaNoWriMo, and I have to say, I loved it. It was pretty scary going into it, because 1,667 words per day sounds like a lot. But I did it! Okay, there were a few days when I didn't meet the goal, but I made up for it on other days. And, trust me, there were days when it got kind of stressful and I just really did not feel like doing the challenge. But I knew deep down that I wanted to do this, and so I pushed myself and accomplished my goal. That feels really good. When November ended, I had written 50,060 words of A Castle in the Sky. Now that it's been revised and edited, its 60,100 words. I can't believe that I added over 10,000 words, but they were important words.
Writing A Castle in the Sky hasn't been a bed of roses, by any means. Anytime you set out to write a book, there are going to be bumps in the road. But if you love your book and if you believe in it, then it's worth it. That's been my experience with this book.
Thank you all for taking the time to come here today. I hope you've enjoyed this post. Don't forget to come back tomorrow; there are a few folks I'd like to introduce you to. In the meantime, you can finally buy A Castle in the Sky! Just click here. I can't wait for you to read it. :)

-Miranda Atchley

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookworm Delights

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
Today's top ten Tuesday is all about the delights of being a bookworm. And let me tell you; there are many. It doesn't simply stop with reading a good book; it's just as delightful to fall in love with a book, meet new characters, collecting new books..... But I'm holding up progress. Listed below are ten delights of being a bookworm.
10: Bookish Themed AccessoriesWho doesn't love wearing things inspired by their favorite books? Whether it's clothes, jewelry, or decorating your home space with quotes, we love representing our most beloved books. I adore this Louisa May Alcott inspired necklace made by HomeStudio and wear it often. Rissi and her mom have some lovely earrings inspired by The Lunar Chronicles, and Evie Seo has amazing home decor and accessories inspired by Jane Austen's books and others.
9: Relating to Fictional CharactersAs we read, sometimes we're introduced to fictional characters that we just really relate to. Sometimes they're going through similar situations as us. Sometimes we like the same types of things. Other times, we just really admire the character, and wish we could be more like them. Whatever the case, it's so fun finding those characters that feel like a friend.
8: Taking Books Everywhere You GoI go by the Rory Gilmore rule; never leave the house without a book. Or two. Or a hundred (on the days I decide to stick my Kindle in my bag). You never know when you'll need a book, so it's good to be prepared. Plus, taking a book with you is almost like having a friend at your side, and there's something quite comforting about that.
7: Books that You Can't Put DownYou know those books; the ones that you reach for the moment you wake up, and stay up reading until you can no longer hold your eyes open at night. The ones that prey on your mind as you go about your daily chores and can't wait to get to when you get a spare moment. Yeah; we bookworms love those books.
6: The Smell of BooksI have a feeling many others will have this on their list, but the smell of books is so tantalizing. Old books have that divine musty smell, new books have a lovely new smell; yet both are so comforting. You just can't resist it. Someone should totally start making book scented perfume.
5: New BookstoresOkay, so I don't get to go to many new bookstores because the town I live in doesn't have any, but the few times I have been to one has been great. I can imagine spending hours curled up in one of the big overstuffed chairs many chains have set out for patrons, reading books to see if I like them before I buy them. Pure bliss.
4: Used BookstoresUsed bookstores are magical. I adore them. They're some of my favorite places on earth. They're like these lovely portals into new worlds, universes. I love the cozy feeling these used books stores have. There's something so charming about the creaky hardwood floors, mismatched bookshelves, musty scent and the stacks upon stacks of books. It is divine.
3: Those Moments that Touch Your SoulSometimes you read a certain passage and it just really resonates with you. Whether it's a poignant line, or a sentence that stirs a memory within you, I love reading those passages that make you stop in your tracks.
2: Falling in Love with a BookWe love discovering new books, but some are even more enjoyable than others. When you read the last page, close the book, and hold it tightly because you just don't want it to be over.... *sigh* I love that feeling.
1: Making Friends with Other Fans of a BookThis is a relatively new feeling for me. Before I started blogging, I almost never came across anyone who liked the same books I did. But because of my blog, Top Ten Tuesday, read alongs, etc.... I've found a lot of people who have similar taste in books as I do, and have made new friends because of it. We can gush about our favorite characters, swap quotes, and introduce each other to the books we love. That's so much fun!
As you can see, being a bookworm comes with many delights. I've only listed a few here today. What are some of your favorite bookish delights?
-Miranda Atchley

*P.S. I haven't forgotten about the giveaway! I'm actually scheduling this post to go live at midnight. In the morning, I'll log into Rafflecopter and click to draw for the winner and announce who it is here on the blog. Can't wait!

The Happiness Tag

So I've been seeing The Happiness Tag going around and it looks like fun! I decided to do it and so here are my answers.
Songs
Deliverance by Showbread, Marsh King's Daughter by Eisley, Cedar Branches by Rising Fawn, Find Home by The Honey Trees, Blue Jean by David Bowie
Books
All of the Anne of Green Gables books and anything else by L.M. Montgomery, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, A Singular and Whimsical Problem by Rachel McMillan; The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Movies
The Nightmare Before Christmas, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Alice in Wonderland, Shrek 2, Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Bride, Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Foods
Being from the south, I love comfort food. I also love Mexican and Asian food, and most desserts, especially with strawberries. I tried French macarons for the first time recently and loved them. They're so pretty and delicate with a lovely sweet and nutty flavor. My favorite flavors were pistachio and raspberry.
Words
Lovely, Marvelous, Whimsical, Splendid, Ethereal, Incandescent, Resilience, Everlasting  
Scents
I love things that smell good! My favorite types of scents are comforting and cozy, and clean and fresh smells. Some of my favorite scents are: Clean Linen and Cashmere Woods candles by Glade, Flowers, Earl Grey tea, cinnamon, With Love perfume by Hilary Duff, wet leaves in the fall, and books.
Random things
Books, writing, Autumn, pretty things, fairytales, retro things, thrift stores, floral patterns, elegance, teapots and teacups, the color pink, rainy fall days, most time periods pre 1990, period dramas,  laughter, good music, pets, Tim Burton films and art, and freedom to be yourself.
I hope you all enjoyed this post! If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged. :) Have a nice day!

-Miranda Atchley

Planning the First Draft

*This is the last day to enter the giveaway for a signed paperback of A Castle in the Sky and other goodies! Be sure and fill out the Rafflecopter form to the right. Thank you, and good luck!*
When it comes to novel writing, I've never been one to meticulously plan things. I know there are a lot of different methods out there, and I have looked over some, but most of them go right over my head. I'm not a terribly methodical person; I tend to go more by feeling when it comes to writing. I usually just dive right in and see where the story takes me. But I've slowly been trying to plan more when it comes to writing, especially the first draft.
Now that I'm beginning the first draft of a new novel, I'm trying to plan how I want this book to go. Everything is very basic and bare bones at the moment, but I want to at least have the general plot for the book down before I start writing it. So I'm listing the things that I know I want to happen in this book before I dive right in. Since this novel is a sequel, that involves resolving things that were left open in the first novel, bringing in new characters to shake things up a little, etc...
I know there are some people that plan each chapter of their book, write bios for all major characters, descriptions of all locations, etc... And I just can't do that. I get antsy and just want to dive right in and start telling a story. But planning out a few simple things, some of the major points of the story that I know I want to happen and the general outline of the story, I can handle.
Maybe I'm wrong; maybe I should plan more when it comes to writing. But this is what seems best for me right now.
How do you go about planning first drafts and novels?
-Miranda Atchley