Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 38

Favorite Word Friday #24 "Grateful"

*The blog tour for A Castle in the Sky is stopping over on My Favorite Pastime today! Be sure to visit Julie; she's a sweet person with a cozy blog.*
Grateful
adjective  grate·ful \ˈgrāt-fəl\
: feeling or showing thanks : feeling or showing thanks to someone for some helpful act
I'm feeling grateful. Really, I should feel grateful all the time; I have family and friends that love me, I get to write books like I've always wanted to, and God is with me every second of every day. How could I not be grateful? Unfortunately, many times I find myself throwing pity parties and complaining. "Why me?"
 I'm human; we all do it.
Yet lately it's been easier for me to think of things that I'm thankful for. You guys are the best. Do you know how much it means for you to read my posts and to get excited about a book that you haven't even read yet? To tweet about it, share on it your Facebook page, and enter a giveaway to win that book? Do you realize how exciting it is for an author to see the book she's been writing on her laptop on your blog? The book that saw her through happiness, sadness, and stressfulness; heartache, hardships, and blissful days? I wish you could, if you don't already, realize just how special you are for these simple little things that translate into something so very big in my life. I can't say thank you enough. I wish I could hug you all!
I am grateful!
-Miranda Atchley

(Definition taken from the Merriam Webster onlinedictionary.)

The Birthstone Book Tag

I was tagged by Captivated Reader to do The Birthstone Book Tag. I had a lot of fun coming with answers to these questions! Enjoy!
1: JanuaryGarnet: Name a character that you think is evil/dark.
I can think of a lot of evil villains, but the one that sticks out in my mind the most is Hilly Holbrook in The Help. Ugh! That lady leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. And she's so real; like, I know there are probably people out in the world just like her, and that make me sad and mad.
2: FebruaryAmethyst: Name a book you think of as regal.
When I think of the word regal in terms of novels, I always think of Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice seems like a very regal novel with demure Mr. Darcy and all the balls that take place in the book.
3: MarchAquamarine: Name a character you think of as weak, or as more of a follower.
I hate to say it, but this makes me think of Catherine in Northanger Abbey. I wouldn't really call her a "follower" per say, but she's not a terribly strong character, especially in the beginning. Though, I will say that I was very happy that by the end of the book, she had gained a little bit of backbone and learned to stay away from the Thorpes.
4: AprilDiamond: Name a book that you love, but isn't very well known.
I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith. This book doesn't seem terribly popular, which is odd considering the author also wrote 101 Dalmatians, but I love it. It's set in the '30s in an English castle with lots of love and heartache and beautiful phrases. I really don't know what more you could ask for.
5: MayEmerald: Name two characters who balance each other out.
I'm probably going to make some people mad with this answer, but I'm going to have to go with Laurie and Amy in Little Women. Don't get me wrong; I was totally Team Jo and Laurie, but since that didn't happen, I think Laurie and Amy really balance one another out. He brings her down to earth and brings out the more caring side to her; she seems to think about bigger issues than just beauty and such after she marries Laurie. And she calms Laurie down a bit. Though we may question how genuine their relationship is, Laurie and Amy are a balancing act.
6: JunePearl: Name a character that is loyal.
Gilbert Blythe. I mean, come on; he waited eleven years for Anne to finally figure out that she loved him as much as he loved her. Not many guys would do that. (And I kind of love that this question goes with the pearl, because Anne loved pearls.)
7: JulyRuby: Name a book that aggravates you/ makes your blood boil.
This one is hard for me. I can't really think of a book that makes me mad, just certain characters that frustrate me. So, if I'm looking at it from that point of view, I'd say that some of the characters in The Helpmake me mad, even though I love the book for the good characters it has. Another one that frustrates me would be The Diary of Anne Frank. It is such a good book, and Anne had such wonderful talent, but it's so sad and makes your blood boil to know that things like that actually happened.
8: AugustPeridot: Name a supporting character you preferred to the main character.
This was the hardest question on this list for me. Normally I like the protagonist better than all of the other characters, and if I don't, then I won't finish the book. I just couldn't think of a supporting character that I preferred to the main character. :-/
9: SeptemberSapphire: Name a book that you found to be calming.
The only book that I can think of that fits this bill would probably be The Joke That We Play on the World by Joshua S. Porter. It's a memoir about the band Showbread, which was my favorite growing up. If you aren't a fan of Showbread, then you'd probably think this book was really silly, but as someone who grew up listening to them, I loved it. It's pretty funny, and so it's something I like to read when I'm stressed out or sad.

10: OctoberOpal: Name a book with a pretty cover.
I adore these covers of the Anne of Green Gables books. They're so pretty and colorful.



11: NovemberTopaz: Name a book with a resilient protagonist.
This one is tough, so I think I'm going to call it a tie between Linh Cinder of Cinder and Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games. Both characters have to go through so much, but do great things and are so strong through it all.

12: DecemberBlue Zicron: Name a fictional friendship you would love to be a part of.
Jo March and Theodore "Laurie" Laurence. Jo and Laurie were perfect for each other. I loved their friendship. And I'll admit that I wanted them to be married, but I'm glad that they remained friends, even after Laurie married Jo's sister, Amy.
Thank you, Captivated Reader, for tagging me! I'd like to tag Julie of My Favorite Pastime, Grace of Fictionally., Amber of Seasons of Humility, Stefanie of Author Stefanie MacWilliams, Kara of Flowers of Quiet Happiness, and Meghan of A Northern Belle.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this post. Until next time....
-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #42 "Dear Mr. Knightley"

*The blog tour for A Castle in the Sky continues over on Fictionally. Go over and say hi to Grace! She's a nice person and her blog is quite charming. :)*
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
Samantha Moore came to live at Grace House after being tossed from one abusive foster home to another. Throughout most of her life, Samantha has hidden behind books, using them to escape her painful childhood. Her favorites are the classics, and she often quotes them when she can't think of anything else to say in conversation. She's now an adult and has a degree in English. After getting a job at the library, she moved out of Grace House and into her own apartment, but things didn't work out. So now, as the book begins, she finds herself back where she spent her teenage years, and back in college to get her master's degree. An anonymous donor agrees to sponsor Samantha's degree on two conditions; that she major in journalism at the tough graduate program at Mill's in Chicago, and that she writes letters to the donor about her daily life. In order for the letters to feel more real, the donor requests that she addresses them to "Mr. Knightley." Soon, Samantha finds herself opening more to Mr. Knightley than to any other person she's ever known. And for the first time in her life, she puts in the effort to make friends with some of her classmates. When one of her friends, whom she thinks of as an "Emma," invites her to sit in on her creative writing class and listen to author Alex Powell, whom Samantha adores, she leaps at the chance. After the lecture, Samantha and Alex bump into one another and go out for coffee together. From then on, the two develop a sort of friendship, though Samantha secretly wishes it could be more.
I enjoyed this book, though it did make me sad. The descriptions of Samantha's childhood were heartbreaking, and I skimmed over a lot of it because it was just so sad. But I really enjoyed the parts that detailed Samantha's relationship with Alex, and her friendship with Emma. And I can very much relate to Samantha's desire to immerse herself in books in order to escape reality. Even though I never went through the things she did, it's still nice as an avid reader to get lost in a good book on a bad day. I really felt for Sam when she struggled in one of her journalism classes. I remember having an awful teacher in school (though her intentions weren't as good as Dr. Johnson's) and so I know that it isn't easy. But Samantha really persevered and accomplished a lot in this book. And I'm glad that finally found a place where she belonged, something that she had been searching for her whole life.
As I said before, I like the relationship between Samantha and Alex. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say that it's one of the best parts of the book. I like it when romances start out as friendships; they tend to be the best ones.
Dear Mr. Knightleyis a good book. It's very heartbreaking in certain places because Samantha has been through so very much, but there are a lot of good things that happen, too. It's an inspiring story of a woman overcoming great adversary and going onto live a much better life.

I give this book a 4 out of 5.

A Castle in the Sky Blog Tour Kick Off

Hello readers and friends. I'm very excited this Tuesday, because today I'm kicking off the blog tour for A Castle in the Sky! We have a great lineup of bloggers for the tour. I'm so thankful for you guys! 


Blog Tour Schedule:
April 19- Miranda @ A Real Writer's LifeApril 20- Grace @ Fictionally.April 22- Julie @ My Favorite Pastime
About The Book:
In 1915, it is believed that there isn't much hope for a woman beyond marriage. Yet Abi Leigh Hensley, lover of the written word, believes otherwise. Growing up as the daughter of a wealthy lawyer in the gold mining town of San Francisco, Abi never felt like she fit in with her parents' stifled lifestyle. And though she's been raised to believe that her lot in life is to marry, she's always loved to read and write and has dreamt of being an author all her life. After her parents' failed attempt at an arranged marriage, Abi leaves the comfort of her wealthy upbringing in San Francisco to pursue her dreams of becoming an author in New York City, a city she has always loved. Excitement seems to loom around each corner, yet Abi may be in for than she bargained for.Full of hopes, dreams and self-discovery, A Castle in the Sky is a novel fans of historical fiction are sure to love.
Book Excerpt:
Merriam helped Abi into the new gown Mrs. Hensley had handpicked for the party. A nice midnight blue velvet, which Abi was rather fond of, with sapphires about the neck. Her mother had surprisingly given into letting her wear her hair in a pompadour, rather than another atrocious chignon, claiming she had grown bored of the new styles. Once Abi was dressed and her hair was styled, Merriam left to attend to the kitchen. Before slipping on the dreaded kid gloves and heels, Abi placed a few more tops and skirts into one of three suitcases she had laid on her closet floor. The other two contained books, manuscripts, short stories and journals she had kept, the earliest dating back to 1902 when she was just learning to write; the urge to put words on paper already strong.
"Abigail, are you nearly ready?" she heard her mother say from the hallway as she laid a pair of shoes in her clothing suitcase. She could hear her mother turning the brass doorknob. Quickly, Abi shut the closet door and turned to face her mother.
"Almost. I just need to put my gloves and shoes on."
Her mother stared at her for a moment, her steely gaze as cold as the ocean breeze on a winter night. "What were you doing in the closet?"
Abi panicked; sweat beading on her powdered brow, heart pounding in her chest. "Just making sure Aunt Penelope's things are where they ought to be."
Abi could tell her mother was skeptical and she felt sorry for her lie, but she didn't know what else to do. Mother slowly walked over to the closet and looked inside. Thank goodness I shut the suitcases, thought Abi.
With a shake of her head and a clack of her tongue, Mrs. Hensley shut the closet door. "It's time for the party, dear. Put on your gloves and shoes and come outside."
Mrs. Hensley walked out into the hallway, shutting the door behind her. Abi almost fell to the floor in relief as the door clicked shut. Her body was still shaking with nerves as she stepped into her shoes and slipped on her gloves. She knew the time would come soon enough when she'd have to tell her mother and father about her plans, but she wanted to put it off as long as possible.
Drawing in a deep breath, Abi left her room and walked out into the family portrait lined hallway, down the grand stair case, through the house and into the back yard, greeting family and friends as she went, the way her mother and father had always instructed her to. The vibrant green lawn was trimmed and manicured in pristine fashion, almost too perfect to be real. Everyone seemed cheerful as they sat at tables set out for the occasion, laughing, talking and drinking. The air had that feeling it has when something great is about to happen. Like freedom and dread charged with electricity.
She looked about for her friend and former maid to the Hensley's, Lizzy, though with disappointment, did not see her. She would have liked to have believed it was because the invitation had gotten lost in the mail, or perhaps Lizzy's son was feeling unwell and she couldn't leave him to come to the party. Yet Abi had a feeling that this was not the reason her dear friend was absent.
As she walked through the crowd, she spotted Jonathan speaking to another young lady. The two looked quite cozy, as the girl Abi thought to be one of her distant cousins fluttered her lashes like butterflies at Jonathan. He laughed and smiled and touched her hand. One could tell that Jonathan Smith really did think quite a lot of himself by the way he spoke and held himself. Abi didn't mind in the least to see him flirting with the girl; it actually made her feel somewhat relieved. It somehow seemed like it would lessen the blow when she she'd reject his proposal.
After a few rounds of dancing were held, Mr. and Mrs. Hensley took their place in front of the crowd and called its attention.
"First and foremost, we'd like to thank all of you for coming here this evening," said Mr. Hensley; Mrs. Hensley smiling and nodding in agreement. "As you all know, our daughter Abigail has come to an age in which she is to leave the home and make a family of her own. We are blessed to say that she has found the man who is fit to accompany her in this new endeavor. It is my pleasure to introduce to you Jonathan Smith."
The crowd clapped politely as Jonathan took his place next to Abi, her mother and father stepping back.
As the crowd grew silent, Jonathan dropped to the ground on one knee, taking Abi's dainty hand in his. Gazing upward at her face he said, "Abigail Hensley, will you marry me?"
She stared down at him, her mouth agape. All she could think was, "He doesn't even know my middle name." Weren't men supposed to use women's middle names when they proposed? Her own mother and father wanted her to marry a man who didn't know her middle name.
Giveaway:
One winner will receive a free signed copy of A Castle in the Sky, a hair comb to match Abi's from the book, and a handwritten note from me, the author. The giveaway will begin April 19 and a winner will be drawn on April 26. (Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. If you leave an anonymous comment, please state your name so that I can recognize your entry.)


a Rafflecopter giveaway Thank you all so much for supporting A Castle in the Sky! It means more to me than you'll ever know. I hope you'll enjoy the book. And be sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour! They're a great group. Good luck to those entering the giveaway!

-Miranda Atchley

Favorite Word Friday #23 "Admirable"

Admirable
adjective  ad·mi·ra·ble \ˈad-m(ə-)rə-bəl\
: deserving to be admired:very good
Admirable is a nice, strong word. To me, the people that are most admirable are the ones that are strong; not in a physical sense, or meaning that they have great power, but the people that take what life throws at them best. The ones that persevere through the greatest of life's challenges. Those are the people that are the most admirable.
Hope you all had a good week and have a nice weekend. Thanks for hanging out with me this week. See you Monday for more tales from a real writer's life.

-Miranda Atchley
(Definition taken from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.)

A Castle in the Sky Giveaway

Hello readers and friends. Hope your Thursday is going swell. We're only twelve days away from the release of my new book, A Castle in the Sky. That's less than two weeks! It's unreal. In honor of its release, I'll be holding a giveaway, and today I'd like to let you know all the details.
What the Giveaway Consists of:
One lucky winner will receive a free signed paperback copy of A Castle in the Sky, a hair comb to match Abi's from the book, and a handwritten note from me, the author.
How to Enter:
Participants can enter the giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter widget on the right-hand side. You can earn multiple entries, by either visiting my author page on Facebook, tweeting about the giveaway, following me on Twitter, or leaving a blog post comment letting me know what your favorite book of 2016 is thus far. If you do leave a comment, please state your name in your comment so that I can recognize your entry.
When the Giveaway Will Take Place:
The giveaway will begin Tuesday, April 19 and end on the release date, Tuesday, April 26. I will have the widget here on my blog, on the right-hand side, the entire week, and all participants in the blog tour will have the widget in their posts (the schedule will be listed here on my blog on the 19th). Once the winner is drawn, I will email them notifying them of their win, and request the address where I can mail their prize to. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Note: I still have some spots available if you'd be interested in signing your blog up for the tour. Just send an email to mirandaatchley7@gmail.com and tell me which day you'd like to participate on.
Thank you all for supporting A Castle in the Sky! I appreciate it so much. If  you have any questions about the giveaway, feel free to ask in the comment section.

-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #41 "Northanger Abbey"

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Catherine Morland grew up as a very plain and ordinary girl. Though by the time she turned seventeen, she had grown fond books, and in the right circumstances, would be considered pretty. The heroine in training goes to Bath to spend time with family friends, the Allens. She attends balls with the superficial Mrs. Allen, and on one such occasion, meets the witty reverend, Henry Tilney. While in Bath, she also meets John Thorpe, and his sister, Isabella. John tries to woo Catherine each chance he gets, but comes off as insensitive and manipulative, while Isabella befriends Catherine, claiming her to be the dearest friend she has, though the reader comes to question her motives. Catherine finds herself falling for Henry Tilney, as he jokes with her, and the two discuss books. Mr. Tilney, along with his father (General Tilney) and sister (Eleanor Tilney) lives in an old abbey named Northanger Abbey. When invited to come and stay at the abbey for a while, Catherine leaps at the chance, enchanted not only by the thought of staying in an old Gothic home, such as fills the novels she so loves, but also by the thought of spending more time with Henry. Though Henry, being a tease, and knowing how much Catherine loves Gothic novels, fills her head with stories about his father and the abbey that she takes to heart. She soon makes statements that very well could put the relationship she so desperately desires at stake.
Amber hosted a read-along in March of this lovely Austen novel. I had skipped around in it last year, but didn't remember a whole lot about it. When I read it this time, I really enjoyed it. Reading this book in a group pushed me to delve deeper into the book and really take the time to read it. I enjoyed it much more than last time and it really made me want to read everything Jane Austen has written. The only other novel of her's I've read is Pride and Prejudice, so I have my work cut out for me, but I look forward to getting to more classics.
One can't help but like Catherine Morland. She's described as plain and nothing terribly special; quite different than the other Austen heroines I've known. In these ways, she is more relatable to a wider range of readers than some more ideal heroines. But she's also quite gullible. It seems like it takes forever for her to realize that the Thorpes are up to no good, when we could smell it the second they came on the scene. And she quickly falls prey to Henry's good-natured teasing, taking it too seriously and throwing around some pretty big accusations. Sometimes you feel frustrated with her, but mostly, you pity her and want to help lead her in the right direction. And who doesn't relate to her fascination with abbeys and castles? I know I would certainly love to visit some of the places Catherine goes to in the book, though I must agree that the cottage in Woodston would be a much more comfortable abode to actually live in. And Henry Tilney is a very different kind of Austen hero. He isn't brooding like Mr. Darcy; he's witty and playful and comes off as a bit quirky, which you wouldn't expect from a 19th century reverend, but thank heavens he isn't like Mr. Collins! In the beginning, I wondered if he might be too teasing, and it's true; sometimes his teasing goes a bit too far. But there are those serious moments, like when he's talking to Catherine about novels, that round him out make you like him.
I also want to mention how much fun I had with this read-along. I made some good friends (waves to Julie, Grace, and Kara!) and just had a nice time reading this book. Amber is a great host and came up with very interesting and thought provoking discussion questions that were fun to answer. I'm very much looking forward to more read-alongs, both of Jane Austen's other novels, as well as titles by other authors.
All in all, Northanger Abbey is an enjoyable read. It's different from Jane Austen's other books, but good all the same.

I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Top Ten Tuesday: Old Fashioned Romance

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
Today's top ten Tuesday was left open to interpretation. The topic was to pick ten books you think every fan of a certain genre should read. You could choose any genre you want, and so I thought I'd pick historical romance. I love historical fiction and my favorite kind of romance is historical. There's something about it that I enjoy much more than contemporary (though there are a few contemporary romance novels I enjoy). Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with ten books that I wanted to list here; there are so many historical romance novels that I want to read, but haven't gotten around to yet. But the ones I've listed below are great, and I hope you enjoy my list, anyway.


7: Wuthering Heights by Emily BronteWuthering Heights may not be everyone's cup of tea with its darker elements, but it does have some romantic moments. And I couldn't make a list of historical romance novels without featuring the only Bronte novel I've ever read (I'm working on remedying that soon).


6: The Singing River Series by Gilbert MorrisThis is a really good series involving a strong female protagonist, a handsome small town doctor, and a swoony-broody author guy. Check it out!

5: Northanger Abbeyby Jane AustenI just read this in a group and it is a really good book. It's different than Jane Austen's more popular novels, what with the Gothic touches and all, but it's still a really good book and has those "swoony" moments.

4: Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. MontgomeryThis is one of L.M. Montgomery's shorter novels, but it's a really sweet story. I'd definitely recommend it.


3: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."


2: I Capture the Castle by Dodie SmithThis is one of my favorite novels. It's so beautifully written; one of those that you really want to savor. If you're looking for a story about first loves set in an English castle in the '30s, then this is the book for you.


1: The Blue Castleby L.M. MontgomeryI cannot say enough good things about this book! It's just so incredibly lovely. Valancy starts out as a rather pitiful heroine, but grows so much throughout the book. I wasn't sure about Barney in the beginning, but by the end, I loved him. He and Valancy are so perfect together.

Lately 4.11.2016

Reading: The Lunar Chronicles! I tore through Cinder and am now reading Scarlet. I've had a bit of a slow start because I've been busy with editing A Castle in the Sky, but I'm getting more into it, now. I enjoyed reading about the character of Cinder, with her dry humor and strength. And Prince Kai.... Ugh! I don't want to give away any spoilers; just suffice it to say that I hope things change by the time the series ends. Scarlet is most definitely a feisty one! And I'm not too sure what I think of Wolf yet. One minute, I think he's a good guy, then the next he does something crazy. I'll have to get further into the book to form a solid opinion of him. One of my favorite characters is Iko; she's a sweetheart and makes me laugh. Really looking forward to Cressand Winter.
Watching: Yesterday, I watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens with my parents. It was a fun movie. I like Rey and Finn; they're nice, strong characters. And I love BB-8; he's a sweet little droid. It was nice to see some of the old characters like Hans Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2D2, and C-3PO. I missed Yoda, though. I'm reeeeally hoping our Redbox has Brooklyn tomorrow. I want to see it so badly! And hello; those Entertainment Weekly photos of the new Gilmore Girls episodes? Gorgeous! So ready for the reunion.

(Image source.)


Writing: A Castle in the Skyis finished! I kind of hate using that word "finished" in reference to my project, because it makes it sound like it's served its purpose, when it hasn't even begun to realize its potential. So instead of calling it done, I'm going to simply start saying; A Castle in the Sky is ready for publication! I sent the files in on Wednesday, they were approved by Createspace on Thursday, and I ordered the first round of copies to distribute locally. I'm so happy. I'm so excited for everyone to read it. Of course, there are those nerves that come around each time a new book comes out, but more than that, I'm just happy. The blog tour is taking place starting the 19th and ends on the 26th. A giveaway will be going on that week, as well. I have some participants, but there are still spots open, so if you're interested, please email me at: mirandaatchley7@gmail.com Note: I'd like to ask that you specify which date you'd like to post on in your email. You can pick any date between the 19th and 26th. I'd love to have any participants that are interested!
So that's life lately for me. I hope all is well with you, and I thank you for stopping by today. See you tomorrow for another edition of Top Ten Tuesday!

-Miranda Atchley

Favorite Word Friday #22 "Believe"

Believe
: to accept or regard (something) as true: to accept the truth of what is said by (someone): to have (a specified opinion)

I chose today's favorite word based a quote that hangs on my wall: "She believed she could, so she did." I really love this quote. It kind of boosts my confidence on bad days. Not that I'm having a bad day today; I'm still jazzed about A Castle in the Sky . But on the days that aren't so great, that quote encourages me. I can believe in myself because God believes in me.

Believe. It's a nice word.

Have a nice weekend, readers! 
-Miranda Atchley

(Definition taken from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.)