Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 39

Finishing a Novel

You know how you feel when you finish a book that you really love? You're sad, you don't want it to be over, and sometimes you just sit and hug it. Well, that's pretty much how it feels to finish writing a novel that you love, only so much more intense.
It's so odd to finish a novel. During the writing process, you wake up in the morning, knowing that you'll be working on your book. There are things you know that need some work; sometimes certain phrases are on your mind, some scenes implore for your attention. When you finish the book, you still wake up thinking that way, but then you remind yourself; it's finished.
Finishing A Castle in the Sky has made me sad. I'm so very happy to be publishing it and sharing it with the world, but I'm sad that I won't be working on it anymore. I loved working on this book. I love the characters (except for the "villains," though their roles are pretty necessary to the story) and I love the setting. I feel like it has begun a new era for me, and I am so excited to be on this path. And this isn't the last the last time I'll be hearing from Abi; I've already begun the sequel. :)
Only 19 more days until A Castle in the Sky releases! I can't wait.

-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #40 "Anne of Ingleside"

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
Years have passed since the fifth Anne book, Anne's House of Dreams, and we now find Anne and Gilbert in a new home, named Ingleside, with their six children. The children have inherited their mother's sense of whimsy and wonder, playing make believe with vivid imaginations to rival that of Anne's. As Anne is growing older and her doctor husband grows busier, she begins to wonder if Gilbert loves her as much as he used to. When Anne and Gilbert spend an evening with Anne's rival, the now widowed and childless Christine Stuart, and Gilbert seems awfully comfortable with Christine. Anne is green with envy, sure that this means Gilbert cares for her no longer. Yet, just as when he was a schoolboy, Gilbert Blythe has eyes only for Anne, and by the ending of the book, all is well.
In this book, we read a lot more about Anne and Gilbert's kids. This book, along with the last two books in the Anne of Green Gables series, is more about the kids than Anne, which is sort of sad, yet we still get to hear from Anne from time to time. I love that Anne remains whimsical and continues daydreaming as she grows older, and that she still has a spark, though it's all mellowed by time. She simply grows better.
Also, can I just gush about these covers for a moment? These editions are from the publisher Sourcebooks and they are soooo pretty. I love them.
All in all, Anne of Ingleside, though sad in that we don't see quite as much of Anne as in the books, is a lovely piece of the Anne Shirley story.

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish People You Should Follow

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
So today's topic is ten people you should follow on social media and/or on their blogs. I kind of have a mix here; some I mostly follow on their blogs, others I mostly follow on social media, but most I follow on both. The group of bloggers I've listed are talented people and I'm glad to have found them online.
10: Stefanie of Author Stefanie MacWilliams Stefanie's fairly new to the blogging world, but I love reading her short fiction and she writes fun reviews. She's been a good "book bestie" and is very encouraging to me. Definitely check her out!
9: Brona of Brona's Books I love reading Brona's Books because she blogs about the classics. Who can get enough of those? And I really appreciate her hunger to read books of all sorts, because I can really relate to that.
8: Amber of Amber Florenza I love following Amber on Pinterest; her boards are filled with lovely, and beautiful, story inspiration. We share a love of historical fiction, and I really enjoyed her historical holiday novel, Celebrate! Tis The Season
7: Emily of Taking Dictation Emily Ann Putzke writes and publishes historical fiction. I haven't gotten a chance to read her novels yet, but they sound so interesting and I am really looking forward to reading them. Emily's blog is very interesting to read; I love reading the history she incorporates into her posts and seeing all the lovely black and white photos on her blog.
6: Grace of Fictionally. I really like the whole fairy tale theme of Grace's blog; it's so neat and pretty to look at! She often blogs about fairytale re-tellings and historical fiction, though other books are featured on Fictionally., as well. Grace is also going to be a published author; her re-telling of Sleeping Beauty will be featured in Five Magic Spindles this summer. So exciting!
5: Jenni of Jenni Elyse I found Jenni's blog when she, Kami, and Suey hosted the Little Women read-along in February. I really like her blog; her mini reviews are a fun concept and I enjoy reading about her other fandoms on Twitter.
4: Julie of My Favorite Pastime Julie and I have participated in two different read-alongs together; Little Women and Northanger Abbey . It's always fun to read her thoughts on books. I'm looking forward to reading her blog and getting to know her more in the future!
3: Kara of Flowers of Quiet Happiness Kara's blog is a lot of fun. I enjoy her personable and energetic writing style and I looooove the Anne of Green Gables inspiration of her blog! It's so fun. Plus, she's been a lot of fun to talk to during read-alongs!
2: Amber of Seasons of Humility Amber Stokes is an editor and indie Christian author who blogs about books. She's hosted some fun Jane Austen read-alongs, and writes a lot of a book reviews, rating them on a system named for the four seasons. She's such a sweet person and lots of fun to talk to. She's also a very talented author; someone whose books I can't wait to read more of!
1: Rissi of Finding Wonderland Rissi was one of the first book bloggers I started following when I became interested in the community. Her blog is a fun collection of book and film reviews, giveaways, and cover candy posts. Her blog is a treat to read and pretty to look at. Rissi and I have had lots of good talks about Downton Abbey over on The Silver Petticoat Review and she's always a joy to talk to. And that name, Finding Wonderland? Love it!
So that completes this week's Top Ten Tuesday! I hope you enjoyed this post. Tell me, who are some bookish people you enjoy following?

-Miranda Atchley

"A Castle in the Sky" Blog Tour Invitation

It's hard to believe that just three weeks from tomorrow, A Castle in the Sky will release. That doesn't seem possible! It seems like only yesterday I began writing the story and now we're so close. It's very exciting! As A Castle in the Sky is set to release, I've decided to host a blog tour. So, bloggers, I'd like to cordially invite you all to join the blog tour for A Castle in the Sky!
What The Book Is About:
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 mother and father's stilted 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 place 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.
When The Blog Tour Will Take Place: The blog tour will begin April 19 and end April 26. I'll kick off the tour here on my blog on the 19th. If you're interested in participating, just send an email to mirandaatchley7@gmail.com stating that you'd like join. I'd also like to ask that you'd specify which day you'd like to post on. You can pick any day between the 19th and the 26th. I'll reply with an information packet that will include all the things you'll need to share on your blog. Anyone is welcome to join and there is no entry fee or purchase requirement. You don't have to read and review the book once it's released, though you're more than welcome to if you choose. The only requirement is that you have a blog where you can share the post.
What the posts will consist of:
A synopsis of A Castle in the SkyAn excerpt from A Castle in the SkyAn author bio (with links to social media accounts)Giveaway widget (run by Rafflecopter)
I hope you'll consider joining the tour. It's going be a lot of fun! Thank you all for stopping by and supporting A Castle in the Sky.

-Miranda Atchley

Favorite Word Friday #21 "Hello"

Hello
noun  hel·lo  \hə-ˈlō, he-\
:an expression or gesture of greeting

Today I'm saying "hello" to a brand new month. April is going to be awesome! I am so excited for this month! I've been looking forward to it for quite a while. I can't wait for the next 25 days to pass by. It's so hard to believe that A Castle in the Sky is about to release! I'm so happy.  


Hope you have a great weekend!
-Miranda Atchley
(Definition taken from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.)

March in Review

It's hard to believe, but another month is gone. March passed off fairly quickly and was quite a full month, book-wise. I participated in another read along, this time for Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, and had fun doing so. My favorite part was getting a chance to discuss the book with others; it's nice talking about books with others. I also got a lot of editing done on A Castle in the Sky, and posted a preview of it here on the blog. It won't be long until it releases! I am so excited about this.
My favorite posts from March are:The Northanger Abbey read along postsHappy Easter"A Castle in the Sky" Preview!
I hope you all had a good month. Thank for reading with me this March! I look forward to hearing more from you all next month.

-Miranda Atchley

Northanger Abbey Read-Along Chapters 25-31

So a lot happened in these chapters! Like, wow. Whereas the last set of chapters kind of lagged until the last couple of days, these really moved along. I was really taken by surprise as I read through some of the changes that were taking place within these chapters. And I have to admit, even though sometimes Catherine seems a bit over dramatic, my heart went out to her in this week. I probably would have reacted similarly if I had been in that situation. I found myself very curious as to have everything would be solved and read both chapters 30 and 31 last just to see what happened. And I must admit, I'm quite pleased with the results.
I can't believe it's the last week! Where has the time gone? Listed below are my answers to the final discussion questions, which were written by Amber.
1. How would you respond to General Tilney's rudeness if you were: Catherine? Eleanor? Catherine's parents?
Catherine: I would be so crushed! And I would feel a bit side swept, too. But then again, I would probably blame myself, too, fearing that I was being punished for suspecting him of unsavory plans earlier in the book. It would be a mixture of miserable feelings, for sure!
Eleanor: I would be almost as crushed as if I were Catherine. They seemed to become good friends, and I would hate to see one of my good friends turned away from my home.
Catherine's parents: I would be furious! I don't have kids of my own, but I'm pretty protective of the family I do have and it would make me so angry to hear of someone putting them down so.

2. How do you feel about Henry Tilney by the end of the story? What do you think of his home in Woodston, his response to his father's actions toward Catherine, and his initial reasons for pursuing her?

I came to love Henry Tilney. True, I think he sometimes takes his teasing a little too far, but I like that he isn't a dry reverend and I love that he pursued Catherine despite his father's interference. I admire how close he is with his family and I love that he enjoys reading! I think his home at Woodston sounds rather cozy and homey as opposed to cold and rambling Northanger Abbey. I think Catherine would feel much more at home at Woodston.
3. The final line of the book states, "I leave it to be settled by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience." What is your verdict? Do you believe the story recommends parental tyranny or a child's disobedience? What do you believe is the book's real message?
I don't really feel that it recommends either. I feel like this is a story of a love that survived great tests. Catherine and Henry's relationship was thwarted at every turn, it seemed, first by the Thorpes and then by General Tilney. But "what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." ;-) It just goes to show that if a couple are meant to be, then nothing can tear them apart.
And so now I bid adieu to the Northanger Abbeyread-along of 2016. It's been great fun! I've enjoyed becoming better acquainted with this work of the lovely Ms. Jane Austen and have loved talking with fellow readers this month. I can't wait to do another read-along!

-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #39 "Anne's House of Dreams"

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
After rivalling one another throughout grade school in book one, keeping a distant friendship in book two, Anne coming to realize that she truly loves Gilbert as she is threatened with losing him in book three, and spending a long courtship apart in book four, Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe are now getting married. The book begins as Anne spends her last evening as a single woman reminiscing with her bosom friend, Diana Wright. The next day, a simple, yet beautiful, September wedding takes place at the beloved Green Gables, Marilla Cuthbert and Rachel Lynde crying as they watch their Anne girl ride off to her new home in a small and charming sea-side town called Four Winds. Having finished medical school, Gilbert is now taking over his late uncle's practice. Alone, he searched for Anne's house of dreams and succeeded in a quaint little home in the woods, which Anne adores. Over the two years in which the book takes place, we see Anne make friends with a woman named Leslie Moore, a feisty spinster Miss Cornelia Bryant, and a sailor named Captain Jim, whose stories Anne listens to in awe. We also read of Anne being pregnant for the first time, giving birth to Joy in their home, and Joy passing shortly after being born. We watch as Anne suffers from grief and then begins to carry on with life, later giving birth to a healthy boy she names James Matthew.
I think this is where the series really begins to change, for obvious reasons. Anne is now married. She and Gilbert move to Four Winds and she begins keeping house, something some of us never expected to see Anne do, but she still maintains that whimsy you can only find in Anne. She manages to find a friend in Leslie Moore, a lonely young woman trapped in a loveless marriage. And Owen Ford? *swoon*
I love this book. I love the lovely simplicity to it. Anne and Gilbert's wedding is so beautiful and simple. The little seaside town sounds so charming and delightful. I love Leslie and how Anne helped her. Miss Cornelia Bryant made me laugh with her biting remarks. I never thought I would enjoy seeing Anne away from Green Gables. It isn't that I'm glad to see her away from the dear home she so dearly loved, I just love reading about how happy she is.
For a lot of us, we turned to the Anne books for comfort as we grew because Anne understood how hard growing up can be. And yet now we see Anne happy as an adult. I feel like Anne is more carefree in this book. She still has that spice to her, but her temper is more controlled than in the first books and she's more understanding of those around her. And though this book is full of Anne's happiness, we see her sadness, too, as she loses her firstborn. It's a terrible pain, but she faces it with grace and overcomes to live a better life.
Anne's House of Dreams is a lovely addition to the Anne series; one of my favorites of the lot. It's full of happiness, sadness, strength, and grace.

For so many reasons, I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Top Ten Tuesday: Lovely Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday post is about 5 star reads. This was one of the easiest Top Ten Tuesday posts I've written so far. Not only because I can simply go to my Goodreads account and look through the books I've read recently, but also because these books are really good, and when you enjoy a book, it's not hard to share it and gush about it. This list spans almost a year, the earliest one having been read back in May of 2015 and the latest one read in February of 2016. Enjoy!

10: When Patty Went To College by Jean WebsterThis was the first book by Jean Webster that I read and I really liked it. I've read another of her novels and am looking forward to reading more.


9: The Help by Kathryn StockettI loved this book, as did many others. It was one that was hard for me to put down. It totally deserves the praise it gets.


8: The Prayers of Jane Austen by Terri GlaspeyThis is a lovely collection of prayers written by a beloved author. Worth every penny and the illustrations are so beautiful to look at.


7: Go Set A Watchman by Harper LeeI know a lot of people had their issues with this book, but I loved it every bit as much as I loved To Kill A Mockingbird.


6:  To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper LeeWho doesn't love this book? It's so good. Harper Lee was such a talented woman. There's no denying that this novel is a classic.


5: When I Married My Mother by Jo MaderFunny, warm, heartbreaking, and full of love. This book about a woman caring for her aging mother was a treat to read.


4: While You're Awake by Amber StokesI read this sweet novelette for the first time when it released back in October. I read it again last week because the book is set in Spring. Still loved it!


3: Blue Like Jazz by Donald MillerThis book is just wonderful. It's non-fiction, but it reads so much better than a lot of non-fiction out there. Donald Miller really has a way with words and some parts of the book just sound like poetry.


2: The Blue Castle by L.M. MontgomeryThis is one of my favorites by L.M. Montgomery. Really, it's probably right behind the Anne of Green Gables series. It's just so lovely. Your heart really goes out to Valancy as she struggles, and then you cheer for her as the book goes along. Love it!


1: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I enjoyed this book as a teenager, but I really fell in love with it during the read-along I participated in during February. This is such a smart and heartwarming read. You may have your issues with how some things ended, but you can't deny that this is a lovely book. It's no wonder that Little Women is a classic that has stood the test of time.
So there are some of my recent 5 star reads. They're all lovely books that I plan on reading time and again someday. Thank you for stopping by today! And let me know in the comments; what some books you've particularly enjoyed lately?
-Miranda Atchley

"A Castle in the Sky" Preview!

*Things written in pink are not a part of the story; things written in black are a part of the story.*
Good morning, all! Hope your Monday is going well so far. If it's not, well, then I hope what I'm about to share with you cheers you up!
As I promised last week, I'm checking in with a preview of my upcoming novel, A Castle in the Sky! This snippet comes from chapter two as Abi Hensley's family and friends gather to witness her arranged engagement. Abi has only met Jonathan Smith one month prior to the soirée and his first impression was not the best, yet her mother and father are still pushing for the marriage. Abi knows this isn't right for her, and is feeling nervous as she stands before the crowd, a man she barely knows asking for her hand.
So without further ado, let's dive in! Enjoy!
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.

And so there's a little taste of my new novel. I hope you've enjoyed the preview. Can't wait for you to find out what happens next in April!

-Miranda Atchley