Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 56

An Ode To Anne

I love Anne of Green Gables. The books are my favorites and I love the movies, too. All you have to do is take one look at my Pinterest page and you'll know that I'm a Green Gables freak. Anne is so dear to me for so many reasons. I've loved Anne since I first watched the movies with my grandma. I later read the books and fell dearly in love. They're a part of me; I grew up with them. As a teenager, I wanted to be Anne Shirley and have a friend like Diana Barry and marry Gilbert Blythe. There's just something about Anne that's so endearing. Her vivid imagination, her theatrics, her temper and her kind heart. Anne's just the type of person everyone wants to be friends with. Well, except for maybe Josie Pye, of course. Yet one could even argue that Miss Pye herself secretly just wanted to be Anne's "bosom friend." There are eight books in the series and they include:

Anne of Green GablesAnne of AvonleaAnne of the IslandAnne of Windy PoplarsAnne's House of DreamsAnne of InglesideRainbow ValleyRilla of Ingleside
The series starts out with thirteen-year-old Anne Shirley being accidentally picked up by the old bachelor Matthew Cuthbert whom, along with his sister, spinster Marilla, was looking for a boy to help out on the farm. The wildly imaginative and dramatic Anne comes into the quiet lives of the older brother and sister adding color, fun and new life. She dreams of having a "bosom friend," later found in Diana Barry, becoming an author and falling in love with someone tall, dark, handsome and who "isn't really wicked, but could be if he wanted to."As the series goes on, we see Anne go to college and become a B.A., principal a private school and finally figure out that Gilbert Blythe can be a little wicked when wants to. ;) The two later marry after Gilbert finishes medical school. They find their house of dreams in a small sea-side town in which Gilbert practices medicine, where they make many new friends and go on to have 7 children.    As the series draws near its end, it becomes less about Anne and more about her kids, who are every bit as imaginative as she is. Though it is a little sad to think of Anne being all grown up and not hearing from her quite as much, these later books are delightful as well.   Anne Shirley is a beloved character not only in my own life, but in the lives of people all around the world. People are drawn to this talkative, theatrical, and lovable heroine for her realism. So many people can see themselves in Anne, in her loneliness and longing for companionship and a place to belong. And a lot of people can relate to her love of simple things like words, pretty things (such as puffed sleeves!) and the change of seasons, as well as her daydreams. For people who grew up with the Anne books, these books helped to ease the of growing up. Anne herself expresses many times how it seems almost unfair to have to grow up. I think most are in agreement with that.    Throughout the series, we see Anne go through many transitions, from being an awkward and hot tempered school girl to a confident B. A. who can deal with the worst of the Pringles, and into a graceful wife and mother, with hair that's "darkened to a real handsome auburn."I could sit here and talk to you for hours about our dear Anne-girl. I could tell you all the special memories the franchise holds for me as I dreamt of becoming an author as a teen, watching the movies with my "bosom friend," who just so happened to be my grandmother, and wondered what it'd be like to marry someone like Gilbert Blythe. But I think to truly understand why I love Anne of Green Gables so much, you'd just have to read the books and watch the movies yourself.

Book of The Week #14 The Help

The Help*by Kathryn Stockett     The Help is the story of a young woman, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, recently graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Journalism, whose mother is desperate to see her married off. As Skeeter spends time at her high school girlfriends' homes playing bridge and planning various social events, she notices the way the black help is mistreated. When her best friend Hilly starts the "Hilly Holbrook's Bathroom Sanitation Initiative" Skeeter feels like things are really getting out of hand. After obtaining a job at the newspaper office writing the "Ms. Myrna" cleaning advice column, Skeeter, having never done housework in her life, turns to her friend Elizabeth's maid Aibileen for help in writing the column as well as a much bigger project.     The book is told from the point of view of three different characters; maids Aibileen and Minny, and the young, single Ms. Skeeter. You'll read along as Aibileen deals with raising white children who will grow to treat her the same way their parents do, Minny tries to hold her tongue in order to keep her job (yet doesn't quite succeed) and Skeeter works to make her dreams come true. The risks they take are bold and the stakes are high, but they do it for a worthy cause.    I feel like The Help is another one of those books that really need no introduction. Most everyone is familiar with the book and/or the film adaptation. It's a modern classic that seems as though it will be passed down from generation to generation. I wouldn't be surprised if classrooms around the country started assigning students to read and write reports on the book in line with other classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird, if they haven't already. It deals with important ethical issues, reminding us of a darker time in our country's history that is often glamorized.     This is one the most well written books I've ever read. Ms. Stockett possesses an incredible talent. I felt like I could really hear all of the characters saying their lines in their own respective voices. The story flowed seamlessly from the first to the last page and I didn't want to put it down. This book is a definite page turner.     It may sound somewhat cliché to say, but my favorite character in the book is Aibileen. You'll admire Skeeter for her courage and laugh at Minny with her spunk, but Aibileen is the best. She's the kind of person you root for, and at the end of a bad day you just want to curl up in her lap and let her tell you "you is kind, you is smart, you is important."   There is cursing in the book and some inappropriate language, and normally that turns me off from a book. But the cursing is spread out and there isn't an F-bomb in each sentence (if I remember correctly, there are no F-bombs in the book at all, thank goodness) and the story is so good that I can forgive it. Though I will say that parents need to be left to decide whether or not their teens are ready for a book like this.   All in all, The Help is a story of racism, ignorance and ultimately triumph. It will cause to you lose faith in humanity, and then it will help you restore it.
I give The Helpa 5 out of 5.

*Since I write young adult novels, I've decided to add a mark to specify a more mature novel. Most books I feature are Christian (though some are not), but some are intended for an older audience. So if you're under 18, consult your parents before reading these picks.

A New Season- Now Available

And just like that, A New Season is finished and published! I'm so glad to see this story become a book. So thankful for another chance to do what I love. Taking a chance and doing something you love is one of the greatest things a person can do. There's nothing like it.
It's Stephanie Green's freshmen year of college and things aren't as easy as she thought they'd be. She shares a dorm room with her best friend Hayley, who's been acting a little strange lately. Stephanie's boyfriend is M.I.A and her sister Danielle is caught up in a whirl wind romance and getting ready to say "I Do." Add to all of this the stress of starting college, the uncertainty of what lies ahead, all the while trying to adjust to her new independence, and it seems like a recipe for disaster. Stephanie's friends were there for her when she was in need. Can she do the same for them?Growing up is not for the faint of heart in the sequel to Stephanie's Story, but it is a road not traveled alone.
A New Season is available for order on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. I hope you'll enjoy it. If you read the book, please feel free to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Whether you like it or you don't, any feedback is welcome.
Thank you all so much for your time, encouragement and support. It means so much to me.
-Miranda Atchley

A New Season

Ta-dah! My latest book, A New Season, is nearing completion and its debut. This is a sequel to my first novel, Stephanie's Story. If you've not read the first book, I feel like you could definitely get away with reading this and not feel confused, though there are pieces in A New Season that hint at some things from Stephanie's Story.I'm so excited and ready for this to be released! I've been working on it since around August of 2014 while I was taking a break from Misfit Like Me. I really hope you all enjoy this book.I think in some ways this book was a little harder to write than the others, but in some ways it wasn't hard at all. The hardest part was writing about someone who's living in a dorm when I myself have never lived anywhere but in a house in the woods. But other than that, I just did my thing, drawing a little from some events in my life and using my imagination for the rest.So without further a-do, here is the summary of A New Season!
It's Stephanie Green's freshmen year of college and things aren't as easy as she thought they'd be. She shares a dorm room with her best friend Hayley, who's been acting a little strange lately. Stephanie's boyfriend is M.I.A and her sister Danielle is caught up in a whirl wind romance and getting ready to say "I Do." Add to all of this the stress of starting college, the uncertainty of what lies ahead, all the while trying to adjust to her new independence, and it seems like a recipe for disaster. Stephanie's friends were there for her when she was in need. Can she do the same for them?Growing up is not for the faint of heart in the sequel to Stephanie's Story, but it is a road not traveled alone.
I'm still in the final stages of editing, but the book is so close to being done! Info on a release date and links to purchase will be posted soon. Can't wait for you to read it!
-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #13- Sarah, Plain And Tall

Sarah, Plain and Tallby Patricia MacLachlan
     Sarah, Plain and Tall is the story of Jacob Witting, a widowed Iowa farmer who is a father to two children, Anna and Caleb. He places an ad in the paper to find a wife and receives a response from Sarah Elizabeth Wheaton, a native of Maine who loves cats. As Sarah corresponds with Jacob and his two children through letters, they make plans for Sarah to visit Iowa. Sarah tells them that as they meet for the first time, they will know who she is because she is "plain and tall."    This book was written in the 1990's after Patricia MacLachlan had published the book, Arthur For The Very First Time. It is a companion book to Arthur..., Arthur's great-aunt being Anna in Sarah, Plain and Tall. It's a pretty short book, less 100 pages, but its jam packed. I love the writing in this book. When you read the summary, you automatically think it's going to be like the Little House on the Prairie books, and in a way, it is similar, but ultimately, it's a lot different. MacLachlan's writing style is much different from Ingalls-Wilder's. There's a feeling to it that I really enjoy, making this book a little bit quirky compared to its peers.   I picked this up for a dime on a thrift store trip with my grandmother when I was sixteen. Lots of times I'd buy books I'd never read as long as they cost less than a dollar, thinking if I didn't like them, I could just re-sell them or donate them to my local library. I wound up really liking Sarah, Plain and Tall, though.  I had heard of it all my life, but I had never read it. It's a nice story, whether you're eight or eighty, I feel. If you like historical fiction, I would definitely recommend this to you. It's a very sweet story, set in a time period I love, but has a different feel than most historical fiction, probably partly due to the fact that it was written in the 1990's.     All in all, I think this is a great story and would recommend it to anyone.
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Top Ten Favorite Books

I read a lot, therefore there are many books I love. And I like to make lists, so I thought it'd be fun to list my top ten favorite books. This list will probably change sometime in the future, but at this moment in time, these books are pretty special to me.
10. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
9. Coraline by Neil Gainman
8. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
7. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
6. The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield
5. Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
4. Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
3. Finding Aliceby Melody Carlson
2. The Joke That We Play on the World by Joshua S. Porter
1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed. And I'd like to know, what are your top ten favorite books?
-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #12- Diary of a Teenage Girl Series

Diary Of A Teenage Girlby Melody Carlson    Diary Of A Teenage Girl is a Christian young-adult series spanning from the year 2000 to 2010. There are sixteen books in total. The series is divided into four parts, one for each girl, in the order of:   Caitlin O'Connor- who becomes a missionary and youth pastor.   Chloe Miller- a punk rocker with wild hair and a gift for music and poetry.   Kim Peterson- a bright and academic girl.    Maya Stark- an environmentally conscious girl who is vegan and lives with her mother in L.A.   Each book finds the girl's in different climaxes in life where none of them are really Christians. Each one eventually finds their way to Christ throughout the series and deals with the regular pressures of teen life, like dating, trouble with parents and friends, etc.... And then there are some not-so-typical issues, like starting a career in the music business, raising yourself as a teenager, losing a parent at a young age and so forth. All books are written in the style of a diary, hence the name.Caitlin O'Connor- later Miller   In Caitlin's first book, she's a high school junior who becomes accepted in the "cool group" and begins dating Josh Miller. She struggles with fitting in, being burned by her new friends, problems within in her family and uncertainty about dating and the pressures therein. The non-fiction book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, is mentioned throughout the entire series and Caitlin later decides to give up dating completely after reading the book. She goes on a mission trip to Mexico with her youth group and finds that to be her calling in life. After marrying Josh, the two become youth leaders in the church they went to as teens.Caitlin's books include:Diary Of A Teenage Girl (some editions are labeled "Becoming Me")It's My LifeWho I AmOn My OwnI DO!
Chloe Miller    Chloe's series starts off as she begins her freshman year of high school. Once a popular soccer player, she now wears black, shredded and studded attire, dyes her spikey hair colors such as lime green, magenta pink, and eggplant purple and plays the guitar. Chloe has been friends with Caitlin ever since her older brother Josh confided in Caitlin that he was worried about his little sister's lack of friends and thought she needed some encouragement. As Caitlin is in her freshman year of college, she begins sharing the gospel with Chloe, a staunch Atheist, via email. Chloe later befriends Laura and Allie and the three form an all-girl Christian rock band. In later books, they cut a record deal, go on tour with the biggest Christian band around, all while going to high school and trying to be normal teens.Chloe's series consists of:My Name Is ChloeSold OutRoad TripFace The Music
Kim Peterson    As Kim's part of the series begins, she is questioning the religion, Christianity, that she had been brought up in and begins looking into Buddhism. She later decides that the Buddhist faith isn't for her and becomes a Christian. She was born in Korea and adopted by American parents. Throughout the series, she anonymously writes a teen advice column titled Just Ask Jamie for her father's newspaper. In later books, her mother is diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer and dies on the night of Kim's junior prom. Kim's Aunt Sharon and cousin Maya come in from Los Angeles for the funeral where Kim and Maya begin to connect. Kim's series ends as she graduates high school as the valedictorian with plans to attend college and major in journalism.Kim's books include:Just AskFalling UpMeant To BeThat Was Then....
Maya Stark   Maya Stark is the daughter of former 80's pop star, Nick Stark, who is making his comeback. Maya is homeschooled, but is basically her own teacher because her mother, whom Maya calls Sharon, stays up all night partying. Sharon doesn't work and wastes all of the child support and alimony Nick pays on drugs and alcohol. Tired of bills going unpaid and never having food in the fridge, fifteen-year-old Maya gets a job as a model, then later begins working at a clothing store. Maya is an environmentalist as well as a vegan and plants her own vegetables, drives a hybrid car and shops at thrift stores. After keeping in contact with Kim via email, Kim notices how Maya is left alone most of the time and that Sharon does not properly care for her. Kim and her father, Allen, eventually invite Maya to move in with them. Once there, she begins attending public school and writing an environmentally conscious column for her uncle Allen's newspaper.Maya's series consists of:A Not So Simple LifeIt's A Green ThingWhat Matters Most
   I really loved reading these books growing up. They really appealed to me as a teen reader and the series was one that inspired me to become an author.    I love that each girl is connected to the other three in some way or another. Caitlin and Chloe become sisters-in-law. Chloe went to high school with Kim and they occasionally play music together. Kim goes to the youth group that Caitlin and Josh lead and she also plays the violin at their wedding. Kim and Maya are cousins. Caitlin mentors Maya, teaching her about the Bible and Christianity.     I like that in What Matters Most, Melody brought back all of the girls in some way or another; that was very neat. Kind of like a farewell. I do wish there was a follow up, kind of "where are they know" book, though. So many questions I'd like to get an answer to. Like, did Caitlin and Josh have kids/ adopt kids from the mission in Mexico? Did Chloe marry Jeremy? Where did Kim wind up living/ working? And whatever happened to Maya? But don't we feel that way about all good books/series?    My knee-jerk reaction when asked who my favorite is would be to say Chloe. I wanted to be her when I was fifteen-years-old and eventually did dye my hair crazy colors. But I also like the other girls in some way or another. I can relate to Kim for her love of writing, I admired Maya for her respect for the environment and Caitlin for her strong faith. There's something for everyone in this series.   All in all, this is a really great series, especially for teenage girls (though adults have been known to enjoy it, too!). It deals with real life issues, but in a clean way that won't make you feel uncomfortable, and points you to the Savior.
I give it a 5 out of 5

Currently

Wrapping Up A New Book   I've completed the first draft of a sequel to Stephanie's Story. Currently, I'm editing this novel and talking over cover design with my sister-in-law. Be it God's will, I'm hoping to release it in either late June or early July.Branching Out   Christian young adult novels that deal with real life issues are what made me love reading and want to be an author. As a young teen, I loved with a capital "L" the Diary Of A Teenage Girl and True Colorsseries by Melody Carlson, the Holly's Heart series by Beverley Lewis and the Katie Parker series by Jenny B. Jones. These novels and others like them will always hold a special place in my life, but lately I've been thinking of trying something new. As far as I can see, my writing will always come from a Christian perspective, but lately I've been itching to try new things. Well, not just itching, I have been working on things that are different from the novels I have published. My plan has never been to stick with one genre. I've always wanted to branch out and write in lots of different genres, because that's how I read. I'm not giving up writing  young adult, and don't know that I ever will, but I am excited to write new books!Reading   At the end of last year when I was making my goals for the new year, I decided I wanted to read 50 books in 2015. But with the year I've had, I decided not to be too strict with that. I've still made a good chunk in my "to-read" list, though. Here are a few of the books I've read this year.Pride And Prejudiceby Jane AustenThe French Twist series by Sandra ByrdAnne of the Islandand Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. MontgomeryFool's Gold, Bitter Rose and Harsh Pink by Melody CarlsonAnd books that I want to read include:The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienAlice In Wonderlandby Lewis CarrollThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows........ And many more!    I love using Goodreads as a way to keep track of books I've read and find new books to read. If you aren't on that site and you love books, you should sign up and add me as a friend! (And no, I wasn't paid to say that.)   So that's what's going on with me book-wise. Hope you enjoyed this post! Until next time,Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #11- Fame Is Infamy

Fame Is Infamyby Andrew Schwab   Fame Is Infamyis a non-fiction book by Project 86 front man Andrew Schwab. The main gist of the book is how fame obsessed our culture is, why we're looking for it and why we shouldn't.   The book is filled with stories from Andrew's youth, poems, and commentaries on the modern world, all in some way portraying our human need to feel admired and loved.   I grew up listening to Project 86 and that's how I knew about the book. I read it for the first time when I was fifteen and have read it a few more times since. I like Andrew's style of satire and his message, that God loves you and because He does, everything will be okay. You don't have to be famous to be loved.   My favorite quote from the book is on page 95. It says, "You never have to worry about what people say about you. Their opinions are not facts."All in all, this is a great read if you're looking for non-fiction written from a witty point of view.
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Now On Amazon

Today I just wanted to share with you all that my books are now available on Amazon! I'm super excited about this. If you own a Kindle, you can purchase and download them $2.99 each, or if you're enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free. I'm so happy about this new phase and I hope you'll join me. Thank you so much for reading!
-Miranda Atchley

Stephanie Green hates the way she looks. She’s always been bigger than other girls her age and is getting fed up with looking different. She’s been told that it’s what’s on the inside that counts and God loves her no matter what, but these days, she isn’t buying. After yet another unsuccessful day at the mall, Stephanie vows to shed some weight before her high school graduation- no matter the cost.
But the diets she tries just don’t seem to work and soon Stephanie finds herself at her wit’s end. She’s convinced that this is necessary and she can’t be happy until she is thin. But she’s in for a rude awakening when God uses an unlikely character to get a vital message to Stephanie- before it’s too late.
Download here.

Growing up different is hard; especially when you're a Goth in the Bible belt. No one knows that better than sixteen-year-old Madeline Warner. The teasing from her peers, many of whom claim to be Christians, has hardened her heart toward the people around her and the God they claim to serve. If they can be so unkind, then what would God Himself have to say to her?Lonely and in the middle of sophomore year, Madeline gets a new locker buddy, punk rocker Alice Wang. With her colorful make-up and hair and unique taste in music, Alice seems like friend material, but some of her choices may keep the two apart. And on top of that, Madeline's Bible toting Grandma is on her way for a visit. All things considered, Madeline can't help but wonder; how can she survive this season in her life? Find out in this story of rejection and ultimately hope.
Download here.