Friday, June 22, 2018

A Time for Adventure | Blog Tour + Author Interview + Giveaway


I have the pleasure of participating in the tour for my friend Miranda Atchley's new historical novel, A Time for Adventure! In this post, you can read the fun description for this book, join me for an enjoyable chat with the author, enter an ebook giveaway, and find out how to snag a free e-copy of another historical novel by the author. It all starts here...

About the Book

The year is 1921, and after years of dreaming, Abi Hensley has set out to travel through Europe. Along with her friend Meg Clery, Abi travels from the rich historical sites in England to the gorgeous green landscapes of Ireland, visits an abandoned castle in Scotland, and roams through the chic streets of Paris. Along the way, they meet a myriad of interesting people, encounter familiar faces, and see things they’ve only ever dreamed of.

Yet their time in Europe isn’t without its challenges. While in Ireland, Abi joins Meg in spending time at her family’s farm. There, they find that the Clerys are overwhelmed by the demands of their farm. In light of this, the family must make some hard decisions; choices that could change the course of their lives forever.

One thing is for certain: Abi’s tour of Europe will most definitely be a time for adventure.

Pre-order for $.99! (Releases June 26th)

About the Author

Miranda Atchley loves books of all sorts, but she has always had a special place in her heart for historical fiction. Writing is her favorite thing to do, and she has published four historical novels and three contemporary young adult novels. Her novel A Castle in the Sky was a finalist for Read Free.ly’s The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016. She also writes the blog A Real Writer's Life. When she isn't writing, you can usually find Miranda with her head in a book, taking a walk, or watching Downton Abbey at her home in Arkansas. Read Miranda’s blog and subscribe to her mailing list at: arealwriterslife.blogspot.com


Author Interview

Amber: Welcome to Seasons of Humility, Miranda, and congratulations on your new release! :) If you could travel to any of the places Abi visits in Europe, where would you most want to go? What would you do while you were there?

Miranda: All the countries Abi visits in Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, and Switzerland) are on my list of countries I’d like to visit someday. But there is one place in particular that I knew nothing about before I wrote this book that really stands out to me: Bern, Switzerland. It sounds like a really interesting city and the pictures I looked at during the writing process are beautiful. (If you’d like to see some of those photos, you can visit my pin board at: https://www.pinterest.com/mirandaatchley/a-time-for-adventure/) I would love to visit this storybook city and see the medieval architecture and the Swiss Alps during the winter.

Amber: What a lovely board! Bern looks like a great place to visit.

What have you enjoyed most in writing about Abi’s adventures over the years in this four-book series? Has Abi’s journey mirrored your own as a writer or otherwise?

Miranda: There are many things I enjoy about writing Abi’s stories. For one thing, I admire her because she’s a very brave and interesting heroine. She wasn’t afraid to chase after her dreams and do things that weren’t expected of women in the late 1910s/early 1920s. She drove a car, moved across the country on her own, and marched with the suffragettes. Her journey as an author has been different from mine in many ways, mainly because she went the traditional route, whereas I self-publish. Yet I can relate to her because we’ve both struggled with writer’s block, yet we both love writing deeply and have a great appreciation for the written word.


Amber: You’ve written both contemporary and historical novels. What is the hardest part about switching to a historical genre? What is the most rewarding part of the process?

Miranda: The hardest part is definitely the research end of things. There is a lot more fact checking involved in writing historical fiction than I had ever considered before I started writing this series. The most rewarding part is that I get to write in a genre that I love and have enjoyed reading for a long time. There’s just something about historical fiction that I love so much; the style of the writing, reading about the way things were in the past, and, of course, those outfits!

Amber: I totally hear ya! I enjoy reading and writing historical fiction, but the research can be daunting. Speaking of reading... What are your favorite classic novels and why?

Miranda: That’s a tough one! It’s hard to choose, but I think I have it narrowed down to five:

  1. Anne of Green Gables–This book will always have a special place in my heart.
  2. Jane Eyre–There are so many lines that jump out at me in this book ("I am no bird; no net ensnares me") and I admire Jane greatly. She was a brave and noble heroine. 
  3. The Blue Castle–Valancy Stirling is one of the best heroines ever, and no one could spin a line like L.M. Montgomery. 
  4. Daddy-Long-Legs–It was one of those books that I couldn’t put down and has really stuck with me. Jean Webster was another author who was full of wit and wisdom! 
  5. Sense and Sensibility–I love Pride and Prejudice, but there’s just something about Elinor and Marianne Dashwood’s sister relationship that stands out to me and causes this book to nestle a special place in my heart. 

Amber: Love your choices and explanations! You picked some of my favorites too, like Anne of Green Gables and Daddy-Long-Legs. All such great stories!

How about your series? Will Abi’s journey continue? If so, can you give a hint at what she’ll be facing next?

Miranda: It certainly will! I have begun the fifth, and at this time final, book in The Abi Hensley Series. In this book, Lily House Press will be developing into a full-fledged publishing company as Abi and her business partner, Mr. Sanders, begin accepting manuscripts from potential authors. Also, the family of Abi’s former maid, now secretary and dear friend, Meg Clery, will play a big role in this book. I’m particularly excited for readers to meet Meg’s sister, Fiona. I think you’ll like her. ;)

Amber: Sounds like a grand finale for the series! Thank you so much for visiting today. :) It's been a pleasure to host you!

eBook Giveaway

To celebrate the release of A Time For Adventure, Miranda Atchley will be giving away three Kindle editions of the book! The giveaway is open internationally. Must be 18 or older to participate. Ends at 12:00 a.m. on June 26th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Free eBook!

Also in celebration of this release, the Kindle edition of Of Things To Come (The Abi Hensley Series, Book 3) will be free to download June 22-26. Grab your FREE copy HERE!


2 comments:

Miranda Atchley said...

I had a lot of fun with your interview, Amber! Thank you so much for sharing with your readers about my book. I appreciate your friendship and support. *hugs*

Amber Holcomb said...

Miranda,

I'm so glad! And I'm happy to have been part of the blog tour celebrating your new release. :) I wish you all the best with this series! *big hugs back*

~Amber