Dan Antion

Atonement Doors – #ThursdayDoors

Think of this cover as the door to a wonderful book.

Today is a very special edition of Thursday Doors – I am sharing doors from Atonement, Tennessee, the charming and very mysterious town created by Teagan R. Geneviene in her series of novels. If you enjoy reading Teagan’s serial stories, you will love these novels. Horsefeathers, (as Teagan would say) get on with the news, boy!

Teagan has recently revealed the cover of “Atonement in Bloom” the long-awaited second book in the Atonement series. I had the pleasure of reading an early edition of this book, and I’ve been sitting here ever since, silently chanting “finish the edits, finish the edits…” Well, the edits are finished, Teagan is loading-up a party bus and you should join me in making plans to purchase a copy of this bloomin’ book, later this month.

One of the things I love about Teagan’s writing, is the gift she has for description. Everything Teagan describes is important – a rare quality in books today – but more importantly, Teagan describes things in a way that draws the reader into the scene completely. She touches all the senses, and she uses very interesting techniques to build her description up in layers. She might toss out the facts about a scene, then share someone’s observations, then share someone else’s emotions as they enter the scene, and then Lilith (the cat) might add a different perspective. These may all be dribbled in over time, so that you don’t even feel like the place is being described, but suddenly, you’re there and you realize that you know the place well.

As I read the book, I pictured myself in those settings, I imagined places I’ve been, and since those places have doors, I’m featuring them here today. I am going to take you on a special tour of Atonement, as I saw it. You might recognize some of the photos in the gallery, as a couple have been used before in other posts, but most of them are freshly-gathered for this very special post.

One of the first places I remember from Atonement is “Annie’s Antiques & Consignment Shop.” Some very special information is revealed inside this shop, so pay attention when you get there. I love antique shops, and for me, Annie’s is where I found some hat boxes that I bought for our daughter, Faith. Hatboxes are important later in Bloom, when they’re turn up in a room with some antique dresses. I also found an antique postcard at Annie’s – you know me, whenever I travel, I’m on the lookout for good places to eat and maybe have an adult beverage. I imagine looking for the diner depicted in the postcard but ending up at Adelle’s tearoom instead. Later that day, I rolled into the Rowdy Rooster for a Corona. Note: (all the galleries will open to a slide show if you click).

Annie’s Antiques & Consignment Shop – OK, maybe the sign says “Patti’s”
Hat box and antique dresses.
Door to a mysterious room (in the antique shop where I found the hat boxes).
Found inside the antique shop.
The hat boxes. I’m going to say that the lids count as doors.
Not quite the Rowdy Rooster, but a similar bar on the outskirts of our town.
The top shelf stuff is behind some very nice doors.
Adelle’s tearoom – partly obscured by a large tree – that’s important.

All that driving around would mean I’d need to fill my tank. There is a ‘Gas n Go’ out on the highway but I wouldn’t be surprised if I needed gas again the next day – these things happen in Atonement. There’s an eclectic old station near town. Then I’d be hungry again. How about some Italian take-out food? “Italian 2 Go” reminds me of the place we go when I’m visiting Faith.

Italian to go – some of the best.
Gas ‘n Go
The restoration job on this gas station is amazing. a lot of people and businesses donated to the project.

Also important in Atonement are the library and the Sherriff’s station and the bank. The library has a very similar history to the one in the town where I was born. Atonement’s library had some financial trouble. It was eventually turned into the police station and the library ended up being run out of a broken-down school bus / bookmobile. When I was a kid, our town couldn’t afford a library. We had a bookmobile that would park at the train station. The train station ran out of money and was repurposed as a library. The library and police station are next to the Bank & Trust.

Police station – also part of the old high school.
The doors are still open. The bank closed 80 years ago.
Bridgeville public library. In the old train station. The children’s library is in the caboose.
Bridgeville Public Library – They converted the railroad station into a library

You will also meet some interesting people in Atonement, and you might catch a glimpse of their houses. There’s Lacey’s large house and Bethany’s small carriage house. Lilith (remember Lilith the cat) ends up in Esmeralda’s house and then escapes through a vent in a dormer to go exploring. I won’t spoil the story, but you’re also going to visit a very special lodge.

The lodge – in this case, it’s Paradise Lodge on Mt. Rainier in Washington. There a door behind the trees.
Fireplace doors inside the lodge – Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon
Doorway inside the lodge – This is actually Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon
Lacey’s large house
Cemetery gates.
Esmeralda’s house – I think I see where Lilith is escaping from.
Side entrance to the carriage house.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s doors. I want to thank Teagan for sharing this story with me before it is published and for inviting me to be on the party bus and help with the cover reveal. I also want to welcome Norm back from his recent trip. Norm, for those of you who don’t know, is the beneficent host of Thursday Doors, a weekly gathering of door enthusiasts from around the natural and supernatural world. If you want to join us, click your way up to Norm’s place – look at his doors – and click on the blue frog.

162 comments

  6. omg – I love this post, Dan!

    You were the one who originally introduced me to Teagan’s blog and I simply LOVE her writing. While you love her ability to create a rich scene, I love her characters. She creates living, breathing people that I want to know and I’m always sad when her stories end.

    If I didn’t already want to read her new book, your post certainly sealed the deal 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. Teagan couldn’t have had a better introduction for her new book!! Great collection of photos. I like the way some of those buildings were repurposed.

    By the sound of it, I think we can all relate to the town of Atonement.
    🔹 Ginger 🔹

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Thanks Ginger. I’m glad you enjoyed this post . It was fun trying to find doors in Atonement, but when Teagan listed the ones she thought would be good to have, I was all “oooh, I could use this, or this, or this…” and then I had some that were special scenes to me, so I added them, too.

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  9. You had me at the diner on the postcard. What a great town this is! Why would Lilith want to escape from Esmeralda’s beautiful house?? I know–read the book. Dan did you good, Teagan! Great post, Dan.

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  10. Reblogged this on Teagan's Books and commented:
    Beyond my wildest dreams! That was the result when I asked Dan Antion if he would be interested in doing a Thursday Doors post — using my fictional town of Atonement, TN. I told Dan just run with it — wherever his imagination took him, and I’m so glad he did. I’m still gawking at his post, I love it that much.
    The way he described everything made his post wonderful — I felt like I was living in a chapter of the book.
    Some of the photos he chose look exactly as I imagine the town. I had hoped that I made Atonement an “any town” so people could relate to it. Dan made me think I got it right. I hope everyone else thinks so.
    I managed to get through the publication process with Atonement in Bloom. While the launch is not until the 20th, I’ve already made it available on Amazon. Also, the first book (Atonement, Tennessee) is on sale for 99 cents (e-book).
    Dan, heartfelt thanks for this amazing Atonement, TN Doors post. I’m humbled and honored. Hugs!

    Liked by 2 people

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  11. What a fun post! I read Atonement, Tennessee and loved the feel of the town she created. What a creative way to share her upcoming book. I’m also curious Thursday Doors, so I’m hoping over to Norm’s place to see what it’s all about!

    Liked by 2 people

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  15. Dan, thanks so much for sharing Teagan’s book and Atonement to me. I’ve been so focused on Australia this week what with researching poet and author Henry Lawson and his works and putting my Thursday Doors post together which comes to you from Stanley in Tasmania, that these American scenes seem very surreal. For me, they’re something straight out of a movie and it’s hard to even grasp that they’re real.
    Hope you have a great rest of your week.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 2 people

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  16. That was fun, Dan. What a great idea to share your visuals of Atonement. I just finished an ARC of Atonement in Bloom and though the images in my mind are a little different from yours, they’re not far off. Great post. :-)

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  21. Hi Dan and Teagan – what a great description you’ve given us Dan … and tour around Teagan’s creative world … it’s been a delight to read and to see the photos – loved the post – clever … cheers Hilary

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  24. No better compliment to an author than for the reader to be able to “visualize” the setting the author creates in a work of fiction. Your photographs are SO great Dan, and bring us right into Teagan’s story. FUN.

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  28. This was a good post, Dan. I loved the pictures and I wish I was there to take a tour of it in person. Also, I have to confess that lately I have not been able to comment on many of the blogs including Teagan’s, but I definitely did read some of her earlier blog posts. However, I’m trying to rearrange my schedule and looking forward to read more posts and commenting as well. It is always good to comment rather than just hit the like button because that is where the actual communication happens. At the moment, yours is the only blog I read and comment, but gradually I will change this cycle. Also, congratulations to Teagan for “Atonement in Bloom” launch. I will also comment on her blog separately.

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  29. Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
    A wonderful post from Dan Antion in honour of Teagan Geneviene’s new release, Atonement in Bloom, launch date 20th October. Dan has captured the essence Atonement on his Thursday Doors post – giving us a guided tour of landmarks around the town from the Library to the Sheriff’s office.. Plus some of the residences around the town. #Recommended

    Liked by 2 people

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  30. What a truly touching post, Dan. How wonderful of you to lift this very talented author up as you have here. I LOVE a good book and learn so much by those who know how to write well. My nose it seems is constantly in a book in one way of the other. Very cool pictures. Feels like I’ve stepped in another time. I’ve spent a long time here admiring your doors and reading this post about Teagan’s stories. Thank you for this treat! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

    Liked by 1 person

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  31. Dan…what a great kick-off for Teagan’s new book. You do Atonement proud, sir!! Love how you did this!! So many of us are looking forward to her new book and love her serials….awesome writer and I couldn’t describe how she pulls the reader into the scene any better than you did Dan!

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  32. Well that’s just neat. I don’t think I’ve ever read a recommendation like this one before, so now I want to read Teagan’s Atonement and I hate that, because my TBR is like an infinite tower … but thanks, cause I love books :D
    I wanna go in the girly shop and marvel, too.

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  35. Love the title “Greetings from Atonement.” What I mean with this is that half of the Bible and of Israel is to be found on the U.S. map. That is new to a European, even though they may strongly believe in it:) But atonement is a theological concept, so I had to look again to make certain it was about a town!

    Dan you are so good in bringing out people’s good points, like Teagan’s descriptive writing. You may think it’s normal, but today I would say it’s a great gift (and forgotten by many!
    Yay, consignment and antigue shops I could spend a whole afternoon there:)

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Thank you so much. I’m not sure why Teagan chose Atonement, but I like the name. This was a fun post to write, and I am glad it has been well-received.

      I’ve been telling Teagan how much I like her descriptions ever since I started reading her stories. She makes it seem effortless.

      Te antique shop was easy to imagine, it’s a familiar place. I was lucky, in that I had recently been in the shop that had the items I wanted to include.

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Hi Jesh. Dan did a marvelous job with this post, and I’m honored.
      Yes, “atonement” is a concept here too, and a religious one. The state, Tennessee, is in what is called “The Bible Belt” where Christianity (particularly fundamentalists) is quite prominent. I grew up in that part of the USA, so I know the people and their thinking well.
      I didn’t really think of *why* I named the town “Atonement”… but those thoughts were what prompted me to call it that. It popped into my head and seemed very right.
      Thank you for taking time to read and comment. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

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  36. Thank you Teagan:) Maybe many in that town needed atonement:):) One thing I’m envious about is your seemingly prolific imagination for stories – I have it for painting and can do it wherever, but with writing I send everyone out of the room:p

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  37. Lovely introduction to Atonement. I really like the antique shop. It brought back memories of visits to antique shops with my dad (a long time ago). I also really like the purple house with green shutters. Thank you for sharing the writing advice. The “One of the things I love about Teagan’s writing, is the gift she has for description…” section was very interesting.

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  55. What a lovely change in my life to have the time to get up with a cuppa and find your blog then follow it here… Yup I was at the Jan 31st post Rules are meant.. I love these image. What say you another walk for us this year? Maybe I can even particpate in Linda’s sat thang again.

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    • It’s always good to see a post from you, Kate. You seem so busy, yet you find time to create such beautiful journal entries. I’ll give some thought to where we could walk.

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