Today, I’ve a special treat for you all! For the first time ever, Cordially Barbara has the chance to be a part of a Book Blog Tour! *waves excitedly* Hi!

In May of this year, Tessa Emily Hall and I were in the same writers’ conference, but you know, I don’t think she and I ever met. But, I kept seeing her on the social media hashtags. Isn’t social media sometimes the best? After stalking Tessa and reading Purple Moon, I leapt at the chance to participate in the blog tour for her newest book, Unwritten Melody!

 

Unwritten Melody: About The Book

 

Does breaking free require breaking the rules?

Cassie Gilbert lives every day in the shadows of her deceased mom’s rebellion. But now that she’s seventeen, she finds herself longing to break away from her grandmother’s suffocating rules, experience what it’s like to be a regular teenager, and fulfill her songwriting dreams.

James Russo, former American Spotlight contestant, escapes to small town Willow Creek, SC hoping to flee from his tarnished past. When a school project pairs him with the shy principal’s granddaughter, he’s determined to get to know this Emily-Dickinson-obsessed and typewriter-using girl. His plan? Convince Cassie to co-write songs for his demo album.

As Cassie gets to know James over “project meetings” (more like opportunities to match her lyrics with his melodies), she becomes intrigued by his sense of adventure and contagious passion for music. But soon, his past becomes exposed. Cassie’s left to wonder—did she make the same mistake Mom did by falling for the bad boy?

Then, Grandma’s control pushes her over the edge. Cassie must choose between remaining in the chains of yesterday, or delving into her own freedom by completing the melody her mom left behind.

Book Links:

• Mark “Unwritten Melody” on Goodreads
• View “Unwritten Melody” on Amazon
• View “Unwritten Melody” on Barnes & Noble

An Interview with Tessa Emily Hall

I had such fun creating these questions for Tessa, and I just love her answers, especially the food related ones. You’ll see! And isn’t she just gorgeous? Anyone else wondering what she was thinking about when this photo was taken?

Quick Five

The bold is Cordially Barbara and Tessa’s answers follow. {I’ll try not to chime in! But if I do, it’ll look like this.}

1. Favorite city to visit.

Asheville, NC and Black Mountain, NC (which is pretty much a smaller version of Asheville)

2. Best restaurant of all time.

Any café-style restaurant that serves authentic, organic, and gluten-free food. (It has to taste good, of course!)

3. Socks or no socks.

Socks if it’s cold; no socks while I sleep {girrrrl, I’m with you.}

4. Pet peeve.

Someone trying to talk to me while I’m reading or writing!

5. Song on repeat?

Lauren Daigle’s entire album, How Can It Be. I don’t know what it is about that album, but I haven’t stopped listening to it on repeat since I first heard it a year ago! (I’m even listening to it now, actually.)

Questions About Unwritten Melody

Congratulations on your upcoming release of your second book: Unwritten Melody! What’s your favorite part of sharing your book?

Thank you! It’s crazy to think that this story is finally going to be released to the public. I brainstormed the plot when I was 17 and began writing the first version when I was 18. It’s gone through multiple edits and an entire rewrite since then! So the best part would have to be simply that: letting go of this story and releasing it to the world. {This is a special type of bravery, I think.}

Yes, I love writing for myself, but more than that, I write because I view it as a ministry. I love connecting with teens that I might never have the chance to meet in real life. Hearing from them is the best part of this author life.

Do you have a favorite chapter?

Hmm … I’d have to say that a certain scene in Chapter Six was probably my favorite one to write. 😉 (Hint: “Did you hear it, too?”)

Why this story?

It’s been on my heart since I was seventeen-years-old (over five years ago). I’ve tried putting it away and dabbling in another book idea. I thought the plot issues were too complex to fix. But it wouldn’t let me leave it for long. I’m passionate the characters, setting, and theme of this story. Cassie, my protagonist, is so real to me, and I feel as though I’ve lived in Willow Creek, SC (the fictive setting). Many aspects of this story were inspired by my love for the movies August Rush and Walk to Remember.

While writing this book, did you learn anything from your protagonist?

Great question! The theme of the story is a little different than it was when I first brainstormed it. Although I’m not sure that I learned anything from Cassie, I definitely was impacted by the revelation she received at the end of the story. It’s one that I need to remind myself of every day.

What food would be the perfect compliment to reading Unwritten Melody?

Peanut butter chocolate fudge! Cassie’s granddaddy makes a healthy version of this fudge in the Valentine’s Day scene. On December 5^th I’m stopping by Nicole Quigley’s blog and will post the recipe so readers can snack on it while they read. 😉

Where do you think the reader should travel while reading Unwritten Melody?

If possible, they should travel to a farmland, or to a town that has large fields and rolling hills. Willow Creek is a small, country town in the south that’s mostly consisted of farmland, a creek and willow trees, and a downtown that’s practically a ghost town.

What food would you compare your book to and why?

Authentic dark chocolate. It’s bittersweet yet satisfying and will leave you with that sappy-romantic, sigh-worthy feeling when you reach the end. {I love dark chocolate so much.}

Giveaway

The fun continues! You can enter the giveaway here and then catch up on other blog posts about Unwritten Melody if you scroll down to the blog tour schedule!

Enter for your chance to win the Unwritten Melody Prize Pack! Two winners will be selected and announced on Tessa’s blog the final day of tour (Friday, December 9^th) and will be notified via email.

This prize pack includes…

• E-copy of Unwritten Melody
• Signed paperback copy of Purple Moon
• Unwritten Melody mug, filled with goodies
• Unwritten Melody swag, including a bookmark, pen, and poster
• Starbucks mocha flavored instant coffee
• Free Unwritten Melody: Page-By-Page Secrets PDF
• Handmade journal
• Typewritten thank you note

*This giveaway is open to the US only
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Blog Tour Schedule

Don’t miss the next blog tour stop! Be sure to visit the following blogs on its designated tour date. You can also email tessaemilyhall (at) gmail (dot) com and request to receive the Blog Tour Packet. At the end of the tour, Tessa will send you the downloadable PDF that will contain all of the content from each blog tour stop.

• Tues., November 1 – Christ is Write
• Wed., November 2 – Adriana Gabrielle Writes
• Thurs., November 3 – The Depth of My Faith
• Fri., November 4 – Sarah Ruut
• Mon., November 7 – God is Love
• Tues., November 8 – The Bibliophile Angel
• Wed., November 9 – Emily Rachelle Writes
• Thurs, November 10 – Word Changers For His Glory
• Fri., November 11 – Christian Teen Book Reviews
• Mon., November 14 – Phyllis Still
• Tues., November 15 – In The Bookcase
• Wed., November 16 – Girl Meets Publishing World
• Thurs., November 17 – Anna Schaeffer
• Fri., November 18 – Ramblings of a Writer
• Mon., November 21 – Naomi and Books
• Tues., November 22 – Reading is My Superpower
• Wed., November 23 – Zerina Blossom’s Books
• Thurs., November 24 – Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud
• Fri., November 25 – Labor Not in Vain
• Mon., November 28 – Barbara Brutt
• Tues., November 29 – Katy Kauffman
• Wed., November 30 – Jen Pheobus
• Thurs., December 1 – Northern Belle Meg
• Fri., December 2 – 2Me From Him
• Mon., December 5 – Nicole Quigley
• Tues., December 6 – The Destiny of One
• Wed., December 7 – Catherine Castle
• Thurs., December 8 – Rachelle Rea Cobb
• Fri., December 9 – Leslie L. Mckee

About Tessa Emily Hall

Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show others they’re not alone—and because she remembers the teen life like it was yesterday (or a few years ago). The debut novel she wrote at 16-years-old, PURPLE MOON (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) was a Selah 2014 Finalist. Her second novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY, releases with Clean Reads November 2016. She’s the Founder of PursueMagazine.net, a magazine that inspires teens to embrace their calling. Tessa also enjoys helping writers achieve their dreams through her internship at Hartline Literary Agency.

When her fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, Tessa can be found making healthy homemade lattes, speaking to teens, decorating her insulin pump, and acting in Christian films. She writes in a small town nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Southeastern coast. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website.

 Connect With Tessa

• Website: tessaemilyhall.com
• Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2ef5bu1
• Blog: www.ChristisWrite.blogspot.com
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/tessaemilyhall
• Facebook page: www.facebook.com/tessaemilyhall
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tessaemilyhall
• Pinterest: pinterest.com/tessaemilyhall

 

Did you love the interview questions? Anyone planning on tracking down that fudge recipe on December 5th?!