UNWRITTEN MELODY is Now Available in Paperback!

I received a special package from my publisher the other day ... ! 

It's the paperback of my YA inspirational romance novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY! You can now add the physical copy to your physical bookshelves. Yes, this means you’re free to dog-ear the pages. Highlight passages that might resonate with you. Sniff the printed ink. Admire the amazingly soft cover.


Not only that: You can purchase an autographed copy for only $20 (includes shipping and you'll receive free book swag!). If you’re interested, send me an email at tessaemilyhall (at) gmail (dot) com by August 15th and notify me of how many copies you would like to purchase and who you would like the books to be made out to. (Payments will be paid via PayPal, check, or the app, Cash. US only—sorry!)


** Psst ... This is an amazing deal considering the book is available on Amazon paperback for $16.99! **

The cover is wonderfully soft.

You'll also receive these beautiful handmade bookmarks!

For those of you who may not know, UNWRITTEN MELODY released last fall by Clean Reads in Kindle format. Here are some of the reader responses (pulled from reviews on Amazon/Goodreads):

“UNWRITTEN MELODY pulls on your heart strings in all the right places … 

This is a story you will want to read again and again." 

 ~ Katy Kauffman, award-winning author, Refresh Bible Study Magazine editor, and co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies

“I enjoyed every moment of this book.”

“It was so hard to put this book down.”

"To say that I was blown away by this book is an understatement."

“BUT SERIOUSLY THIS BOOK WAS SO SO SO SO SO SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO GOOD!!!!!!!”

"I knew the characters, understood them, felt for them, laughed aloud, and cried for them."

"A fiction novel that can stir so many emotions is always a great read to me. Author, Tessa Hall, does exactly that."

"Unwritten Melody by Tessa Emily Hall has a gentle pace, but a strong emotional impact that will inspire young adults to hold on to hope and follow their dreams."

"I LOVED THIS SO MUCH OH MY GOSH"

"Overall a touching story beautifully rendered by Tessa Emily Hall."

"Overall, Unwritten Melody is a must read, and a must re-read for me. 

Go grab yourself a copy today!"

UNWRITTEN MELODY Back Cover Blurb:

2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Young Author 


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.


You can purchase/view the book on Amazon here.


I hope everyone’s been having an amazing summer! =)

Question for you: Do you prefer Kindle or physical copies? Why?

What To Do When You Can't Let Go Of The Story Of Your Heart

I recently visited Go Teen Writer's blog and shared writerly complications I faced while writing my latest release, UNWRITTEN MELODY.  You can check it out by clicking here! 

Final "Unwritten Melody" Blog Tour Stop + Prize Pack Winners!

First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the blog tour! It's always a little nerve-wracking planning a 30-stop blog tour, especially when there's tons of preparation and organization involved beforehand. I'm very grateful to everyone who showed support surrounding the release of UNWRITTEN MELODY and to everyone who hosted a tour stop. =)
Today's the final day of the blog tour, and I'm over at Leslie McKee's blog for a Q&A. Today's also the day that I get to choose the Prize Pack winners!
As a reminder, two winners of the Unwritten Melody Prize Pack will receive ...

And the winners are...

Katy Orsborn

&

Torri Light

Congratulations! You should receive an email from me today. If you didn't receive it, comment below and let me know. 
If you missed any of the stops, click here for the full tour schedule. I'm also going to create a PDF that combines all of the content from this blog tour. It'll be available to download soon!  
Tomorrow will mark one month from the release date of UNWRITTEN MELODY! It's hard to believe that it's already been in public for that long. Don't forget you can send the Kindle book to a friend for a Christmas present! {It costs the same as a Starbucks coffee ... just saying!} ;) Comment below if you'd like to learn how to schedule the delivery so that it's sent directly to your friend's inbox on Christmas morning.  {You can also check out my Zazzle store for more gift ideas for writers, readers, creatives, and more!}
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season so far! =D 
Let me know in the comments ... 
What's your favorite kind of gift to give to your friends? What's your favorite kind of gift to receive? Honestly, everyone in my family knows that they can usually expect to receive a book from me. There truly is no better gift than the gift of a story! =) 

Launch Week Thoughts + "Unwritten Melody" Q&A Video!

The virtual launch party for UNWRITTEN MELODY exceeded my expectations. In fact, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’d never hosted one before. But I knew it would be a great way to connect with friends, family, and readers to celebrate the release of my sophomore novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY. Thanks so much to all of you who made an appearance, interacted in the comments, asked questions, entered giveaways, and especially those who brought the virtual snacks. ;)

(Warning: I'm about to transition into second person here!) Seeing your book out in the real world is surreal. It’s the one you’ve spent countless hours working on. For years it was just you and the characters. (And the early readers, of course.) It takes on another shape and form when it starts walking and enters the imagination of others.

It’s been interesting reading the first reviews of UNWRITTEN MELODY which were apart of my blog tour {here’s the first one, and here’s thesecond}. Some authors refuse to read their book reviews. Me? I want to know how readers interpreted the book. I want to understand my audience's preferences. Sure, I know that not everyone will enjoy it. And that’s okay. But occasionally a review is posted that makes you smile so much and causes you to become emotional. (Warning: Another second person transition!) It’s those reviews that give you the motivation and encouragement to continue writing. It’s those reviews that remind you of your ultimate goal as an author – no, not to please others, but to touch them. To illustrate a Greater Truth. So it means everything to read a review from a reader who had the experience you had prayed for while writing the book.

Anyway, all that to say – I’m looking forward to seeing your reviews. It would mean so much to me if you could post your thoughts on Amazon and Goodreads, even if you didn’t enjoy the book. Reviews help readers understand the full spectrum of a story, which then helps them decide whether or not to purchase the book.  

I’m on my way to Florida now so I might not be as active on social media/blogosphere until come back in over a week. But I just wanted to say thank you. I sincerely hope you enjoy the time you spend reading UNWRITTEN MELODY!

If you weren’t able to attend the party, you can stillscroll through the posts by clicking here. =) 

Also, don’t forget that I’m still on a blog tour for UNWRITTEN MELODY! Click here for the first post and tour schedule. Don’t forget to enter the Prize Pack Giveaway! =D

Here's a video I shared at the party that you might be interested in watching. In the video I discuss what UNWRITTEN MELODY is about, the inspiration behind it, etc. 

*** One last thing!If you purchase the book between now and tomorrow then you can receive a free 19-page Bonus Content Download! This was so much fun to put together. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s inside … ***

Happy reading, everyone!

{PS: Say a prayer for the people of Lake Lure, NC! Wildfires are spreading throughout the city. If you don't know, Lake Lure is the setting of PURPLE MOON. Such a beautiful town with the friendliest people. I actually have a book signing there in a few weeks. Praying for the locals and believing for rain!}

Come Celebrate the Release of "Unwritten Melody" With Me!

Thursday is the release of my sophomore novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY! Whose ready to celebrate with me at the Virtual Launch Party? All you need is a cup of coffee, some snacks, PJs, and your laptop! There will be virtual conversation. And book/author trivia. And videos. And a sneak peak into Unwritten Melody. And a Q&A. And, of course, AWESOME prizes that you won't want to miss!

When? Thursday, November 10th -- 7:30 - 9:00 PM (EST) Where? At this Facebook event


Not only that, but the person who invites the most attendees to this party will win a personalized, customized journal from Erin Condren! 

The party is a drop in, however all of the giveaway winners will be announced at the end of the party.

If you share this post on Twitter or Pinterest, comment below and you'll be entered into a giveaway for a free Unwritten Melody e-book PLUS the Bonus Content download! 

I look forward to "seeing" everyone! =D <3 center="" nbsp="">
QUESTION FOR YOU ...

Do you plan on attending the virtual launch party?

TWEETABLE:

Celebrate the Release of "Unwritten Melody" by @TessaEmilyHall & win prizes! #yalit #freereads http://bit.ly/2eGC6In

"Unwritten Melody" Blog Tour Kick Off!: Story Behind the Story {+ Giveaway!}

It's time! Today marks the first official day in the blog tour for my newest YA novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY. Over the next several weeks, I'll visit 28 blogs and share inside peaks into this book, book excerpts, explore the story's themes and topics, and answer questions. You'll also have the chance to hear what others have to say about the book in their book reviews. 

I'm offering incredible prizes in Unwritten Melody's Prize Pack {scroll down for more details!}. Two lucky winners will be selected and announced on my blog the final day of tour (December 9th). 

For the full list of blog tours that I'll be visiting, see the end of this post. Don't forget to snag your extra entries into the giveaway by commenting on every blog tour post. I hope you'll join the fun! =D

If you missed Friday's post on how to enter into even more giveaways and contests, you'll definitely want to check that out first by clicking here. =)

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.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY

The Inspiration

Unwritten Melody is a story that’s been on my heart since I was seventeen-years-old—the same age as my protagonist.

To rewind a bit—Unwritten Melody was originally the title for the first version of Purple Moon, my debut novel. In Purple Moon, Selena (the protagonist) was a musician rather than an artist. However, while I was writing the first draft, a book released with a similar title by a best-selling author—and the plot was similar as well. I didn’t want anyone to think I’d been heavily inspired by the book. So, Selena became an artist, and Unwritten Melody became Purple Moon. But I knew that Unwritten Melody would have to become the title of my next book.

So when the inspiration stroke for this plot idea, I knew it should become the storyline for Unwritten Melody. That day, I spent about an hour in the writing chair in my bedroom, brainstorming the book in my notebook. I was so excited about this idea! In fact, I called my mom into the room and made her listen while I went through the entire storyline with her.

{Want to see scans of the original brainstorming notes? If you purchase the ebook any time from Nov. 10 - Nov. 12 and send me your email confirmation receipt, I'll be sure to send you the free Chapter-By-Chapter Secrets & Extras download! Email me if you'd like to receive a reminder on the release day.}

I first became fascinated with the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson when I was in the 8^th grade. So while I was brainstorming the story, the Dickinson thread appeared naturally. I thought that, by bringing her life and poetry into Unwritten Melody, it would shadow the storyline and emphasize the book’s theme. 

The Writing Journey

I began writing the first draft while I was working on the edits for Purple Moon. This was the book I used to gain attention from my first literary agent. Although the agent saw potential, she also knew that the book wasn’t publication quality at the time. So, we spent months going back and forth with line edits.

Then, when I was 21, I received a long edit letter from this agent. In this letter, she listed several problem areas with my book’s plot threads, theme, etc. Of course, she continued to encourage me—but she also presented the idea of putting this book on the shelf, starting on a new project, then coming back to Unwritten Melody when the time was ready.

That’s what I did. Actually, I figured the book’s problem areas were too hard to unravel. I knew it wasn’t what it could be—it wasn’t the book I had originally envisioned when I first brainstormed it at 17-years-old. But I didn’t know how to go about fixing all of its issues.

So, I took her advice and began on a new project.

That didn’t last long. I kept praying that God would show me what He wanted me to work on, and that He'd show me if I were to rewrite Unwritten Melody.

That’s exactly what happened. I couldn’t get the story out of my heart or my head.

I spent that fall locked up in my writing cave (literally—I went on my own writing retreat in the mountains), gave myself tight deadlines, and rewrote Unwritten Melody from beginning to end.

Back where it all began! 5 years ago I came to this exact conference center and met my future publisher. This weekend, I've decided to stay here a few nights for a personal writing retreat as I finish book two. So many memories at this conference center! Literally living my dream. #amwriting #dreamhomerighthere ☕️📝🌄

A photo posted by tessaemilyhall (@tessaemilyhall) on Sep 18, 2015 at 2:58pm PDT

Some of the scenes were similar to their original in the first version, but the majority of them were new. With much prayer, I was able to work through the book’s problems and come out on the other side with a story that way more closely resembled the one I had first envisioned at 17-years-old. 

The Publication Journey

My agent sent the book out for submission early 2016, when I was 22. I prepared myself for months and months of waiting (and praying!).

Then, in May—while I was packing for the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference—I received a phone call with the good news: Unwritten Melody had been offered a contract with Clean Reads! I was thrilled. Of course, I knew they were already considering it since they had requested for the full manuscript about a month earlier. I’d researched their company and admired their mission to produce clean stories without compromise.

But like any offer, I knew it would be wise to wait, look over the contract, and seek God’s prompting before moving ahead. Finally, at the end of June, I signed the contract with Clean Reads! I’m officially going to “give birth” to this story that has consumed so much of my time, heart, mind, and emotions for over five years.

Over the past few years, I've been working on a secret project. A Young Adult contemporary romance novel. A story that first gripped my heart when I was 17-years-old and hasn't let go since. And now, it's finally time to release this story to the world. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ My latest novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY, will be published within the next year by Clean Reads (formerly Astraea Press)! ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ For a sneak preview, be sure to check out the book's Pinterest board. Link in bio! ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ If you'd like to stay up-to-date on the publication process, make sure you're following my blog and social media accounts. You can find them on my website at tessaemilyhall.com. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Would you like to receive a free, advanced copy of Unwritten Melody? Comment below and I’ll contact you when I begin to search for beta readers. 😁 ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Also, let me know if you're interested in participating in the blog tour as well. All blog tour participants and street team members will receive first look on the back-cover-blurb, cover art, and book trailer. =) (You can sign up for my street team on my website!) ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Thanks so much to everyone who has followed and supported my writing journey thus far. This would not have been possible without you! And, of course, a big thanks to Clean Reads and my agent, Cyle Young, for believing in this story. 💕✍📚🎼🎹

A photo posted by tessaemilyhall (@tessaemilyhall) on Jul 9, 2016 at 3:54pm PDT

Thank you so much, readers, for joining this journey with me!

GIVEAWAY!

Enter for your chance to win the Unwritten Melody Prize Pack! Two winners will be selected and announced on my 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: Chapter-By-Chapter Secrets PDF
• Handmade journal
• Typewritten thank you note

*This giveaway is open to the US only 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DON'T MISS THE NEXT STOP!

Be sure to visit the following blogs on its designated tour date (below). You can also email tessaemilyhall (at) gmail (dot) com and request to receive the Blog Tour Packet. At the end of the tour, I'll 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 – A Bounce in Your Step

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 Bruitt

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