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.
Q&A with Tessa...
Q: What was the inspiration behind Unwritten Melody?
A: I loved the idea of having a
songwriter (Cassie) mesh her lyrics together with a musician (James) and for
the pieces to fit together like a puzzle—almost as though the lyrics and songs
were created for each another.
I also knew that I wanted to
somehow incorporate the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson into the novel. I
first learned about this poet in my 8th grade English class. I
remember becoming fascinated—not only with her works, but also with the
unique story of her life. After I brainstormed the premise to Unwritten Melody, I knew Cassie’s own
life would shadow perfectly that of Dickinson’s and highlight the book’s theme
in the process.
Q: What is the message you hope readers will
grasp after reading Unwritten Melody?
A: It’s my hope that, through any
book that I write, readers will realize they are not alone in their life’s
journey—in the questions they wrestle with, emotions they deal with,
situations they experience, etc. And hopefully, through following the journey
that my characters take, readers can find a solution for their own problems as
well.
I specifically hope readers will
come away from Unwritten Melody with
newfound hope for their current circumstances and a deeper revelation of the
power of God’s unending love.
Q: Could you give a brief overview of the
writing and publication process behind Unwritten
Melody?
A: I brainstormed the plot when I was
seventeen-years-old—the spring of 2011. I was working on my debut novel, Purple Moon, at the time, so I filed the
idea away until I could have dedicated time to focus on it. Finally, I wrote
the first draft when I was eighteen and working on the edits to Purple Moon. That draft continued to
develop and transform as I went through the editing/revision process for over a
year.
When I was twenty-one, my agent
sent me a long edit letter, detailing the major areas that needed to be fixed
in the plot. I was extremely grateful for the feedback—yet at the same time, a
part of me was discouraged, because it would require a great deal of “book
surgery” to fix the errors in the plot. That was a lot to take on, especially
after I’d already spent over a year in edits.
So, I stepped away from the book
and poured my energy into another project. Yet the story didn’t let me avoid it
for long. I knew that the book didn’t exactly match the original story that was
first laid on my heart several years before, and I was determined to make that
happen.
To make a long story short—I spent
the fall of 2015 applying my agent’s suggestions and rewriting the entire book
from scratch. It still has the same characters, premise, and setting, but now
the novel matches the original novel I had first brainstormed when I was
seventeen.
The book went on for submission to
publishers for winter 2016. One day in May, while I was packing to leave for a
writer’s conference, I received a phone call from my literary agent with the
great news—Clean Reads had offered a contract. J (I knew they
were considering it because they had requested the manuscript about a month
before.)
The moral of the story? Never give
up on the story of your heart!
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I’m currently working on the
sequel to Purple Moon (which has been
another lengthy project) and hope to finish it by winter 2016. I’ve also been
working on a teen devotional that I’m really excited about!
After that? Well, I hope to
continue writing inspirational and authentic novels for teens and possibly
write another installment in the Purple
Moon series. I don’t see myself switching genres any time soon! But I do hope
to delve more into non-fiction as well.
Although God is the Ultimate Author of my future, I always ask him to give me the desires He wants me to have. Right now, my burning desire is this: To write books that transform lives — stores that portray the power of God's steadfast love and His unending grace.
Q: What advice would you like to give aspiring authors?
A: First of all, stay fueled with a passion for writing. Build your writing journey on a foundation that consists of a love for both reading and writing. Write because you can't not write, because honestly, if you don't begin with this kind of passion, then it's going to be far too tempting to quit when the discouragement comes. (Notice that I said when, not if!) It's important to also find the time to write and stay disciplined with your writing time because perseverance is the only way to produce an actual book.
Then, learn as much about the craft industry as you can through blogs, books, workshops, and conferences. Apply what you learn to your manuscript. Network with other writers on blogs, social media, critique groups, and at writing conferences. Keep a teachable spirit. Remember that, no matter how naturally gifted you may be in writing, every writer could use improvement to grow.
Finally, create long-term and short-term goals for your writing journey. I've met so many writers who never pursued their writing dreams because, A) They didn't push themselves to finish a book, B) They gave up too soon, C) They didn't learn how a book is published, therefore never pursued publication and believed that "being an author" was an impossible achievement.
About Tessa...
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. You can find her online at the following;
Twitter: @tessaemilyhall
