This song has been everywhere...

Have you heard it? :)

Such a blessing.

Posts coming, I promise. So much going on lately. I need to catch up!!

No comparisons here...

They played this song over and over at the retreat I did in Colorado last weekend (John and Stasi Eldredge "Captivating Advanced" event) and wow, did God use it to touch my heart. Maybe it will touch you today.

Give it a listen :)

(Will be sharing some of what I learned at the retreat here soon!)

Oy

HA! The post before this one got hung up in my blog queue and was supposed to go out a week ago.

Oh dear.

Let's just say it's been Monday all week ;)

Strep throat and tow trucks and breaks up, OH MY

What a week!

I just realized I hadn't blogged in like seven days...probably because in the past 3, my car died, got stranded at O'Reilly's Auto Parts, and towed to a mechanic the next day (the SAME day my kindergartener got strep throat and missed two days of school) and then I bought a car.

Yep. Was officially OVER breaking down all the time, never knowing which sensor and warning lights on my dash were legit or just a malfunction, not being able to see my odometer at night to see how fast I was going because that bulb was burned out, having to buy new tires almost every year...over the cracked windshield and faded fire dept. window decals that no longer apply to me. Over the stained seats and floor mats. Over the blind spots and the way it never seemed to match what speed I was apparently actually going (said a cop).

Over it.

So, Tuesday this week, my Sebring and I broke up. DONE. Finished. OVER. And there was no "it's not you, it's me." No, it was ALL the Sebring! haha.

Don't worry. My new Camaro and I are very VERY happy together :)

FYI - I'm heading out of town in the morning for Captivating Advanced in Colorado, a women's retreat taught by Stasi Eldredge, and I am SO excited. Please pray for safe travels and for God to do a work in my heart in any way I need. And that I can be a blessing to someone there!

Thank you! How is YOUR week going so far?

PS - the story about my car and how it broke down will be coming next week ;)

More quality fiction...

Quality fiction from author TESSA EMILY HALL...

Selena's life isn't turning out to be the fairy tale she imagined as a kid. That hope seemed to vanish long ago when her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. This summer might finally hold the chance of a new beginning for Selena ... but having to live with her snobby cousin in Lake Lure, NC while waiting for her mom to get out of rehab wasn't how Selena was planning on spending her summer. She soon begins to wonder why she committed to give up her "bad habits" for this.

Things don't seem too bad, though. Especially when Selena gains the attention of the cute neighbor next door. But when her best friend back home in Brooklyn desperately needs her, a secret that's been hidden from Selena for years is revealed, and when she becomes a target for one of her cousin's nasty pranks, she finds herself having to face the scars from her past and the memories that come along with them. Will she follow her mom's example in running away, or trust that God still has a fairy tale life written just for her?

Find “Purple Moon” on Amazon

Find “Purple Moon” on Goodreads
Find “Purple Moon” at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Like “Purple Moon” on Facebook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tessa Emily Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel to be published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is also the editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, a column writer for Whole Magazine, a contributing writer for More To Be, as well as the PR for God of Moses Entertainment. Other than writing, Tessa enjoys acting, music, Starbucks, and her Teacup Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Website:  www.tessaemilyhall.com
Blog: www.christiswrite.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tessaemily
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tessa.h16

 

And now a Q&A with the author!!  :)

 

What inspired you to write “Purple Moon”?

I wanted to write a character-driven story about a teenager who has fallen way from the relationship she once had with God after her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. In the story, Selena is forced to leave her apartment in NY and stay with her snobby cousin in Lake Lure, NC while waiting for her mom to get out of rehab. It was initially inspired by the song “By Your Side” by Tenth Avenue North, as well as the skit that many churches have performed to the song “Everything” by Lifehouse.

In what ways can you relate to your protagonist, Selena?

Even though Selena has a completely different past and family situation, I did incorporate a little bit of “me” in her.  For example: she’s passionate, a dreamer, an artist, somewhat of an introvert, has the same style as I do, a romantic, and loves coffee a little too much. I've also given her some of my flaws. However, when I wrote “Purple Moon”, I mainly tried crafting Selena in a way that I hoped many teenagers would be able to relate with—whether they share the same backstory as she does, possess many of the same qualities, or are experiencing some of the same struggles that Selena deals with in “Purple Moon”.

When did you start writing Purple Moon, and how long did it take?

I started writing the first version of “Purple Moon” when I was fifteen. When I was sixteen, I completed the first draft and landed a publishing contract with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. It’s difficult to pinpoint how long it took to complete “Purple Moon”—the more I learned about the writing craft, the more I continued wanting to go back and rewrite the story or add a few changes. However, I have finally reached a point where I am happy with the story and can’t wait to get it in the hands of my readers.

What are you working on now?

I just completed my second book, “Unwritten Melody”, which is going to be a stand-alone novel. As of now, I am brainstorming and beginning to write the first draft of “Fallen Leaves”, which will be the second book of the Purple Moon Series and a continuation of Selena’s journey throughout the next season of her life. I am also going on a blog tour this fall and will continue to write the teen column for Whole Magazine.

What do you hope to accomplish in your writing career?

I hope to never stop writing, whether or not that includes having my work published or seeing my name on the best seller list. I hope to never stop encouraging people—especially teenagers—to follow their dreams. But more than anything, I hope that my stories will represent the power of God’s unending love and His transforming grace. That’s my number one goal, my number one reason for wanting to pursue writing for the rest of my life.