It’s Fiction Friday! Today we’re delighted to welcome Tessa Emily Hall to the blog. Emily has two published Young Adult novels, and has recently published her first book of devotionals. Welcome, Emily!
Fast Five
Long black or flat white?
Flat white
(I’m impressed: not everyone knows what a flat white is)
Books or TV?
Books
Sun or snow?
Snow—but only because I hardly ever see it in South Carolina!
Desert or sea?
Sea
Plotter or pantser?
Plotter
Getting to Know Tessa Emily Hall
Where are you from?
I live near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina—but I dream of someday living in Nashville!
What is your town or city most famous (or infamous) for?
I live in a fairly small town, but its main claim to fame is that it’s home to Radio (James Kennedy), a mentally challenged man who has attended the local high school for years. The movie Radio was produced based on his life as a teen when he helped to “coach” the high school football team.
When I was a kid, my family had the pleasure of having Radio over at our house for dinner and a movie. And guess which movie we watched?
I’ve never heard of Radio (the person or the movie), so I checked it out online. Here’s the trailer:
About Your Writing
What do you write?
I write inspirational contemporary fiction and devotional books for teens. It’s always been my desire to write stories and devotions that are authentic and relatable to the average teen in a way that connects with them rather than talks down to them. I hope that, when teens read these books, they will come away feeling as if they are less alone in their life circumstances. I often weave my own experiences as a teenager into the devotions that I write; that way, the books come across as conversational rather than preachy.
Do you have any books published?
I have three young adult fiction novels published. I wrote my debut novel, Purple Moon, when I was sixteen. The protagonist’s journey continues in its sequel, Fallen Leaves; however, this book can be read as a standalone novel as well. I consider both of these books to be Christian fiction.
My standalone novel, Unwritten Melody, is also contemporary fiction and can be geared toward both Christian and general audiences.
My first devotional book, Coffee Shop Devos, was published last fall. It is a daily devotional for teen girls categorized by their daily needs (in the style of a coffee shop menu). =) I’ve included additional coffee recipes throughout the book as well.
My upcoming book, LOVE YOUR SELFIE, releases next spring and is a devotional journal that will walk teen girls through the journey of self-acceptance. Its purpose is to help teens understand their identity in Christ, embrace their uniqueness, and tap into their potential to pursue their role in God’s Kingdom. I’m excited about this one!
How long have you been writing?
Technically since I was three—that’s when I began to dictate stories to my mom and she would write them down for me. =) I still remember the thrill that came from inventing new characters, settings, and adventures all through the power of a pen. It still fascinates me to this day!
What inspired you to start writing?
I wrote throughout my childhood and always knew that I wanted to become an author. However, once I reached my teen years, I knew why I wanted to write books: to draw teenagers to Christ. I wanted to write inspirational stories that could authentically reflect the average teen life without promoting bad behavior.
But I also didn’t want to write about “Christiany” characters and use stories as a way to preach a sermon. This continues to serve as my motivation behind writing today, although now I hope to write for both Christian and secular audiences.
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
This is always a tough question to answer! And to be honest, I think my answer to this question changes every time I’m presented with it—lol! Because I seriously love every stage of the process. The thrill of brainstorming new characters and story possibilities. The adventure of writing the first draft, knowing it’s just for my eyes only. But I also love wordsmithing and editing, because it’s during those revision stages when the story truly begins to come alive.
So would it be cheating if I said my favorite part of the process was actually hearing from readers? Because even though I love writing, I don’t write just for my own joy. It’s the responses I receive from readers that continues to encourage and motivate me to continue. =)
How does your faith impact your writing?
Faith is an integral aspect of my entire writing career. It’s the reason I began writing to begin with. However, I like to say that I write inspirational fiction rather than Christian fiction. This is because my stories won’t always be centered around a character’s faith journey. Instead, the stories weave in faith-related themes—such as hope and redemption. The books I write will always be written from this Christian perspective, whether they’re geared toward Christian audience or secular audience. Because of that, you will never find overtly offensive content in my books.
Finally, where’s the best place to find you online?
Readers can find me on my website www.tessaemilyhall.com. On here, they can subscribe to my newsletter to receive access to my readers-only page and enter monthly-ish giveaways. 😉
My favorite online spots to connect with readers are through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Hi Tessa, happy to meet you ! Your books sound like very good books for teens! God bless you for writing especially for teens, our youth need to read and to listen to more of this, especially now a days . Our children need a lot of encouraging especially to let them know that they are special.
Hi Tessa – It’s lovely to meet you.
Thank you for this wonderful interview. I wouldn’t mind reading your books myself (and I am a nanna)! It is fabulous to find someone who puts so much energy into relating to and reaching out to teens. I may just buy your devotional for my teenage granddaughter who is going through some hard times at the moment.
Cheerio and God bless.