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?
Guest Post-
How Much of My Personal Life Did I Put Into Purple Moon?
Many authors don't like to incorporate their personal life into their books, only because it's too revealing and they believe that fiction should be entirely—well, fiction. However, I believe that fiction comes across as more realistic when authors write from experience. One of the reasons why I've always liked Taylor Swift's songs is because she writes from experience. Teenagers can relate to her songs because they've been through situations that she sings about in her songs. That’s also one reason why I wanted to be a teen author, because I wanted to be able to relate to the readers of YA fiction.
I had fun incorporating my personal life into Purple Moon. I gave the protagonist, Selena, many of my own qualities, such as: she’s an introvert, an artist, dreamer, loves coffee, and wears the same style of clothing as I do. One of the reasons why I loved writing Purple Moon was because it was similar to the journey that I was experiencing in my own life. In some ways, writing Selena’s story was sort of a healing process for me.
I also gave several secondary characters names of my friends and family, such as: Erica, Josh, Jeremy, Tara, Matthew, Mickey, Sarah, and Sam.
The friendship that Selena has with her best friend, Hilarie, was actually modeled by the best friend that I had throughout middle and high school. In Purple Moon, there’s a scrapbook that Selena made for Hilarie on her birthday. That was "inspired" by the scrapbook I made for Mickey on her birthday one also. Mickey is an extrovert, like Hilarie; and I’m an introvert, like Selena. She’s always been more of the independent type as well, and me, not so much.
What’s strange is that—after I wrote Purple Moon, so much of my life started to actually copy the story! Far too many ways to count, actually.
Do you like to read books where the author incorporated his/her life experiences into the story? Or if you’re a writer, do you include your own life experiences into the stories that you write? Has your life ever started to "mock" the fiction that you write, like it has with mine?
Fact or Fiction?:
Guess this fact or fiction, and be sure to stop by the next blog tour stop to see if you guessed correctly! (You’ll also receive one extra entry for the "Purple Moon" Prize Pack if you send me your guess.)
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Author Bio-
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.Wednesday, October 2nd: Q & A: Saved by Grace
Thursday, October 3rd: Behind the Scenes: Name Meanings: Labor Not In Vain
Friday, October 4th: Is It Okay To Be An Introvert?: Alex Inks It
Monday, October 7th: Story Behind the Cover Art: Candy Apple Books
Tuesday, October 8th: Purple Moon Excerpt: Cherishing the Sunrise: Author Casey Bond
Wednesday, October 9th: Q & A: Writing While the Rice Boils
Thursday, October 10th: Behind the Scenes: Christian Human Videos: Writing in Wonderland
Friday, October 11th: Teenage Substance Abuse: Emily Rachelle
Monday, October 14th: Behind the Scenes: Lake Lure Academy of the Arts: Worthy 2 Read
Tuesday, October 15th: My Middle & High School Experience: Hello Highlights
Wednesday, October 16th: Purple Moon Excerpt: Meatless Turkey Sandwich: Diane Estrella
Thursday, October 17th: Body Image Laurel’s Leaves
Friday, October 18th: Behind the Scenes: Brewer’s Coffee: A Splash of Ink
Monday, October 21st: Purple Moon Excerpt: Farkle at the Park: A Slightly Nerdy Bookworm
Tuesday, October 22nd: Teenage Dating: Tell The World
Wednesday, October 23rd: Q & A: The YA Book Stack
Thursday, October 24th: How Much of My Personal Life Did I Put Into “Purple Moon”?: Read For Your Future
Friday, October 25th: Fairy tales & Happy Endings + Contest Winners!:
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