1. The Christmas Card
© “Unwritten Melody” Excerpt – Written
by Tessa Emily Hall – Published by Clean Reads
James
must sense my sudden fear, because he says, “Don’t worry, Cass.” His voice is
almost a whisper. “You can trust me.” A corner of his mouth lifts. He lowers
his hand, offering to help me up.
How
can I resist?
I
cram the phone back into my purse and place my hand in his. On my feet, I
expect James to release my grip, but he doesn’t.
Instead,
he shuts my door, squeezes my hand tighter—then he takes off into a jog,
pulling me along with him.
The
blend of new emotions I’ve experienced tonight builds in my stomach, giving way
to bursts of laughter. I struggle to keep my strides at the same pace as
James’s. We dart across a field, further and further until we reach the cluster
of willow trees. Vine-like branches drape over us as we weave between the
trees, our feet pounding the ground.
Then
we approach the creek, and James comes to a halt.
My
breaths are heavy as we face the water that rolls over rocks before us. I keep
my hand buried in his, snug and warm.
He
turns to me. “Hear that?”
“What?”
“Shhh.”
He slides his hand out of mine and places a finger on his lips. “Listen.”
Another
giggle slips out. “What, exactly, am I listening to?”
Slivers
of moonlight trickle between the willow tree branches overhead, illuminating
his goofy grin. “Close your eyes and just listen.”
I
bite my lower lip and do as he says, forcing myself to remain still.
A
stream of water from the creek trickles over rocks and gushes downstream,
emptying into the small waterfall. A swish of wind causes leafless branches to
brush against each other. A car roars in the distance—probably a redneck trying
to show off their souped-up engine.
“All
of this—” James’s words are barely audible. It prompts me to open my eyes.
He
stands in front of me, hidden from the moonlight, covered in thick shadows
casted by a willow tree. “This is where I get my inspiration. Similar to the
way a photographer snaps pictures of everyday-sights that most people take for
granted—and the same way a poet uses words to capture everyday feelings and
moments.” He holds up both hands for emphasis. “I capture sound. Sound that
most people can’t hear unless they really make an effort.”
Wind
rustles through my hair. A wave of chills extends from the top of my neck and
down the length of my spine.
“Do
you know the kind of impact we could make if we combine the two, Cassie? If we
capture and combine poetry and sound to create melodies that mean something?
Songs that make a difference?” Passion drips from his voice.
I
swallow. This is a side of James Russo I haven’t seen.
And
yet, standing beneath the willow trees and listening to him talk about creating
music that makes a difference—I’ve never found him more attractive than I do in
this moment.
“I’ve
always wondered what it’d be like to go blind.”
Okay,
now I can’t help but laugh. “Have you officially gone crazy?”
“Just
think about it.” Leaves crunch as he takes a step closer, into a beam of
moonlight. “When someone loses a sense, another one becomes stronger. How
awesome would it be if our sight became momentarily lost, and our hearing was
strengthened? I can’t imagine the sounds I’d discover that I’ve never heard
before. Melodies I could create because of it.”
An
owl hoots in the nearby distance. Almost as if it were trying to emphasize just
how true James’s words are.
à Giveaway
Enter for your chance to win the Unwritten Melody Prize Pack! Two
winners will be selected and announced on Tessa’s blog the final day of
tour (Friday, December 9th) 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: Page-By-Page Secrets PDF
·
Handmade journal
·
Typewritten thank you note
*This
giveaway is open to the US only
à 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. She
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 on her blog, mailing list, social media
(@tessaemilyhall), and website.
à Connect With Tessa
Have you read it yet?
Here are some of my favorite quotes to pin.
A recent favorite discovery.
Are you in the mood for a Christmas short story?
Sixteen-year-old Jared is sure that this Christmas season is going to be the worst ever for his family. His fifteen-year-old sister, Amber, is scaring their whole family with how little she is eating and her obsession with winning a beauty pageant.
When Jared seeks help from his pastor, he comes up with a plan to help his sister by Christmas. As the days pass and he sees no change in his sister, he wonders if he can reach his goal.
A Christmas short story about faith, family, and unconditional love.
Wow! Is it really December? Where has the time gone?
I am very happy to say I successfully finished NaNo (Look for A Different Kind of Purpose coming in July 2017) and am getting ready to take off some time to enjoy the Christmas season. What better way to kick off the month than with some amazing music?
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