Tessa (Unsavory Heritage #1) by Robin E. Mason -- Book Birthday and Cover Makeover

Blog tour hosted by Bird’s Nest Books

“When you pretend to be something you’re not, it always finds you out.”

“Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are. Don’t ever, for anyone, hide your true self. Know your true self, and shine like God made you to be.” 

​Today, I’m celebrating my debut novel’s fourth birthday. A brief word of explanation— Tessa, has a double birthday; at the prompting and with the help of a friend, I first released her in early March 2014, but for Kindle only. I quickly learned the value of having print copies, and with the help of that same friend (who did all the formatting for me) I released and had all the celebration in October.
 
Tessa’s official book birthday is 31 October, which is fitting for the story—she assumed an identity not her own, thus “wearing a mask.” 

​So welcome to the celebration! Grab a mask, and a virtual cuppa tea and birthday cake!

About the Book

One mother. Two daughters. One favorite. One not. 

When Cassie Barclay is presented with an opportunity – or is it a curse – she runs with it. She jumps into a new life, her sister’s life, and although at first, it holds appeal and promise, she soon realizes sometimes the fairy tale is tainted. 
Tessa is a story of love and trust, hope and faith. Of lies and betrayal and deceit. An unsavory heritage, a tragic incident. Lies unravel, secrets are uncovered, masks removed, and the truth - and love - prevail.

A story of three generations of women, Tessa is a tale of family, the nuances, the hierarchy, the enmity. 

Tessa is Cassie’s story.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

​“I’ve always had voices—er, stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!”
 
Ms. Mason writes stories of identity conflict. Her characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I really?” For all who have ever wondered who you are or why you’re here, her stories will touch you in a very real—maybe too real—and a very deep way. “I know, I write from experience.”
 
Ms. Mason has seven novels, Tessa, Clara Bess, and Cissy, in the unsavory heritage series, and The Long Shadows of Summer, The Tilting Leaves of Autumn, The Silent Song of Winter, and The Whispering Winds of Spring in her Seasons series. All of Ms. Mason’s books are available on Amazon, both for Kindle and in print. She also has several poems included in an anthology, Where Dreams and Visions Live (Anthologies of the Heart Book 1) by Mary Blowers, as well as a short story, Sarafina’s Light, also in an anthology, Blood Moon, compiled by Mary Blowers. She is working on a on One for the Price of Two, the first story in her new series, FourSquare, to release next year.

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Behind the Scenes Facts About the Book

1. The first sentence of this story came to me in July 2008 while I was taking a walk.
2. In June of that year, Father God had told me to go to school for my degree in Interior Design. Little did I know how valuable all.that.art.history would be to my story!
3. I loved art history so much I almost added it as a minor.
4. Tessa is set in western New York State. Why, I’ve no clue, except it’s what the story demanded. I have never been there.
5. I Googled maps of the area and situated the town of Sunset Valley north of Salamanca and Allegany State Park. The town of Kcynia was so named for the Polish immigrant ancestry, and was located west of Sunset Valley at Mayville on the north end of Chautauqua Lake.
6. I wrote Tessa without regard to—truly in ignorance of—genre, Christian Fiction or otherwise.
7. A sequel hadn’t occurred to me as I wrote her story. It was only when asked that I found two specific spots that pointed directly to the second book. And the series was born, the name of which just happened to be in the blurb.
8. I thought for the longest that because I didn’t plot and outline that I was doing it wrong! Only when I began to tap into this amazing industry did I learn there are others like me and we have a name—Pantzers!
9. I type by touch, sometimes with my eyes closed, and in the scene when Connie dies, I was so IN the scene I nearly hyperventilated!
10. One of the characters is a behinds-the-scenes prayer warrior. I had no clue when I first met (wrote) this person, and was delighted to make the discovery about 2/3 of the way through the story!

Evolution of a Cover

​dat first cover doh…

Re-New Cover Reveal

​‘Dat first cover’ was my uneducated and oblivious attempt at cover design.  The second try captured the essence I wanted, but didn’t convey well to the second and third books in the series. Number three was professionally done, but as lovely as it is, I still didn’t love it. I took the design back into my hands last year with the fourth cover, but it was missing something. Now, for Tessa’s birthday, she has a stunning new look!

And now for the cover reveal...

Isn’t she gorgeous!!

Giveaway

* runs through 7 November

Birthday Blitz Bash for Robin E. Mason’s debut novel, #Tessa is under way, starting with this Blog & Social Media Blitz! Tessa is available on Amazon, both in print and Kindle format!  (You may purchase the book HERE).

​Bird’s Nest Books is celebrating Tessa’s fourth birthday with a tour-wide #giveaway! Robin is gifting one reader a Prize Pack that includes:
A signed print copy of Tessa
3 oz packette of Tessa’s Tea
unsavory heritage mug
necklace with paint palette pendant
unsavory heritage bookmark
three (3) framed mini art prints
BONUS  BOOKS from Heather Gilbert, Lisa Lickel, and Linda Rodante

Ener the giveaway HERE.

​Giveaway is sponsored by Bird’s Nest Books, and is not affiliated by any social media venues. Open to US residents only.