YA in the Alleyway~MYSTIQUE by Shari Arnold & Giveaway!

YA in the Alleyway is my revised meme to give young adult literature the spotlight it deserves. It also gives YA authors the opportunity to share their signature with the world!  Feel free to join me any Wednesday. 
When I first heard about my next YA featured book, I thought the premise was so intriguing that I just had to share it with you. It's due out later this fall, so watch out for it. And as an added treat today, the author has stopped by to answer a few writerly questions.

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MYSTIQUE by Shari Arnold
Publisher: Month9Books Release Date: November 17, 2015 Genre: YA Paranormal
Description: Only Bauer Grant can pull off gorgeous while dead. But staying dead is another thing entirely. When he wakes up at his own funeral, the town of Mystique calls it a miracle, until it happens again. Something is bringing the residents of Mystique back to life, but what? Presley Caine finds herself caught up in the mystery when Bauer asks her to visit him. Presley can’t figure out why the most popular guy in school is so drawn to her. And when Bauer is kidnapped soon after, she looks to Bauer’s brooding best friend Sam, whose dad works for the powerful Mystique military base, for answers. In her quest to discover the truth, Presley’s relationship with Sam deepens, her feelings for Bauer are tested, and it becomes clear that her own mysterious past is somehow connected to these strange events. But is she strong enough to handle the truth when it is finally revealed?



Hi Shari! It's great to have you join us in the Alleyway. Tell the readers a little bit about yourself. We'd love to know more about you. I grew up in California and Utah. Met my husband while we were both attending photography school in Massachusetts and I now live in Connecticut. I take pictures of people and things and get rather bitey if I’m not creating something. 
What about a fun or unexpected fact about yourself? I was born on Christmas Eve and came home from the hospital wrapped in a red stocking.
The premise for your story is so cool. Where did the idea for MYSTIQUE come from? It was one of those moments when I was thinking about what hadn’t been done… MYSTIQUE was conjured and written back in 2009 when everything was vampires, werewolves and such and I didn’t want to go the zombie route. But I liked the idea of death being something you could conquer. 
Is there somewhat of a 'love' or 'romantic' triangle between your three leads? How important is that tension (or any tension) to this story and how did you create it?   I hate love triangles. They make me want to throw the book across the room. MYSTIQUE started as a romance between Presley and Bauer but then, when I was writing the first chapter, Bauer’s friend, Sam, appeared and suddenly I knew things weren’t going to go the way I’d planned. He stepped in and quickly made it known that something else was going on. I think in this instance it becomes pretty clear from the beginning that the “love triangle” is a bit different than usual.
I really appreciate the way you describe this. <3 the honesty! If you would, sum up MYSTIQUE in 140 characters or less. When what you wish for comes true and yet it’s not what you really wanted because there is something bigger happening. Plus magic and love.
Could you describe your writing process for this story? I have never been an outliner. I guess I’m more of a pantser. I have an idea page that I work from and add to consistently, but I brainstorm the story and create as I go.
What's your favorite writing snack? Junior mints. 
Ooh...Yum!
Recently, because of Easter, I have a large amount of Hershey Kisses so they are now taking up residence in the jar on my desk.
Lastly, what's the most valuable advice you've ever been given - per writing or life? On the back of my cell phone I had engraved: Faith = Wings 
It’s taken from the quote: “To have faith is to have wings” from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and Wendy. You must have faith in yourself. There are too many ready to throw defeat your way. And I truly believe that faith will give you wings. It holds you up when everything else is telling you to give in.
'There are too many ready to throw defeat your way....' I will never forget. Those are powerful words. Thank you so much for sharing them with us and all the best with your release!

About The Author

Shari Arnold grew up in California and Utah but now resides in Connecticut, with her husband and two kids, where she finds it difficult to trust a beach without waves. She writes Young Adult fiction because it's her favorite. And occasionally she takes photographs. Website | Twitter |Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway Readers, ever read a book about dead people? What about dead people who come back to life? Throw some titles at me. I love books like this! Uh...not sure what that says about me but... ;)