Juniper Grove presents...Mystical High by Lisette Brodey

Title:  Mystical High

Author:  Lisette Brodey

Published: October 7th, 2013

Publisher: Saberlee Books

Word Count:  72,700

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Content Warning:  Mild sexual content and non-gratuitous profanity

Recommended Age:  14+

Synopsis:

In Mystekal, a small, dying town in the Southern California desert, only 75 students attend the old, sometimes creepy high school dubbed “Mystical High,” where strange things have been known to happen. Jessie Dalworth and Jinxsy Patterson are juniors and lifelong best friends. At home, Jessie deals with the pain of an absentee mother who has abandoned the family for the lure of Hollywood; Jinxsy contends with a 17th “birthday present” she never wanted or expected.

Meanwhile, at school, the unexplained activity begins to escalate when Jinxsy keeps seeing a long-haired guy in the hallway checking her out. Jessie can’t see him, but her younger brother, River, can.

Then, in English class, a stapler mysteriously flies off teacher Eve Carrow’s desk, hitting a student in the face who has just mouthed off to her. The beloved teacher is in the unenviable position of having her brute of a father as principal, so she hates sending any student to his office. As Principal Ernest Carrow begins to terrorize Eve and others more openly, something or someone unseen decides that it’s payback time.

School is getting stranger, and Jinxsy and Jessie are faced with mind-boggling changes in their home lives that complicate everything. When a string of shocking events expose explosive secrets, decades-long mysteries are finally revealed.

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About the Author:

Lisette Brodey was born and raised in Pennsylvania. After high school, she moved to New York City where she attended Pace University and studied drama. After ten years in New York, several of them working in the radio industry, she moved to Los Angeles, where she held various positions at Paramount Studios in Hollywood and CBS Studio Center in Studio City, CA.

Back on the East Coast, she worked for many years as a freelance writer, specializing in PR and the entertainment industry. In 2010, she returned permanently to the Los Angeles area.

Her first-published book, CROOKED MOON (General Fiction) was published in both the trade paperback and Kindle editions in 2008. Her first-written, second-published book, SQUALOR, NEW MEXICO (Young Adult/General Fiction) was published in the Kindle and trade paperback versions in 2009.

Her third novel, MOLLY HACKER IS TOO PICKY!, a romantic comedy, was published December 1, 2011. The author blogged as her character, Molly Hacker, for over a year. All blogs can be found at www.mollyhacker.com.

In January 2013, the author edited and published a book of her mother's poetry (written 50 years earlier) called MY WAY TO ANYWHERE by Jean Lisette Brodey.

Lisette's fourth novel, MYSTICAL HIGH, is the first book in her YA Paranormal Desert Series trilogy.

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Interview with Lisette Brodey

Welcome to Keira’s Corner, where there is always chocolate and lots and lots of coffee.

Keira: You have a story out entitled Mystical High. What is that about?

Mystical High is about strange and random happenings in a dying desert town. The story centers on two best friends, Jinxsy and Jessie, who are juniors in high school. The bizarre occurrences begin in a classroom, but they soon escalate to include the girls’ families and teachers. Everyone tries to make sense of events that defy logic, but no one has a clue just how much everything and everyone are connected.

Keira: What made you choose that title?

I wanted a title that was short and sweet and representative of what the book is about.

Keira: Where did the idea for your story come from?

I’ve always had a great interest in (and some experience with) the paranormal. I wanted to write a paranormal novel that was realistic as well. Living in southern California, I had a great desire to write a story that took place in the desert. When I finished the book, I was so excited about it that I decided it needed to be a series.

Keira: What is your preferred genre to write in?

That’s a tough one. This is my fourth novel. I’ve written general fiction, YA (coming-of-age), and women’s fiction (a romantic comedy), and this book/series is YA paranormal. Although I’ve written in four different genres, my style is very much the same: character-driven novels with multiple story arcs and lots of secrets.

Keira: Are you with an indie publisher, a traditional house, or self-published?

I’m self-published (Saberlee Books) because I like to have complete control of my work. I’m lucky enough to know some very talented editors and graphic designers who work with me. I couldn’t do it all without them.

Keira: Please tell us about any future projects that you are planning.

Mystical High is the first book in The Desert Series. I expect the second book to be out in spring 2014 and the third novel by fall 2014. After that, I’ll be finishing a general fiction novel that I’m already well into writing. I have several more ideas, but that’s as far down the road as I’m specifically planning.

Keira: Are you currently running any contests? What are they?

I sure am. I’m currently running a blog-wide giveaway that includes the following prizes: $35 Amazon gift card (international), a Mystical High tote bag (U.S. and Canada), and a copy of my novels Squalor, New Mexico, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!, and Mystical High (three separate prizes; U.S. only).

Keira: Do you work at a job outside the home, or is this your only career?

Sometimes I work as a SAG background actor in film and television, but being an author is my number one and favorite job.

Keira: We have a special place for unpublished writers in our hearts here at Keira’s Corner. So what advice would you give to an unpublished writer?

I love to hear that, Keira. Every writer was once an unpublished writer. I know that most authors offer the same advice, “Write, write, write,” but it makes sense. Remember this: you can’t edit a blank page. Even if you don’t like what you’re writing, keep the words coming. Don’t ever forget that great ideas often evolve out of bad ones and that your skill will grow with experience. Just keep writing, and remember that you’re accomplishing something wonderful just by not giving up.

Keira: What do you wear to write?

Something very comfortable.

Keira: Where in the hell do you find time to write?

That’s a great question. The world of publishing has changed so much, and most authors (even traditionally published ones) have to use social media to some degree. There’s so much to do besides writing the actual book, and many authors (this one included) hate that there aren’t more hours in the day. Like the Nike slogan says, “Just do it.” It’s like getting onto a New York City subway car at rush hour. You’ve just got to squeeze your way onto the car to get where you need to go.

Keira: Why are you a writer?

Because it’s as natural to me as breathing.

Let’s get personal…

Keira: Do you judge a book by its cover?

In some ways, yes. In other ways, no. I think we all have an initial reaction to cover art and there’s no doubt that it can have an extraordinary impact on us when choosing to read/buy a particular book. While I do initially judge a book by its cover, there are many other factors that I will also consider. I’ve read some great books with bad covers and some not-so-great books with fabulous covers. That said, having a great cover is extremely important to me.

Keira: What do you think you will be doing five years from now?

Writing.

Keira: Scary Movies or Happy Endings?

Happy Endings, for sure. I see a lot of movies. Horror isn’t my favorite genre, but if it’s really good, I enjoy it. There’s a second-run movie theater near my home and I go to matinees every weekend for $2. So I see a whole lot of films that I’d never see if I had to pay full price.

Keira: What is your guilty pleasure?

Movie popcorn

Keira: Do you have pets?

Yes, I have a dog (dachshund/Chihuahua mix) and a cat. They get along beautifully and one of my biggest joys is watching them play together. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but sometimes they are so much fun to watch that I’m distracted from my writing Shhhhhh!

Thank you for hosting me on your blogspot, Keira. I’ve had a great time.

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• $35 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
• Print copy of Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! (US only)
• Print copy of Squalor, New Mexico (US only)
• Print copy of Mystical High (US only)
• Tote bag (US and CAN only)      

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keira Kroft

www.keirakroft.blogspot.com