Prom Dates from Hell (24 page)

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

There’s an axiom among authors that you have to write a million words of crap before you can produce publishable prose. Here’s to everyone who suffered through mine.

But especially I’d like to thank…

My agent, Lucienne Diver, who answers my newbie questions with good humor, and Krista Marino, who has spoiled me for all other editors. What a great way to start.

Candace Havens, Britta Coleman, Shannon Cannard, and all the Divas. But especially Candy and Britta, for recognizing greatness underneath the stark terror.

The Dallas–Fort Worth Writers’ Workshop and the after-hours IHOP Irregulars, especially Shawn and Dan. Rachel Caine, the LJ crew, and the Old Guard: Carole, Jennifer, et al. You may not even realize the little things you said that kept me coming back to the keyboard.

The young thespians of Victoria Community Theatre. There’s something of each of you in this book. Hopefully you’ll never figure out which parts.

Haley M. Schmidt, who wanted a manuscript for her graduation present.

My husband, Tim, because you’ve seen “better” and you’ve seen “worse” and you love me anyway.

And all my family, Mom, Peter, and Cheryl Smyth, sister of my heart. You all believed in me, even during the times when I didn’t believe in myself.

R
OSEMARY
C
LEMENT
-M
OORE
has been writing stories her whole life, even when she should have been doing other things, like algebra homework. Despite this inauspicious beginning, she managed to acquire a master’s degree in communications, along with an eclectic résumé: telephone operator, Chuck E. Cheese costume character, ranch hand, teacher, actress, stagehand, director, and playwright.

A recovering thespian, she writes full-time, a job that combines all the things she loves best: playing with words, researching weird subjects, entertaining people, and working in her pajamas. She lives in Texas with her husband and too many pets, none of whom really understand why the best working hours are between ten at night and two in the morning, but all of whom let her sleep late anyway.
Prom Dates from Hell
is her first book for young readers. Visit Rosemary at
www.rosemaryclementmoore.com
.

And Maggie thought the cheerleaders were bad….

Look for Maggie Quinn’s next showdown with evil in

Hell Week

Coming in fall 2008

Published by Delacorte Press an imprint of Random House Children’s Books a division of Random House, Inc.

New York

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2007 by Rosemary Clement-Moore

All rights reserved.

Delacorte Press and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

Visit us on the Web!
www.randomhouse.com/teens

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at
www.randomhouse.com/teachers

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition of this work as follows:

Clement-Moore, Rosemary.

Prom dates from Hell / Rosemary Clement-Moore.

p. cm.

Summary: High school senior and yearbook photographer Maggie thought she would rather die than go to prom, but when a classmate summons a revenge-seeking demon, she has no choice but to buy herself a dress and prepare to face jocks, cheerleaders, and Evil Incarnate.

[1. Demonology–Fiction. 2. High schools–Fiction. 3. Schools–Fiction. 4. Horror stories.] I. Title.

Pz7.C59117Pro 2007

[Fic]–dc22

2006011015

Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

eISBN: 978-0-375-84907-7

v3.0