Where the Kissing Never Stops (22 page)

I eased the car onto the narrow tarmac. Above me the neon dress blinked and fell away. Behind me stood my mom. She was wearing see-through shoes, and a robe with a dragon on it, and I loved her. Ahead of me Rachel waited. I loved her, too, and she might have to move tomorrow or next month or never.

Nothing was like I had ever imagined it would be, but — can you believe it? — I’d never been happier in my life.

Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels for young adults, including
The Brimstone Journals
,
Margaux with an X
and
Stoner and Spaz
, which won the 2003 PEN Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Nasen & TES Special Education Needs Book Award.

Where the Kissing Never Stops
was Ron Koertge’s first novel for young adults. “A friend of mine who wrote Young Adult novels suggested I try writing one as I was so chronically immature,” he says. “Instead of being insulted, I went to the local library and did some research. I’d been home to see my parents in Collinsville, Illinois, and saw what a mall had done to the downtown of that little community. So that was that. All I needed was three or four characters, some snappy dialogue, and a story! About three months later, I had a rough draft; it sold right out of the gate, and I’ve never looked back.”

An avid movie buff, Ron Koertge lives in South Pasadena, California, in the house featured in John Carpenter’s film
Halloween
. He lectures in writing for children at Vermont College in the USA.

Other books by Ron Koertge
The Arizona Kid
The Brimstone Journals
Margaux with an X
Stoner & Spaz