This Time, Last Year

Kitt Raser Kelleher

Format ISBN Price   Paperback (6x9) 9781420896831 $ 10.99

Kay has a new look and a new mission: to finally get a boy to notice her. Her typical, thirteen-year-old life revolves around her friends, skating, and babysitting on weekends; until she crosses paths with sixteen-year-old Jamie Barnett – a cute jock who drives a wicked, cool Mustang.

          Everything happens so fast: Kay’s first crush, first date, first kiss, and her first hospital visit. 

          She used to dream about the boy-girl stuff that her more-experienced friend, Lisa, would talk about.  Now, she’s actually living it!  Even her best friend, Jules, doesn’t know everything that’s going on in her life.

          But one night, it all changes.  Kay loses her innocence at a time when her world turns upside down.  Kids aren’t supposed to…she thinks.

          But things happen for a reason, at least that’s what Kay’s mom always tells her.

 

 This Time, Last Year is Kitt Kelleher’s first novel.  Kitt lives in Plantation, Florida, just outside of Ft. Lauderdale, with her husband, John.  She has been a special education teacher for eighteen years.  She loves animals, especially her dog, Chloe, and her two cats, Blizzard and Spice.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville – Go Gators! – and a master’s degree from Nova University in Davie, Florida.  Kitt is currently writing her next novel.

Oh, my God. This was really happening to me. Someone was finally asking me out. A cute someone was finally asking me out. Say yes, Kay.

            “Okay. Sure. I’ll be here.”

            “Great. I can meet you here after our practice. Around eight o’clock or so. Sound good?”

            “Sure,” I nodded.

            We headed to the front doors. Jamie opened the door for me and just as we walked outside, my mom drove up. She waved to me, signaling she was ready to go. I quickly turned to Jamie and half-smiled, embarrassed to even be associated with that station wagon.

            “See ya Friday, Blondie,” he winked.

            “Okay. Bye.”

            I couldn’t get into the car fast enough. Hurry, let’s go.

My mom kissed me on the cheek, adding to the “let’s-embarrass- Kay” evening.

            The car ride home was quiet, but my mom gave every effort to inquire about the night.

            “How was the game, sweetheart?” She fumbled with the radio buttons.

            “Okay.”

            “Who won?”

            “We did.” I crossed my arms and stared out the window at the passing cars.

            “Who was that boy standing next to you?”

            “Hmmm?” I looked at her. She saw a boy?

            “That boy, the one standing next to you, when I pulled up. It looked like he was talking to you.” Moms. Why did they know everything?

            I offered no information. The “boy” she referred to would remain a secret until the moment was right. The mystery would belong only to me.