The Never Boys
Page 20
What’s your favourite chapter?
The scuba diving one. I wanted something passionate, original and not boring like giving flowers.
How long did it take to write The Never Boys?
Two years. There were a few false starts.
The ending is fairly open. What happens next?
That’s up to the reader. Whether the two of them actually do what Dean plans is left to the imagination.
BOYZ ‘R’ US
It’s a long, mad ride from Summer Bay! Chicks, babes, cars and music; bored kids and shouting mothers; fathers that suck on a bottle to put themselves to sleep; and TV sets blaring mindlessly. Race tensions are hotting up in Marrickville and the media want a gang war so badly that they nearly start one. As Mitch looks back on his time as former leader of the Thunderjets, he tells the searing story of a scene that in some ways, no matter how hard you try, you can never leave.
Praise for Boyz ‘R’ Us, winner of the Royal Blind Society’s Talking Book Award:
‘difficult moral choices at every turn of the plot … it deals with the issues of power, rebellion and self-image. But there’s never a dull moment. For such a young writer, it exhibits an impressive maturity of judgment and consistency of tone’ Canberra Times
‘Heaps good novel, eh. First one I’ve ever finished’ David, Age 13
RAW
Brett Dalton is a tough guy – hardened, angry, uncaring and always ready to use his fists. When the world hates you, you might as well hate it back.
But when Brett is busted by the cops for stealing and sent to The Farm for rehab, there are no fences to keep him in and anger gets in his way – but so does love. Brett’s trapped in a grave new world, a world where he’s not hardened at all. He’s raw.
THE CRUSH
Matthew Cassidy is an up-and-coming league star. The talent scouts are circling him, his school team has reached the finals for the first time ever and he’s determined to play professional one day. Not bad for a down-to-earth guy who lives with his mum above a fish and chip shop on the poor side of town!
But despite being the team captain, a natural at the game and popular with his mates, Matt really wants one thing in life – a dad. All his friends have one, so why can’t he?
Meanwhile, Matt is facing another dilemma – a crush. Blue-eyed Kelly Sinclair has caught his heart and won’t let go. Drop-dead gorgeous, but shy, she’s everything he has dreamed about. But she already has a boyfriend – a guy who hates Matt’s guts and will do anything to destroy his career!
Biography
Scott Monk was born in Macksville, New South Wales, in 1974. He grew up in Sydney, Canberra and several country towns before landing his first job as a newspaper journalist in Adelaide. There he covered hundreds of stories including the Nude Olympics (fully clothed), a little piggy that went to council and a stony Outback golf course where the only birdies were crows.
A reluctant reader as a teenager, Scott began writing at the age of 13 after one of his Year 8 English teachers set a “short” story assignment. Little did she expect that he would produce a 220-page manuscript — then ask her to mark it! Aged 19, he wrote Boyz ‘R’ Us, which was published when he was 21. It was followed by Raw, The Crush and now The Never Boys.
Scott presently works for a national newspaper in Sydney. On weekends, he can be found at the footy screaming for his team to rid itself of the wooden spoon, or plotting to take over the world’s chocolate factories.