Delighted to present Sophie Cleverly's book "Scarlet and Ivy: The Lost Twin" being launched today, along with an exclusive excerpt from the book as part of the book tour. Please do enter the Giveaway below to win a copy of the book!
Scarlet and Ivy: The Lost TwinBook Summary: Ivy, I pray that it's you reading this. And if you are, well, I suppose you're the new me By Sophie Cleverly
Title: Scarlet and Ivy
Series: The Lost Twin
Author: Sophie Cleverly
Release Date: May 3, 2016, Hardcover
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
ISBN 9781492633396
When shy Ivy's troublemaking twin Scarlet vanishes from Rookwood boarding school, Ivy is invited to "take her place." But when Ivy arrives, she discovers the school's true intention; she has to pretend to be Scarlet. She must think like Scarlet, act like Scarlet, become Scarlet. What on earth happened to the real Scarlet, and why is the school trying to keep it a secret?
Buy Links:Luckily for Ivy, Scarlet isn't about to disappear without a fight. She's left pieces of her journal carefully hidden all over the school for Ivy to find. Ivy's going to figure out what happened to Scarlet. She's got to.
About the Author:But the staff of Rookwood is always watching, and they'll do anything to keep their secrets buried...
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Sophie Cleverlybegan writing Scarlet and Ivy in her second year at university, where she studied Creative Writing. She knew she had to finish telling the story, and when she heard that the university offered an MA in Writing For Young People she realized it was the perfect opportunity. She lives in Wiltshire, England. This is her debut. Visit hapfairy.co.uk.
Website: http://www.hapfairy.co.uk/
Twitter:@Hapfairy
It was a bright day that followed, one of those where it feels so hot and hazy that you can't believe the summer is coming to an end. I was lying flat on my back on the stone edge of the pond, reading a tattered copy of Jane Eyre and trying my best to forget about my impending Rookwood fate.
Sometimes I would look into the water just to see my green-tinged reflection staring back at me. It was almost enough to pretend Scarlet was right there with me.
Almost.
"Ivy!" My aunt's voice rang out from the back door.
I sat up so quickly I almost dropped the book in the pond.
"Ivy!" she called again, despite the fact that I was looking straight at her. She was wringing the ends of her apron in her pale hands.
"Yes?" I answered.
"You've got a...visitor. It's a teacher from the school."
So soon? I wasn't ready for this. But then, maybe I would never be. I cautiously walked back to the cottage, curling my toes over the hard stones.
"Who is it?" I whispered to Aunt Phoebe.
"A lady," she replied, before gently pushing me into the kitchen.
The lady was tall and skinny, yet wore a long dress that looked several sizes too large. It was black and covered with pockets. Her face was sharp and pointed, and her brown hair was pulled into a tight bun that made it look like she had a row of clothes pegs on the back of her head, pinching her skin tighter. It was not a particularly pleasant face to look at, especially given that she was fixing me with the expression of someone who has just chewed a rotten wasp.
"Ivy Gray?" she said.
"Yes?" I replied, stunned.
"Yes, Miss. I trust that you have received our letter?"
"Yes, Miss." I nodded carefully, and watched as she stalked around the kitchen table. She ran a finger along the surface then scrutinized it in a most un-ladylike manner. "Good. Then you will accompany me to the school."
I blinked. "Right now?"
The woman lowered her eyebrows and folded her bony arms. "Yes, right now. It is the beginning of the term. Therefore, you are supposed to be in school."
I turned around, and saw my aunt standing there, wide-eyed.
"Aunt Phoebe?" I said, giving her a pleading look.
"Excuse us a moment," she said to the teacher, gently pulling me back into the hallway. "Oh, my dear," she said quietly. "She does seem strict, but it is a very good school, and they're bound to be rather, um..."
"But, Aunt Phoebe..." I whispered, "I-I thought there'd be more time." Truth be told, I was a bit worried about my aunt being all alone too. "What about you?" I asked.
My aunt smiled vacantly. "I'll get along just fine."
I peered back through the door at the horrible sharp woman, tapping her foot and glaring at me with squinty eyes.
"I haven't got all day," she said haughtily. "Go and get your things." She gestured upstairs, the contents of her pockets jangling as she moved.
Scarlet would have stamped on that tapping foot. But me-well, I did as I was told.
I climbed the stairs with a shudder. Everything about that ghastly woman in the kitchen made me nervous.
My bedroom was through a little doorway off the landing, built for someone a great deal smaller than me. It had a low-beamed ceiling and a window with warped panes of glass. When I had first come to stay at Aunt Phoebe's house, it had seemed so lonely; obvious that there was no room for a twin. But it had grown to feel like home, and I was sad to leave it.
I reached under the bed to find my blue travel bag. I filled it with my few possessions: a comb, toiletries, metal hair-curling clips, stationery and ink, some books, the half string of tiny pearls I inherited from our mother, Emmeline. She had died shortly after giving birth to Scarlet and I so we never knew her. Maybe if she had been here to look after us, Scarlet would still be alive now.
I threw in my underwear and my best clothes-all of which bore the strong scent of lavender from Aunt Phoebe's drawer liners-even though I knew that I would be required to wear a uniform at Rookwood School. I took out my ballet outfits, the cream leotard and skirt-and the black set too. I wrapped the soft pink shoes in tissue paper before packing them. They were almost new, and I prayed they would last a few months at least.
It had taken no time at all to pack the contents of my life. Now the little room looked bare and sad. As I laced up my leather shoes I stared at the floorboards, trying to convince myself I was doing the right thing.
You'll be fine. There's nothing to be afraid of. It's only a school.
I shut my eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. And then I traipsed back downstairs with my bag.
"Are you ready to go?" Aunt Phoebe asked. "I'm sure Mrs.... Miss, I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?"
"Miss Fox," snapped the woman.
"I-I'm sure Miss Fox will look after you," Aunt Phoebe said without raising her gaze to meet my eyes. Then my aunt placed a hand on my shoulder reassuringly.
"I'll see you soon, Ivy, my dear," she said, planting a kiss on my forehead.
"I hope so," I said, managing a smile. "I'll write."
Miss Fox's foot began tapping even faster. "We haven't got time for niceties. The driver is waiting."
I winced and clutched hold of my bag tighter, and then I followed Miss Fox out to the road, where the bright sunshine hit my eyes.
Writer, editor, blogger, social media enthusiast. Love DIY, Coffee, Music, Reading, Photography, Family, Friends and Life. Mantra: Happiness is a DIY Project. In my free time I play with my dust bunnies and show my diabetes who's boss. Tweet as @vidyasury