There's a new girl at Rookwood School, and a new mystery for Scarlet and Ivy to solve. It's a brand-new term for Scarlet and Ivy, and the girls are intrigued by a fascinating new girl, Ebony. She's as enchanting as she is mysterious, and she's began to gather quite the following - in fact, most of the younger girls appear to be under her spell. I was able to get in touch with the author of Scarlet and Ivy, Sophie Cleverly, to ask her some questions about the series and her plans for the future.

Over the last few months, I have been working my way through the Scarlet and Ivy series by Sophie Cleverly. This middle-grade book series captured my imagination and is now entertaining my nine-year-old son as well. What Is Scarlet and Ivy?

Books Multibuys

SC: I am definitely more like Ivy, I think. I am quite shy and bookish but have the occasional urge to have fun and go on adventures! But I have to say that Scarlet is my favorite twin to write as I sort of live vicariously through her. She isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and loves getting in all sorts of trouble. SC: I really love the twins’ best friend Ariadne. She is so enjoyable to write as she’s very clever and funny, whilst at the same time being terribly “uncool.” I wanted to write someone that the twins might write off as annoying or weird, only to discover that once you get to know her she is fantastic—brave and fun and a wonderfully loyal friend. I would love to have a friend like her and I would strive to be the same way myself! Just as things are seeming to improve at Rookwood, the girls’ beloved ballet teacher Miss Finch disappears. The mysterious Madame Zelda takes her place, and poison pen letters begin to circulate around the school, reaching both pupils and staff. The girls decide to investigate and discover a story of revenge. Deep, dark midwinter had come to Rookwood. The wind is howling. The snow is falling. But that's not the only reason pupils are feeling the chill...

SC: Mostly my terrible jokes… I often have silly jokes that my editors don’t get and tell me to take out. (Sometimes I don’t listen!) But at least I keep myself amused when writing. Locals say that at night the troubled souls buried in the ancient flooded graveyard no longer rest in peace... Twins Scarlet and Ivy Grey can’t wait to sign up for the school trip and get away from classes for a few days. But nothing is as it seems; the creepy lakeside hotel and the deep waters of Lake Seren hide dark secrets. Precious things disappear from their rooms, a malicious force leaves a trail of destruction and mysteries start to surface. If they ever hope to leave this place, the girls from Rookwood School must face the danger head on... As for Rose’s character, she is quite different to the other girls—she is very shy, she struggles with speech and learning (often being selectively mute), and has a special interest in horses. Her differences wouldn’t be well understood in those days, but I wanted to show that she could be an important part of the group, too. GM: Which was your favorite twin to write and do you feel like you identify with one more than the other?With evil headmaster, Mr Bartholomew, safely out of the picture, life is looking up for Scarlet and Ivy. SC: After having a bit of a break due to the birth of my daughter, I am working on a new series which is due to start next year. It’s all a bit of a secret at the moment, but I hope it will appeal to my fans. GM: Were there any other characters you especially enjoyed writing? If so, what was it about them that inspired you? Newly veiled threats, a cryptic letter and secrets to uncover - Rookwood is in real danger this time... SC: Definitely! After hearing about things like the Bechdel Test, I really liked the idea of a series where the focus is almost entirely on girls and women due to the all-girls school environment. I went to an all-girls school myself (though it wasn’t private or a boarding school), so it was very familiar to me. I wanted to showcase female voices with a wide range of differences.

There’s a new girl at Rookwood. Ebony claims to be a witch and soon seems to have most of the students (and the teachers) under her spell. Scarlet and Ivy don’t believe in witchcraft but something weird is definitely going on, and it’s down to them to figure out what before their best friend gets dragged down with it all.There's a new girl at Rookwood School, and she's as enchanting as she is mysterious. But is Ebony really who she seems?