Infamous by Allison Stowe - **Giveaway**
InfamousAllison Stowe
Publication date: September 19th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Enter the world of this YA thriller, where nothing is ever quite as it seems…
It’s been five years since the high profile kidnapping case which turned Cassie Waterson’s life upside down. The aftermath led her to become a household name – for months, she was splashed across TV screens, appeared in newspaper headlines, and featured in the furtive whispers of the residents of her hometown. But why? She hadn’t done anything significant. In fact, she’d done nothing at all; merely watched, motionless, as a shadowy figure lifted her baby sister off her feet, and bundled her into the back of a station wagon.
That single moment soon became Cassie Waterson’s life. Agonised by guilt, confused by the lack of punishment, scrutinised by the media circus… everyone claims to know Cassie now, but nobody does at all. The face she puts on for cameras, the voice she fakes for the talk shows… none of that is the reality behind the mask. Cassie is not the strong, confident girl who glares with certainty from the screen. Cassie doesn’t have her assuredness, or her optimism about her sister coming home. Cassie is someone else entirely, and the only person who knows is the one person she must avoid… at all costs.
Every story has two sides, and the flipside of Cassie Waterson is Alexis Aldridge. Unknown, anonymous, kept hidden from the world by her fearful parents… Alexis is a conundrum, wrapped in darkness. While her and Cassie lead opposite lives, they both long for the one thing they miss: a sense of normalcy, and the freedom to be themselves.
Infamous is an unmissable YA mystery novel which will take you on twist after turn, and which provides suspense and surprises on every page.
Excerpt
The two began to walk in sync, up the hill in front of them and towards a pedestrian path nearby. The path was swarming with people. Cassie was momentarily surprised at the crowds; she didn’t remember the park ever being this busy. Then she realized: they were all here because of her. Her interviews and statements drew them here to say goodbye to Sophie.Although Cassie appreciated their support, she wasn’t in the mood for highly populated areas at the moment. She tugged at Sara’s arm, disrupting the course of their trail.
“Let’s go this way,” Cassie commanded.
“Alright. Ooh! If you want to take your mind off things, I saw a really cool looking playground back there.”
Though they were now walking parallel to the people, with trees in between, Cassie couldn’t keep her eyes off them. Most of them wore black and about half showed signs of sadness… walking in groups but rarely speaking to one another, and staring at the pavement rather than the gardens. But even some of the black-clad visitors were laughing with partners or friends, seemingly carefree. It didn’t feel right.
“I haven’t played on swings in such a long time! It’s been like, a whole month. That’s just the best rush, isn’t it Cass? I love to feel like I’m flying. Don’t you?”
One young woman, probably in her early twenties, turned away from her friends with a toothy grin. Her eyes locked to Cassie magnetically. Oh no. The discovery left her feeling exposed. Irrationally, she’d felt as though the trees acted as a one-way mirror; she could see them but they couldn’t see her. Despite all the negative feelings pulsating through her, Cassie smiled. It was an instinct that she couldn’t control, and the woman seemed to take it as an invitation.
From her pea coat, she extracted a digital camera. She paused in her tracks to position the shot. Cassie was too far away to hear the click, but she saw the flash and from the pedestrians’ reactions, she knew she wasn’t the only one. The act created a copycat phenomenon, and a wave of cameras appeared, all pointing towards her and going off sporadically.
“That’s not to say that I exclusively like swings,” Sara continued, oblivious to the photo opp that was taking place a few meters away. “I’ve always been a jungle gym kind of girl, too…”
“Sara?” Cassie interrupted.
“I know! Surprising isn’t it? Can’t dodge a ball for the life of me, but my balance is pretty good!”
“Sara, let’s go,” Cassie ordered. Though her voice was steady, she could hear the desperation seeping through. She had ten minutes left to be alone, and live in the world where her sister was still out there, waiting to come home. There wasn’t time for this.
Author Bio
Allison Stowe is the author of the YA novel, ‘Infamous.’ Raised in a generic Toronto suburb, Allison spent her childhood posting fan fiction online in hopes of influencing The WB’s writing rooms. She wrote her first novel at age 13. It was based on her favorite TV show, and upon submission she learned of copyright law.
In 2010, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Journalism from Ryerson University, where she was the Managing Editor of the online newspaper. During her brief journalistic career, Allison wrote for Chatelaine magazine and TV Guide Canada (essentially achieving a life dream). Shortly after graduation, she relocated to Brighton, UK, and refocused her attention on her second passion – helping young people.
While studying for her MSc in Educational Psychology at UCL, Allison wrote Infamous as a way to fulfil her instinct to keep writing. When she isn’t writing about the lives of young adults, or watching prime time teen dramas, Allison mentors university students who’ve been diagnosed with mental health issues. She lives in London, UK, with her fluffy ginger cat, Sawyer. ‘Infamous’ is her debut novel.
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