Blog Tour: THE SCHEME

THE SCHEME

Amethyst Drake

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GENRE:  Mystery

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BLURB:

Katherine Carson, a former intelligence operative turned private detective, has never been in it for the money. But when a desperate CEO offers double her usual fee to find his missing daughter, she can’t refuse.

Set in Baltimore, 2009, what begins as a simple missing person inquiry transforms into a complex case of espionage, financial crime, and deep-seated grudges. For Katherine, this case strikes a personal chord, stirring up haunting memories from her own past. As unexpected connections emerge, she must confront her unresolved guilt.

Can Katherine and her team of private detectives solve the case before it’s too late, or will the turmoil of her past consume her?

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Excerpt One:

Katherine slowed down as she closed the final feet between them. Her target was cornered. Marty attempted a final desperate move, grabbing some scaffolding to haul himself up. The cold metal groaned in protest and shook under his weight. Katherine reacted instinctively as the scaffolding began to shudder. She leapt over the scattered debris, snatched Marty by his belt, and pulled with all her strength. She managed to rip Marty away mere moments before the neglected structure top-pled over, sending a billow of dust and debris into the air.

They both covered their faces and waited for the dust to settle. Marty’s chest heaved as he gaped at the place where he had been standing moments before. 

He coughed and stammered. “You saved me.”

“Don’t get sentimental on me, Marty, I need information.” Her eyes blazed with intensity. “Why did you run?”

“Are you kidding? The last thing I want is to tangle with you again. I couldn’t believe it when they told me you’d be on the other side of the case.” Marty tried to scramble to his feet.

“What case? And who’s they?” Katherine helped Marty up.

“The prosecutors. The stolen pesticide?”

“Marty, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t heard about stolen pesticide. I’m here to ask for your help,” Katherine gritted her teeth, “as one professional to another.”

“Oh.” Marty looked relieved and straightened his coat. “In that case, sure. Anything you want.”

“Great. I’m looking for a young woman who has gone missing. Tell me why you were following Olivia Ames.”

Q: Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself!

A: I’m a writer from Shelbyville, Kentucky. It’s a charming, rural town in the heart of the Bluegrass State. Shelbyville is halfway between Louisville, the largest city, and Frankfort, the state capital. Kentucky is a beautiful landscape, but I’ve always had a love for traveling. I’m always eager to explore new destinations, but I also love returning to favorite vacation spots over and over. My top three locales so far are Chattanooga, TN; Bermuda; and Baltimore, MD. Happily married, my husband and I enjoy life’s adventures together. When I’m not writing or reading, I love the arts, board games, movies, and craft projects.

Q: Tell us about your book? How did it get started?

A: Last year when a loved one took a serious fall, I stepped into the role of caregiver. As his health worsened, I realized I needed a way to cope. I decided to revisit some old story ideas. Even in the midst of stress, I discovered comfort in writing a novel. It was also something fun and exciting for my loved one and me to discuss. He was as excited about my project as I was. This not only reignited my love for writing but also helped me find balance during tough times. I had to step away from the book for a few months when he passed away, but it was important for me to finish what I started.

Q: How do you create your characters?

A: The most important thing for me about a character is who they are and how they impact the story. I use the DISC personality profile to help me discover a character’s personality. That’s usually the first thing I do. Then, I figure out how they relate to the story and the other characters. I ask myself all kinds of questions: How do they know the victim? How do detectives find out about this person? Will they be helpful or cautious? Whose side are they on? What do they believe about the villain? Answering these questions usually fills in the the blanks about the characters demographics (age, job, ect.) Then I fill in any other details to help ground them in the story, such as their appearance and clothing.

Q: What inspires you and what got you started in writing?

I have many sources of inspiration. People-watching is one of my favorites. Stories about family drama and workplace politics give me ideas. I also love listening to true crime stories. Anything that gives me a glimpse into other people’s lives and personalities, and situations that are often stranger than fiction, gives me fuel for my stories and characters. I have loved creating characters and telling stories from my childhood. I am blessed to finally be in a position to make my passion for storytelling my full time job.

Interview

Q: Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)

I mostly write at home in my office. Sometimes I listen to jazz music while I’m writing, and sometimes I like to listen to lofi and ocean waves. It depends on what kind of scene I’m writing and what mood I am in that day.

I need light and something nice to look at when I take a break from my computer. My office has paintings on the walls that inspire me, and I also have a window that looks out over my front yard. If it is gloomy outside, I will sometimes move into the living room and put a beach scene video on Youtube so I can pretend I’m looking at the beach.

Q: What do you like to read?

Obviously, I like to read mysteries! There was a time when I only read mysteries, but my taste has expanded to include some light fantasy and sweet romances. I also enjoy nonfiction related to Cold War espionage, biographies/autobiographies or strong women, and historical true crime.

Q: What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?

My best tip is to write the story for yourself. I’m not talking about “art for art’s sake” or ignoring the market. As much as I love the art of writing, I do want to sell books. Tell the story to yourself, write it out and make sure it makes sense. Then get feedback from a good editor about how the story works and relates to other people. Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, if you don’t like the story you’re telling, readers won’t either. So make sure you like your story first.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

I’d like to thank everyone follow this tour and those who joining for the first time today! If you get a chance to read The Scheme and you like it, please take a few minutes to write a review on The StoryGraph or Goodreads. There are plenty of people who are quick to leave 1 star reviews for a book they don’t like, but it’s harder for authors to get good reviews. They do really matter and help up promote our books and reach more people. So whether it’s my book or someone else’s please consider a short review for the next book you read.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Amethyst Drake is a passionate storyteller. She excels at crafting delightful characters and enjoys developing com-plex relationships among them. Mystery has always been her favorite genre to read, making it a natural choice for her writing. She aims to blend her personal experience with mental health and the moral complexities of intricate interpersonal relationships into engaging novels.

Amethyst loves reading all kinds of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers and enjoys watching classic detective and espionage dramas like “Murder, She Wrote,” “Perry Mason,” and “Mission: Impossible.” 

She also loves hearing from readers! Connect by signing up for her newsletter at amethystdrake.com or email amethyst@agswordsmiths.com

Links

Author Website https://amethystdrake.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amethystdrake.author

Amazon https://amzn.to/3M5lmJO

Barnes and Noble https://bit.ly/3Z3VsOv

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

The author will award a $25 Amazon GC and a signed book to one randomly drawn winner, a $10 Amazon GC and a signed book to a second randomly drawn winner, and a signed book to a third randomly drawn winner.

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