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
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.”
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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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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
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.
Enter to win one of several prizes – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Q&A with Amethyst Drake
Q: Tell us about you as a person.
A: I’m a writer living in Shelbyville, Kentucky, where I’m lucky enough to pursue my love for writing every day. I’m happily married, and my husband and I love exploring life together. When I’m not writing or reading, I enjoy getting lost in art and music, traveling to new and favorite places, and experimenting with every kind of craft project I can get my hands on. I’m also a fan of board games, movies, and binge-watching TV shows. And tacos. I have a wonderful network of friends and family supporting me in all my creative endeavors, who are always happy to feed me tacos. That is most likely what I will be eating this weekend when we celebrate my birthday, which just happens to be today!
Q: If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
A: I think it would be fun to spend a day with Lin-Manuel Miranda. His energy and creativity are contagious! I would love to learn about his process for writing Hamilton and In the Heights and his passion for blending music and storytelling. Maybe we could even brainstorm some lyrics together! His love for history, theater, and diverse representation in the arts could lead to some truly inspiring conversations. Plus, he seems like a fun person. When I see one of his interviews, I’m always impressed with his charisma, humor, and a genuine love for creative collaboration.
Q: What’s the story behind your latest book?
A: I started writing stories for Katherine when I was in high school. Lee and Jake came around after that, along with several other characters that you haven’t met yet. Last year, a family member had a serious fall, and I ended up taking on a lot of responsibility with his care. As his condition worsened, I found myself needing a creative outlet to keep myself grounded and reduce my stress. Several years had passed since my last professional non-fiction writing project, so I decided to dust off my old story ideas and write a novel.
I chose to focus on the mystery genre because it has always been my favorite. But I didn’t want my first novel to be a murder mystery. I was worried that I might lock myself into writing only murder mysteries. But most crime in real live doesn’t involve murder, and I want to have the freedom to explore other types of crime.
I chose Baltimore as the setting for my novel because it is a beautiful city on the coast. It’s mix of small town vibe and big city amenities seemed like the perfect blend for my series. I chose to set the story in 2009 partly because I wanted to avoid the consequences of the pandemic. I also thought the pacing of my story would fit well in a time when technology existed but not as advanced as we have now. I’ve enjoyed researching 2009 to add “dated” details, like references to MySpace and the BlackBerry.
Q: What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
My best advice is to try a little of everything at first. Figure out what types of promotion you are comfortable with and which ones seem to fit your book and your audience. Lots of successful people have lists of what you should do. But whatever you choose shouldn’t make your life miserable. It needs to fit your personality. And if you write in the mystery, thriller, or suspense genres, take a look at Sisters in Crime. It’s a national professional organization that provides loads of support, workshops, and promotion opportunities that are worth much more than the small annual dues.
Q: List 5 things on your bucket list.
A:
– See The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie at The Royal Opera House in London
-Visit The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street in London
-Go on a Transatlantic Cruise
-Attend Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland
-Visit the Grand Canyon
Q: Any final thoughts?
A: Thanks so much for having me today! I enjoyed your creative questions. I you and your readers enjoy The Scheme and sign up for my newsletter to get updates on my future projects.
