Virtual Book Tour: The Scheme by Amethyst Drake

 Good morning, everyone! Please welcome author Amethyst Drake to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here to tell us about her new release, The Scheme. Amethyst will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC and a signed copy of her book to one commenter, a $10 Amazon GC and a signed book to a second commenter, and a signed book to a third commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

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:

 

Lee reached up and felt the top of the door frame. “No key. I guess Ames forgot to leave it.”

 

“He has his own key. He just said Olivia keeps it up there.” Katherine bent down to flip back the welcome mat. Still no key. She sighed. “Should we see if the manager has a spare?”

 

“The manager isn’t on site.” Lee slouched against the wall. “If only we knew someone who could pick a lock.”

 

Katherine rolled her eyes, but smiled in spite of herself. “Breaking and entering could lose me my license.” Lee and Jake liked to tease her about some of her skills, although they always stopped short of mentioning the Espionage Services Agency.

 

“Sure, sure. But we do have permission to enter. And we’d have to drive to Wilmington to get another key from Mr. Ames..." Lee let his voice trail off and studied his fingernails.

 

Katherine chuckled and pulled out her pocket knife. “You know I don’t carry picks anymore.” She opened the knife and carefully slid the high carbon stainless steel blade between the door and the striker plate. Finding the latch, she pushed it out of the door jam and opened the door.

 

“Don't tell Sammi.”

 

“Never.” A huge grin spread over Lee’s face.

 

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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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Q&A with Author Amethyst Drake

 

Q: Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?

A: Ooo! I love this question. I love musicals! I think I would choose the classic Irving Berlin movie musical White Christmas. And I would be the general who becomes an innkeeper. General Tom Waverly is not the main character of the musical, but he is essential to the story because the main characters are focused on cheering him up and helping him. Gen. Waverly has a perfectly fine life, but sometimes he feels unappreciated and lonely. He longs to have an impact on the world, but challenges block him from doing so. In his darkest hour, his friends and family rally around him to remind him of his true value and show their appreciation and love for him. I have had many times in my life when I have felt alone or discouraged. But my friends and family always build me up and encourage me not to give up. (It also happens to be my favorite musical.)

Q: Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scene using them: hammer, saucer, traffic lights

A: Josh set a saucer of treats on the porch for his cat. He grabbed his hammer to make some repairs to the loose porch railing. He was proud of his historical craftsman. He stroked his cat as she licked the bottom of the saucer.

Suddenly, a car horn blared. Josh looked out toward the traffic lights. The traffic light was out! Josh scooped up his cat and took her inside. His hammer and repairs would have to wait.

Q: When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

A: I usually start with the plot, deciding what is going to happen in the story. But my thoughts quickly shift to how these events are going to affect my characters. Since I’m writing a series, my main characters are already established. So I don’t have to worry too much about developing them from scratch, just how the plot is going to play into their character arc.

Q: What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

A: My favorite date with my husband is going to Derby Dinner Playhouse in southern Indiana. We enjoy talking and eating dinner before the show, and the show is always fantastic. Any kind of live entertainment is fun. We enjoy interacting during the performance and talking about it during intermissions. Derby Dinner has a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere and it is on the top of my list of romantic dates.

Q: Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

A: I can’t say I’ve really had a crush on a historical figure, but then I’ve never really thought about it before! I would probably choose a writer or poet. Someone who conveys deep emotion and meaning though their words like Shakespeare, Lord Byron, or Robert Frost. On the other hand, I am deeply moved by the art of Claude Monet, Rembrandt, and Da Vinci. So maybe I would choose an artist as my historical crush.

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