Lee Strauss's Blog, page 12

Ready to escape your reality? Rosa Reed to the rescue!

Hello, Friends!

What crazy times we're living in. How has the current COVID-19 crisis affected you? Norm and I cut our time in Mexico short and have headed home. It's disappointing, but so many are disappointed right now. And we're required to self-isolate for two weeks. Are you self-isolating?

I know sudden change and facing the unknown can be very stressful, so please don't forget to do a little self-care. If there's a silver lining, maybe it's this: life can slow down for a while! More time to communicate with friends and family, even if it's online.

Also, more time to READ! And in that regard, I can help.  I'm very excited to present the first book of my brand new 1950s cozy mystery series, Murder at High Tide – Rosa Reed Mystery book 1. It releases on Tuesday!!

Preorder today and make sure it shows up on your kindle, then snuggle in and enjoy! Lots of love, especially during these trying times.

PREORDER YOUR COPY HERE!

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Ginger Gold's Book Club

This month we're talking about The Wedding! Get your questions ready.

Join us on Thursday, March 26th

If you're new to the club, it's a space where members can talk freely about the books, ask me any question, give advice, ask about my writing process, my personal life, tell me things they find interesting. Anything goes. Spoilers are allowed.

Joining is easy, but you have to be a member of my Facebook Readers' Group to get in.

CLICK HERE to join the Group!

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Exclusive bonus material for my newsletter subscribers

How it All Began. . .

Like many British children during World War Two, Rosa Reed’s parents, Ginger and Basil Reed, made the heart-wrenching decision to send their child to a foreign land and out of harm’s way. Fortunately, Ginger’s half-sister Louisa and her family, now settled in the quaint coastal town of Santa Bonita, California, was pleased to take her in.

By the spring of  1945, Rosa Reed had almost made it through American High School unscathed, until the American army decided to station an army base there. Until she met the handsome Private Miguel Belmonte and fell in love. . .

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ALREADY SUBSCRIBER? START READING NOW!

 

The post Ready to escape your reality? Rosa Reed to the rescue! appeared first on Lee Strauss.

Famous names of the 1950s!

How many 1950s movie stars can you name? 

From Marlon Brando to Marilyn Monroe, the 50s produced some of the most iconic movie stars of the century.

In the 50s Post-war culture, many individuals had more leisure time than in previous decades. This, combined with the rise of middle-class citizens who had disposable income to spend on entertainment created an environment for Hollywood to thrive. Going to the cinema was a popular social past time, with thousands of people flocking to go see classics such as Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Singin' in the Rain (1952). 

Films often portrayed highly idealized ways of life, offering viewers a sense of hope and optimism. Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, James Stewart, and Marlon Brando were some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. Romantic comedies and musicals were all the rage, with the occasional suspenseful thriller.

Here's quick a look into some of the popular movie stars of the era. 

Alexis Smith

Born in Canada, Alexis grew up in Los Angeles where she worked hard to carve out a name for herself in the film industry. She was scouted by Warner Bros while attending college. Although she never enjoyed the critical acclaim akin to that of Audrey Hepburn, Smith developed a notable career in Hollywood throughout the 40s and 50s. She played smaller roles in the films Here Comes the Groom (1951) and The Turning Point (1952), but was most proud of her work in The Young Philadelphians (1959).

Robert John Wagner Jr.

Robert began his path to fame when he was discovered by a talent scout in the 1950s. After his role in The Happy Years (1950) Robert was signed by 20th Century Fox, which lead to numerous roles in romances. His role as a shell shocked soldier in With a Song in My Heart (1952) was his first real claim to fame. He went on to take roles in Prince Valiant (1954) and A Kiss Before Dying (1956) where he played a cold-blooded murderer. 

Shelley Winters

Nicknamed the Blonde Bombshell in Hollywood, Shelley's dream of being an actor developed while participating in High School plays. Throughout her teen years she undertook a variety of jobs from being a store clerk to modeling to pay for her acting lessons. By the 1940s her hard work had begun to pay off with minor roles in movies such as Racket Man (1944) and Cover Girl (1944). Her great breakthrough in the film industry was her portrayal of a frumpy-looking Alice Tripp, in A Place in the Sun (1951). 

Tony Curtis

Tony's birth name was Bernard Schwartz. He grew up in an impoverished family and spent some time in an orphanage. His path to fame was far from straightforward, as he spent his early years doing various hard labor jobs as well as a stint in the navy. In 1945 he went to acting school and eventually changed his name. His acting career began to flourish in the 50s, after his significant role in the western film, Sierra (1950).

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know if you learned anything new. 

What are your favorite 1950s films?

Follow Me on Pinterest!

If you're enjoying learning about the 1950s, hop on over to my Pinterest Page where you'll see lots of fashion and famous faces from the era.

Check out my 1950s Pinterest Board 




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Goodreads Book Giveaway








Murder at High Tide


by Lee Strauss

Giveaway ends March 26, 2020.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway




Pre-order Murder at High Tide now!

Exclusive bonus material for my newsletter subscribers

How it All Began. . .

Like many British children during World War Two, Rosa Reed’s parents, Ginger and Basil Reed, made the heart-wrenching decision to send their child to a foreign land and out of harm’s way. Fortunately, Ginger’s half-sister Louisa and her family, now settled in the quaint coastal town of Santa Bonita, California, was pleased to take her in. 

By the spring of  1945, Rosa Reed had almost made it through American High School unscathed, until the American army decided to station an army base there. Until she met the handsome Private Miguel Belmonte and fell in love. . .

Join my newsletter!



Already a subscriber? Start reading now!

The post Famous names of the 1950s! appeared first on Lee Strauss.

Sneak Peek to New Series!

What’s not to love about 1950s fashion? From Pin Up to Rockabilly there was a style for nearly everyone. Or at least every woman.

Kitten heels, capri pants, poodle skirts, and high waisted jeans were all the rage in this era! New fashion trends in the 50s were introduced by designer Christian Dior, featuring full skirt dresses that accentuated tiny waists. With their husbands at work, many women had more disposable income to spend on fashion than in previous decades.

Here’s a look at some of these iconic styles. Which one is your favorite?

The 50s Swing Dress

Swing dresses boasted a full skirt, with a shirtwaist top. These dresses were often made out of cotton and came in variety of patterns and colors. The loose-fitting skirt allowed women to go about their housework but could easily be dressed up for outings by throwing on a pearl necklace or hat.

The Pencil Dress

Nearly as popular as the swing dress, pencil dresses were all the rage! These tight-fitted garments generally had pleats built into the back to allow some movement. Large pockets and big buttons were popular features of the pencil dress. 

Poodle Skirts

Poodle skirts were highly popular among teen girls. Typically paired with sweaters, these skirts allowed for girls to show their personality with unique cutouts. These cutouts could be sewn or ironed on. Poodles became one of the most popular decorations although Christmas themes and a variety of other images were used.

Capri Pants

Although pants were no longer illegal by the 1950s, they were still somewhat taboo in pop culture. Even so, many women enjoyed the freedom of wearing slacks at home. As women's pants became more accepted, a variety of new styles emerged. Most 1950s pants featured a high rise with a slim fit. Capri pants that were cut off mid-calf also came into style in a variety of colors and designs.

Kitten Heels

Kitten heels had a low thin heel that allowed women to look glamorous while also being sturdy on their feet. They were usually made of soft materials such as suede or velvet with a pointed toe. For day to day use, heels were often brown or black while a more glittery version was donned for evening outings. Many women paid particular attention to making sure that their shoes matched their other accessories. 

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know if you learned anything new. Can you think of any other styles that made a significant impact in the 1950s?

Murder at High Tide Sneak Peek!

Murder at High Tide, the first Rosa Reed Mystery will be released on March 24th.

That's less than 3 weeks away- wow!

Here’s a teaser from Chapter 1.

>>>  Hugging was a very “un-English” thing to do. 

Rosa Reed, rather British through and through, had yet to acclimatize to the exuberance of the American branch of her family and had endured more hugs in the few days she’d been in Santa Bonita, California than she’d had for most of her life growing up in Great Britain, the war years excepted. Now that she and her cousin Gloria had arrived at her Aunt Louisa’s charity event on the beach, Rosa braced herself for even more.

Drinks and cigarettes in hand, a crowd of people milling about, standing or sitting at round tables covered in white linen. Catering staff, all dressed in white, were busy fussing with the food. 

“I feel overdressed,” Rosa remarked to her younger cousin Gloria Forrester. Red ribbons adorned Rosa’s white dress that was sprinkled with black polka dots. Short chestnut-colored waves were crowned with a white straw sun hat trimmed with matching red ribbon.

“You’re a Forrester,” Gloria said. With dark hair curled tightly around her ears, and dark lipstick on a bright white smile, Gloria spun to show off the fancy baby-blue crinoline skirt of her party dress. “You’re supposed to overdress.” <<

Read the full excerpt here!



Pre-order now!

Exclusive bonus material for my newsletter subscribers

How it All Began. . .

Like many British children during World War Two, Rosa Reed’s parents, Ginger and Basil Reed, made the heart-wrenching decision to send their child to a foreign land and out of harm’s way. Fortunately, Ginger’s half-sister Louisa and her family, now settled in the quaint coastal town of Santa Bonita, California, was pleased to take her in. 

By the spring of  1945, Rosa Reed had almost made it through American High School unscathed, until the American army decided to station an army base there. Until she met the handsome Private Miguel Belmonte and fell in love. . .

Join my newsletter!



Already a subscriber? Start reading now!




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Goodreads Book Giveaway








Murder at High Tide


by Lee Strauss

Giveaway ends March 26, 2020.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

The post Sneak Peek to New Series! appeared first on Lee Strauss.

The 1950s are Swell! Plus Giveaway.

Are you ready for Murder at High Tide?

I was born in the mid-sixties, but things must've moved more slowly back in those days because I feel like I remember the fifties. By the time I was cognitive of popular culture, I'd heard of Doris Day, Elizabeth Taylor, and of course, that young and wild, bane of existence of all parents of teen girls in the fifties, Elvis Presley. Though fashions had changed somewhat by the time I cared about them, my dress-up box contained two wonderful crinoline slips that I loved. I knew who Howdy Doody was, and wondered what the hair commercial tag line "Does she... or doesn't she?" meant. 

It's been fun revisiting these days in my research for the Rosa Reed Mysteries. For many, the 1950s stir up a little nostalgia for what we like to believe were simpler and more innocent times. (Not true, but it's nice to pretend). 

I hope you're as excited about this new series as I am. I can't wait to share Rosa Reed with you all very soon!

PRE-ORDER NOW!

The first Rosa Reed Mystery, Murder at High Tides opens up in the early summer of 1956. These are magazine covers and other bits of history I've been looking at for research. Over the next few weeks, I'll be writing about each of the following topics featuring the 1950s.

Two of the most popular magazines during the 1950s were Life Magazine and Look Magazine. Life magazine was started in 1936 and gained notoriety for its photographic documentation of World War II. Look Magazine was popular for documenting American culture and trends, from fashion to cars.

Kitten heels, capri pants, poodle skirts, and high waisted jeans were all the rage in the 1950s! New fashion trends in the 50s were introduced by designer Christian Dior, featuring full skirt dresses that accentuated tiny waists. With their husbands at work, many women had more disposable income to spend on fashion than in previous decades.

The 1950s marked the birth of sports cars such as the Corvette. With new developments rapidly appearing in the auto industry, there was more competition and more options than ever before. The creation of more economical vehicles also meant that more families were able to purchase cars.

Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, James Stewart, and Marlon Brando were some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. Romantic comedies and musicals were all the rage, with the occasional suspenseful thriller.

******

New Journal Entry

We are entering the war years! Keep reading the journal to find out how Ginger ends up becoming part of the secret service. If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers. You can subscribe HERE. 

******

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Goodreads Book Giveaway








Murder at High Tide


by Lee Strauss

Giveaway ends March 26, 2020.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

The post The 1950s are Swell! Plus Giveaway. appeared first on Lee Strauss.

Valentine’s Party Today – Join Us!

I've teamed up with talented cozy authors Emily Queen, Shea MacLeod, C. Jane Reid and Beth Byers to host a fun Facebook Party!

Hop-on over to Miss W's Book Chat from 2 pm to 6 pm Eastern Standard Time or 7 pm to 12 am Universal Standard Time for games, giveaways, and good books!

If you can't make it, you can always join the group and check back later. See you there! 

JOIN THE VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY HERE

Don't see a button? Join the party here: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/misswsbookchat/

~ New Release for 99cents! ~

The worlds of Ginger Gold and Violet Carlyle collide in this fun Valentine Mystery short story by bestselling authors Lee Strauss and Beth Byers.

While both Ginger and Violet had plans for a romantic evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their husbands, something goes terribly awry. One by one, female patrons discover that they are missing jewelry.

In this closed room mystery filled with a brigade of colorful characters, Violet and Ginger join forces to put their skills of deduction to work. Can they unveil the culprit and solve the mystery in time for dessert?

Don’t miss this delectable bite-sized tale. Pairs perfectly with a box of chocolate and a comfy chair!

Grab your copy now for just 99cents!

Congratulations Tammy A. for winning the Murder on Fleet Street Contest.

Thank you to everyone to entered!

You can view the contest here: https://gleam.io/VKDzM/murder-on-fleet-street

The post Valentine’s Party Today – Join Us! appeared first on Lee Strauss.

Join Our Valentine’s Party + Journal

There's no better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than treating yourself to a good book (or two, or three...)! Do you agree?

That's why I've teamed up with a collection of talented cozy authors to host a fun Facebook Valentine's Day Party!

Join us at Miss W's Book Chat on February 13th from 1 pm to 5 pm Central Standard Time for games, giveaways, and good books! If you can't make it, you can always join the group and check back later. See you there!

Ps. Click on the link below to join the Miss W's Book Chat group now so you don't miss out!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/misswsbookchat/

JOIN THE VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY HERE

Ps. Enter to win print copies of Lee Strauss' Murder on the SS Rosa ~ a Ginger Gold Mystery, and Beth Byers' Murder & the Heir ~ a Violet Carlyle Mystery, the first books in their charming 1920s cozy mystery series that are sure to delight!

We're also throwing in $50 PayPal Cash, plus a chocolate treat!

ENTER THE CONTEST

~ Available February 11th ~

The worlds of Ginger Gold and Violet Carlyle collide in this fun Valentine Mystery short story by bestselling authors Lee Strauss and Beth Byers.

While both Ginger and Violet had plans for a romantic evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their husbands, something goes terribly awry. One by one, female patrons discover that they are missing jewelry.

In this closed room mystery filled with a brigade of colorful characters, Violet and Ginger join forces to put their skills of deduction to work. Can they unveil the culprit and solve the mystery in time for dessert?

Don’t miss this delectable bite-sized tale. Pairs perfectly with a box of chocolate and a comfy chair!

PRE-ORDER NOW!

******

New Journal Entry

We are entering the war years! Keep reading the journal to find out how Ginger ends up becoming part of the secret service. If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers. You can subscribe HERE. 

******

A Brand New 1950s Series!

Murder's all wet!

It's 1956 and Rosa's left her groom at the altar in London. Time spent with her American cousins in Santa Bonita California is exactly what she needs to get back on her feet, though the last thing she expected was to get entangled in another murder case! 

If you love early rock & roll, poodle skirts, clever who-dun-its, a charming cat and an even more charming detective, you're going to love this new series!

PRE-ORDER NOW!

The post Join Our Valentine’s Party + Journal appeared first on Lee Strauss.

Summer Boxed Set offer and Pumpkin Fudge

 

Who doesn’t love a summer sale? I know I sure do, especially on books!

Just $4.99

Click HERE for a list of vendors.

All ready read ’em? Terrific. This is a good time to let your friends know about the sale, so they can experience the thrills.

I’d also like to take a moment to ask a FAVOR. If you have a moment, please leave a review on the boxed set – you can just copy and paste reviews you’ve posted from the single titles if that’s easier. Reviews are really helpful in getting accepted for advertising slots, which helps to get the word out to other readers who might enjoy the adventures of Marlow and Sage. Thanks so much!

 

Speaking of summer, it’s seemed to have arrived finally in my corner of the world, the south western bit of British Columbia. Just in time for me to leave for a family shin-dig twelve hours north! Thankfully, I’m flying.

Author Tip Tuesday – Tip #9 The Beat Sheet

I love the beat sheet! Seriously, this simple outline changed the way I plotted books and made the whole process so much quicker. I’ve already discussed the main points, but I wanted to show you the beet sheet in full. This is from SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder.

This beat sheet is used for planning screenplays, but it’s helpful for any type of fiction writing. Now that you’ve worked out your structure points, the beat sheet will give you an idea of what you need to do to fill in the empty spaces your three acts.

THE BLAKE SNYDER BEAT SHEET

1. Opening Image

2. Theme stated

3. Set-up

4. Catalyst (aka Inciting Incident)

5. Debate (your character has to make an important decision)

6. Break into act two (aka Plot Point 1)

7. B story (sub-plots)

8. Fun and Games (more stuff happens)

9. Midpoint (aka Midpoint Reversal)

10. Bad Guys Close In (doesn’t have to be actual bad guys- situation gets worse)

11. All is lost (protagonist is in a bad way)

12. Dark night of the soul (more anguish)

13. Break into act three (aka Plot Point 2)

14. Finale

15. Final Image (a reverse of the opening image)

You have to read SAVE THE CAT to get the breakdown from Blake Snyder on all these points, but I think they are pretty self-explanatory. Keep in mind the sheet is just a guide. Whenever I’m about to start a new project, I always start with the beat sheet. It’s important to note, that at least for me, what the beat sheet looks like at the beginning stages and what it ends up looking like is usually very different. Like I’ve said before, you can move scenes around, scratch scenes, imagine new scenes and plug them in where they fit. Nothing is set in stone until you press “publish.”  Writing a book is like creating a big puzzle. It takes a while to get all the pieces in just the right places.

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder on Amazon

(affiliate link)

Free Book Friday – Seventh Son by A.M. Offenwanger

A.M Offenwanger is a talented author, a good friend and also my editor!

For fans of light fantasy and mystery. A great beach read!

Cat was ordinary—until the day a blue bowl whirled her off to a magical medieval world…

Catriona, ex-librarian, dumped by her boyfriend, is just trying to restart her life when she gets sucked into and carried off by a blue pottery bowl. Suddenly thrown into a world where she can’t move for mysteries, how is this modern town girl going to cope alone in the woods with a comatose man and a muddy baby? And there’s that hint of something sinister…

Get it now for Free!

On AMAZON

 

My Paleo (mis) Adventure

Last week I talked about how I’m doing the 30 autoimmune reset Paleo diet with my daughter. Today is day nine and I think I’m starting to get my Paleo sea legs. There quite a large learning – or re-learning – curve to begin with. First, I had to empty my fridge and cupboards of all non-Paleo food items. Thankfully, I have two grown sons who are grateful for the donations!

Then there is the restocking of the fridge and cupboards with Paleo friendly staples and foods. I won’t lie, this is an expensive venture. Meanwhile, I’m buying Paleo cookbooks – there are some good ones you can download – and reading recipes.

You have to remember that I’m not naturally a foodie. I don’t read recipe books for fun – which means it’s been a really long time since I’ve read one. I was fairly domestic, once upon a time, when my kids were young, but lately my husband and I have been eating like a couple of college students. Let’s just say I know what kind of frozen pizza I like. :0

So, I’m kind of rusty in the kitchen.

Anyhoo…. I found this waffle recipe you make with Plantains. Don’t know what a Plantain is? No worries, a lot of northern folk don’t. It’s basically a larger and hardier version of the banana.

The thing with Paleo is you don’t get to eat bread. You have to find ways to simulate it. Fruit-based waffles and pancakes are one way to do it.

The goal.

v

v

v

v

v

v

v

The result

v

Okay, apparently when they said oil (coconut) your waffle iron, they didn’t mean one made of teflon. I couldn’t even get my waffle iron open! I did learn that only one of our two smoke alarms are working.

Make pancakes instead!

Unfortunately, I had oiled my teflon griddle. They don’t look great, but they actually tasted pretty good.

Like they say on Pinterest – Nailed It!

I confess, I’m a bit of a rebel and hardly every follow recipe directions exactly. Maybe I should have paid attention to this disclaimer: Make sure you use green (unripe) plantains when making these delicious waffles!

***Recipe from Eileen Laird can be found at her blog – Phoenix Helix – from her recipe book 85 Amazing AIP Breakfasts.

The next day I cooked a Turkey, fried up rainbow chard in coconut oil and tossed a spinach and arugula salad with fresh raspberries and olive oil and (sugar free) balsamic oil. Turned out much better.