Lee Strauss's Blog, page 6
August 28, 2021
Adventures and Misadventures + book news
You know how when sometimes so much happens at once that it’s hard to know where to start and it’s easier not to say anything at all? That’s kind of what the last couple of weeks have been like for me.
So perhaps I’ll just point form it:
Family NewsMy son Jordan got engaged to his now fiance Chelsea! He pulled a big surprise proposal by jumping out of the bushes as she was about to take a golf swing. So excited for them both! Wedding to take place sometime in 2022.


Murder in London, a Rosa Reed Mystery #8, released to great reviews.
If you’re following Ginger and Rosa, you’ll read about them together in this book for the first time! And since most of us can't travel to England at the moment, here's your chance do it virtually, and as a time traveler too!

MURDER'S A TRIP!
On Amazon:
ebook: https://smarturl.it/RR-London
Paperback: https://smarturl.it/RR-London-print
Norm had a pickleball tumble and sprained his ankle and elbow. Fortunately he can still type! We are writing in tandem at the moment, book 4 in the Higgins & Hawke Mystery, Death by Dancing. I’m really enjoying getting back into Haley Higgins world in 1930s Boston and the research on marathon dances during the depression era is really interesting and sobering.
DEATH'S A JIG!
Preorder on Amazon:
ebook: https://smarturl.it/H-H-Dancing
I’m listening to the final version of Murder on Mallowan Court, Ginger Gold Mystery #17 which is coming to you on September 21. Ginger’s on bedrest and counting on Felicia to be her eyes and ears. I took a page from Rex Stout and his characters Nero Wolf and Archie Goodwin. If you’re familiar with the series, you’ll know that Nero Wolf prefers not to leave his house and Archie Goodwin does most of the leg work.
Murder's afoot!
Unfortunately, this clever series wasn’t around in 1927, the year Murder on Mallowan Court is set, but Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was released that year. Savvy Agatha readers might catch and Easter Egg I’ve planted at the end.
Preorder on Amazon:
ebook: https://smarturl.it/Mallowan
And finally,it’s only just a month and a bit before Norm and I move into Scout (our RV) and begin our snowbirding journey. We’re renting out our home, so we have to go not matter what, even if the border remains closed to Canadians who want to go south. My ace in the hole is that I’m a dual citizen, so I can drive across. Norm, however, would have to fly and meet me there. Clearly, we’d rather the border opens, so fingers cross.
Well, I feel bit anxious just writing all that out and it’s not even all of it! Let me end by recommending a delightful, feel-good movie called CODA. Coda stands for Child of Deaf Adults. It's also a musical term, a play on words since the main character is a singer. You can watch it on Apple TV+ which only costs 5.99/month, which is close to what you’d pay to rent a movie elsewhere.
How about you? How’s your week been?
The post Adventures and Misadventures + book news appeared first on Lee Strauss.
July 29, 2021
When Someone You Love is Ill – What the heck is scleroderma anyway?
This is a very personal blog post about my own experience dealing with a rare disease in a loved one. As I’ve mentioned on a recent facebook post, twelve years ago, my then 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with scleroderma. I could only blink when the specialist delivered the news as I’d never heard the word before. I had to ask her to repeat it and write it out for me.
At the time, we had no idea what type of scleroderma my daughter would develop, only that it was very unusual for someone her age to have it. Though it’s more common for women to develop scleroderma, onset usually falls between the ages of 35 and 50.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I rarely post about this struggle, only on occasion, and I feel the nudge to do it again now. I want to respect my daughter’s privacy, so I’m going to try to express how this has impacted me, because as I’ve told her many times, “This isn’t just happening to you. It’s happening to me. It’s happening to all of us who love you.”
Anyone who’s watched a child suffer, (adult or not), and can do nothing to stop it, knows that particular heartache of helplessness. I also want to state that I know that there are many people who have it worse—a child who is sicker, or who has died. There is always someone who has it worse. If this is you, know that my heart goes out to you and I pray comfort and hope will come your way.
So, what is Scleroderma exactly?
In a nutshell, Scleroderma results from an overproduction and accumulation of collagen in body tissues. Collagen is a fibrous type of protein that makes up your body's connective tissues, including your skin.(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scleroderma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351952)
Anyone can get it. It’s not contagious. It’s not curable. But there are treatments that help hold back the rate of progression and make the symptoms easier to live with. I’m thankful for modern medicine.
If not for modern medicine, my daughter would be in far worse condition.
Let me shout this out: I’M SO THANKFUL FOR MODERN MEDICINE.
What has been so hard for me as a mother?
It’s hard to watch my ballerina, my beautiful dancer, lose her ability to dance. It’s hard to see her joints stiffen, and her knuckles, elbows and fingertip become covered in painful ulcers. It breaks my heart that she can’t hike with her friends because she only has 50% lung capacity, or that she has to sleep so much.
It’s hard for me to see all the medication she has to take every day. Serious meds. And that she has to have chemical infusions twice a year, two sessions two weeks apart for five hours at a time.
It’s hard for me to see her life’s potential taken from her, to see how she’s missing out on a “normal” life. She’s very intelligent, very talented, witty, and loving, and I want her to have every advantage and opportunity, like any parent does.
It’s hard for me because she’s an adult and she desires autonomy, and doesn’t want to necessarily share her physical or emotional struggles with me. She’s capable of driving five hours to a hospital in Vancouver to have a day procedure where they insert a catheter into her heart to test for pulmonary hypertension, without my help. I have to respect her space, but to me, she’s still my little girl and I want to do all the HARD things for her.
HOWEVER, it’s not all hard. My daughter has a beautiful SOUL, so much more important than a body that’s not functioning properly, and also everlasting. She’s got such a sweet and positive attitude, and quietly takes her punches. Other people, unless they look very closely, would never guess she’s fighting this battle daily. She has a science degree and is attending art school. She works in an optometrist office. She has many friends who love her, not to mention a family who adores her. She has a good sense of humor, which as they say, “doth good like a medicine.” I'm so incredibly proud of her.
There really is much to look forward to.
Because of modern medicine and the prayers of those who believe in the power of prayer.
I believe in both.
Which is why I’m vaccinated. I’m vaccinated, not only to protect myself, but to protect my daughter. I’m double vaccinated and if I need a booster, I’ll get that too. Every year, if necessary.
I know people have vaccination hesitation for different reasons, but my appeal is that you would consider people like my daughter, who would have a very difficult time beating covid if they got it. Do it for yourself and do it for them.
Love Thy Neighbor. Get Vaccinated.
And if you can, please donate for scleroderma research. Every little bit helps.
Donate Nowhttps://www.facebook.com/donate/369406748030559/369406751363892/
Whew. Next time I’ll go back to posting about light and happy things like our first RV trip adventures, and of course, book news!
The post When Someone You Love is Ill – What the heck is scleroderma anyway? appeared first on Lee Strauss.
July 22, 2021
Summer of smoke and books.
Out my window there is smoke. But not as much as yesterday, so I'm grateful for that, and either way, I dare not complain. The global news is a constant reminder to me of how well I have it, and I give thanks for each new, uneventful day. For those of you who are suffering, slight or great, my heartfelt hope and prayers go out for you, that today will be a better day.


On a personal front, I'm excited that my oldest son Joel Strauss (also my assistant and collaborator) and his wife Shadi are coming to visit next month. They live all the way on the other side of Canada (we're on the west and they're in the east) and we haven't seen them in over a year and a half. Before then, Norm and I are heading up north to visit his family in SCOUT our RV! I've been a miss in not sharing the name as I'd asked for suggestions and got so many great ones. Someone suggested Scout ~ I'll have to go back and look, but Thank You to whoever it was ~ and it suits perfectly. We've had to change our route recently due to the many fires burning in British Columbia right now, but we're excited to go. It'll be Diego's first extended camping trip, so I'm hoping he'll have a good time too.


Does he look nervous to you?
On the work front, I've got a lot of sticks in the fire. I've started an ecommerce store with Joel Strauss called Vintage Is You. You can check it out here: vintageisyou.com (link). Limited time sale until July 27.
Joel and I are also working on a 1920s coloring book which you can check out HERE (link).
August sees the release of Murder in London (link), the 8th Rosa Reed Mystery which brings Rosa and Ginger together for the first time!
Murder in Mallowan Court (link), Ginger Gold Mystery #17 is written and in the editorial process, and will be out September 24. Ironically, this is the book where she has her baby girl.
Currently Norm and I are working on co-writing the 4th Higgins & Hawke Mystery, Death by Dancing (link). I had no idea how brutal these dance marathons were until we started digging into the research. We'll be bring you a few interest pieces on the subject soon.
Now I'm heading out for my weekly hike with my friend, Lori, smoke or no smoke. Life goes on.
Let me know in the comments how your summer is going so far? Are you doing anything fun?
The post Summer of smoke and books. appeared first on Lee Strauss.
June 3, 2021
Fun News Coming + New Journal Entry
Happy June!
Being from the North, I'm happy to see summer well and good on its way. I have some fun news to announce in the near future, and I don't want you to miss it when it comes. If you're not already part of my facebook group, I'd love to see you there! I'll be making my announcement there first. Facebook has recently defaulted notifications to “highlights” so you'll want to make sure you manage your notification to mark it as “all posts.” I've included screenshots to show you how.
Are you interested in coding? Particularly the type of coding used by spies in WW1? This topic is of interest to Ginger in the next Ginger Gold installment coming this month, Murder in Belgravia. Read on to learn more!
Also, don't miss the latest Journal Entry, aptly titled “Code!”
Join Lee's Reader's Group PageSome fun news is coming which will be shown on Lee's Readers Group Page…
I created this page because I want get more involved with my readers and this is the perfect venue to do it. I'd love to talk about books (not just my own) and I'll also post early exclusive content and bring you along on some of my writing processes.
Join Lee's Reader's Group Page
~ IMPORTANT ~ Make sure your notifications are on
Some fun news will be announced soon in this group, so you don't want to miss it on your Newsfeed. You'll need to make sure the notifications for this group are ON.
Step 1: Once you're on the group page, click the 3 red dots (circled in red here) and then Manage notifications
Step 2: In the notification settings, make sure All Posts is selected (circled in red here)
Click Save
Now you won't miss anything!
***
Code Breaking in WW1
When World War One started in 1914, the ability for people to communicate via a relatively new invention called RADIO (or, wireless telegraphy) began to be used in ways it never had before. Unlike previous wars, battlefield commanders could now obtain much better knowledge about what was happening on the frontlines and other key areas. With radio communication they could also execute a coordinated strategy that included the army, navy and air force.
However, there was one big drawback to all of this… the radio messages were easily intercepted by the enemy. A system of Codes was used as a way to conceal this. [continue reading in last week's blog]
***
Did you read the latest Journal Entry yet?
Code!
June 14, 1916
Yesterday I was summoned to a farm on the outskirts of a village just inside the border of Belgium near Passchendeale. Members of the French and Belgium spy network had stolen a German wireless set and struggled with its operation. Since I had some experience with operating a wireless and a basic knowledge of morse code, I was asked to help.
It was set up in one of the upper rooms of the house with the antenna cleverly disguised and placed on the roof. When I arrived, I knocked with the prearranged rhythm, and the door was opened by an older man wearing a cap and farmer’s overalls. [continue reading in Ginger's Journal]
***
Pre-Order Murder in Belgravia
Murder's a piece of cake!
Wedding bells are ringing in Belgravia, and Ginger couldn’t be happier to attend the nuptials of Felicia Gold and Lord Davenport-Witt. If only she could put her mind at ease about the things she knew about the groom’s past. When a death occurs at the wedding party, Ginger is placed in a frightfully difficult position. Betray her vow of secrecy to the crown, or let a killer go free.
The post Fun News Coming + New Journal Entry appeared first on Lee Strauss.
May 27, 2021
Code Breaking in World War One
When World War One started in 1914, the ability for people to communicate via a relatively new invention called RADIO (or, wireless telegraphy) began to be used in ways it never had before. Unlike previous wars, battlefield commanders could now obtain much better knowledge about what was happening on the frontlines and other key areas. With radio communication they could also execute a coordinated strategy that included the army, navy and air force.
However, there was one big drawback to all of this… the radio messages were easily intercepted by the enemy. A system of Codes was used as a way to conceal this.
Here’s a small example of how these codes (also called ciphers) worked:
In this example, “BACON” would have been used instead of simply using the term “Automatic Rifle”, and so on… pretty fascinating! For extra security, however, more important messages often used mathematical encryption. Sometimes words and numbers weren't used at all, and morse code (a system of sending messages by a series of on-off tones, lights or clicks) was used instead.
This meant that one of the most important ways to get an upper hand over the enemy was to try and break these codes as quickly as possible. We now call this the “Crypto Arms Race.” (Crypto, meaning, cryptology). This also meant that codes needed to be changed regularly to defend from possible code breaking from the enemy.
Code breaking thus became an integral part behind the entire World War One operation, meaning that specialized “Code Breakers” and mathematicians played a role just as important as soldiers and generals.
***
New Journal EntryCode!
June 14, 1916
Yesterday I was summoned to a farm on the outskirts of a village just inside the border of Belgium near Passchendeale. Members of the French and Belgium spy network had stolen a German wireless set and struggled with its operation. Since I had some experience with operating a wireless and a basic knowledge of morse code, I was asked to help.
It was set up in one of the upper rooms of the house with the antenna cleverly disguised and placed on the roof. When I arrived, I knocked with the prearranged rhythm, and the door was opened by an older man wearing a cap and farmer’s overalls… [continue reading in Ginger's Journal]
Read Ginger Gold's Journal Now
***
Did you enter this cool Contest yet?
To celebrate the upcoming release of Murder in Belgravia ~ and Felicia Gold's wedding! ~ I'm sending a fresh BOUQUET of flowers directly to your home. I'm also giving away a free paperback copy of the new release!
*bouquet may or may not look as appears in photo
***
In Murder in Belgravia a murder involves a group of former WW1 spies. It's available for preorder!
Murder's a piece of cake!
Wedding bells are ringing in Belgravia, and Ginger couldn’t be happier to attend the nuptials of Felicia Gold and Lord Davenport-Witt. If only she could put her mind at ease about the things she knew about the groom’s past.
When a death occurs at the wedding party, Ginger is placed in a frightfully difficult position. Betray her vow of secrecy to the crown, or let a killer go free.
Click here to PRE-ORDER Murder in Belgravia
The post Code Breaking in World War One appeared first on Lee Strauss.
May 20, 2021
1920s British Weddings + Contest + Murder in Belgravia preorder

In Murder in Belgravia, Ginger attends the wedding of Felicia Gold and Lord Davenport-Witt.
One thing is for sure, though – this wedding isn't taking place in the evening or night. She isn't partaking in a wedding dinner or evening feast, either!
As a matter of fact, since the Marriage Act of 1836, people weren't allowed to marry between six in the evening and eight in the morning … a law that wasn't officially repealed in Britain until 2012!
Do you want to see what a big wedding event in the 1920s was like?
Amazingly, real footage exists of a 1920s wedding between Lord Inverclyde and Miss Olive Sainsbury… an event that was a big deal since it involved an earl marrying the daughter of a baron.
Don't see a video? Click here to view.
Things that stood out to me: The policemen on horseback managing the crowd… who apparently needed to be kept under control for an event with as much hype as this.
Also, take a look at the uniquely 1920s head coverings of the bridesmaids!
And, what do you think of those old cars (or ‘automobiles' as they would've strictly been called then) passing through the crowd?
At 1:45 there are glimpses of old-fashioned busses and trucks passing through as well…
What do you think? What stood out for you?
***
Contest Alert – a fresh bouquet of flowers sent directly to your home!
To celebrate the upcoming release of Murder in Belgravia ~ and Felicia Gold's wedding! ~ I'm sending a fresh BOUQUET of flowers directly to your home. I'm also giving away a free paperback copy of the new release!
*bouquet may or may not look as appears in photo
***
Murder in Belgravia – Available for Pre-Order!Wedding bells are ringing in Belgravia, and Ginger couldn’t be happier to attend the nuptials of Felicia Gold and Lord Davenport-Witt. If only she could put her mind at ease about the things she knew about the groom’s past.
When a death occurs at the wedding party, Ginger is placed in a frightfully difficult position. Betray her vow of secrecy to the crown, or let a killer go free.
Click here to Pre-Order Murder in Belgravia
The post 1920s British Weddings + Contest + Murder in Belgravia preorder appeared first on Lee Strauss.
May 6, 2021
Two great Mother’s Day book sales and Remembering my Friend
Today (May 6) is my dear friend's birthday. This is the first one in over thirty years where I won't be able to celebrate it with her in person, or give her a call and hear her lovely, joyful voice. But before I tear up (and I'll come back to her), let me tell you about two fantastic book sales you just don't want to miss!
The authors at History Mystery Chicks (of which I'm one) have a great Free and .99 sale going on from May 7 - 12.

Don't see a button: https://www.leestraussbooks.com/mothers-day-sale/
Join us to celebrate all the special women in your life for the Mother’s Day Friends in Bloom joint reader group giveaway on May 7-14.

Don't see a button: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourbookfriends

Can't wait until tomorrow? Good news! You can grab the first book in the Higgins & Hawke series, Death at the Tavern for .99 today!
Death by Rum Running. . .
When a man is found dead at the Bell in Hand Tavern on Union Street, pathologist Dr. Haley Higgins and investigative reporter Samantha Hawke are both working the case. They want the same thing ~ to catch a killer. Though they don't exactly trust each other, they'll have to work together if they want to solve this case before becoming the next victims.
Get it todayDon't see a button? https://smarturl.it/DeathTavern
Back to my friend: I met Donna Petch shortly before I was married in 1987. Her soon-to-be-husband Malcolm and my soon-to-be-husband Norm were college pals. You know how, when you meet some people, that you just click, and you know you're going to be great friends for a long time? That was how I felt when I first met Donna. Over the years we supported each other in our marriages, raising our children and following our career paths. It's fitting to honor her on Mother's Day, because she was a spectacular mother to her three children, and devoted much of her time teaching young mothers of today how to best navigate the rewarding and often challenging journey of motherhood.
Donna was the best party planner, and so generous in sharing her gifts of organization, beautification, and hospitality ~ her strengths to my weaknesses. She planned a surprise party for me on my 30th and my 40th, and helped me many, many times when it was my turn to host an event, including the recent wedding of our son Joel and his wife Shadi, that took place in our yard.
I like to think that she was my own special friend, but her heart was so loving, her capacity for compassion so great, and the strength of her faith so real and unfailing, that many people who encountered her in this life felt the same way. Just knowing her was an enormous gift.
She left us all far too soon in November of 2020. Though it was the other big C that took her, my personal pain and grief over her loss makes me empathic to all the many people who lost loved ones over the last year. I hope you are not included in this group, but if you are, my heart and prayers go out to you, that you will (eventually) find peace and be comforted with your memories.

Miss you so much, Donna. [image error][image error][image error][image error]
The post Two great Mother’s Day book sales and Remembering my Friend appeared first on Lee Strauss.
April 29, 2021
New to the Strauss family ~ Help us name our new RV.

We've made the RV plunge! I can honestly say, we never thought we'd be RVers. We decided three years ago that we wanted to escape the winters and become snowbirders, with Mexico being our destination of choice. Flying was our preferred mode of transport. We were snowbirds, after all.
However, over time, we realized we disliked moving about from hotel to hotel, and not having our own stuff. We also met many snowbirds who drove their RVs south, and we were gradually introduced to the world of the RV subculture. We wanted our own bed, our own bathroom, and our beach things with us, so the RV lifestyle started to look more and more appealing. And now, with the health crisis, if feels safer and more secure as well.
Can you picture us writing Ginger, Rosa and Haley on the road?


Of course, being from Canada, we're making a big assumption that the border will be open by the fall! I'll post our itinerary once we set it and you can follow along. We're going document our journey on youtube, but more on that later!
Here's where we need your help. It's customary for RVers to give their rigs a name. Norm wants to call it Ginger Gold because we owe a lot to our best gal, but I'm not sure.
What do you think we should name this beauty?
Let me know in the comments
PS: It's a 2018 Winnebago Intent 26M. A class A at just 27'10" it's one of the shortest Class A's around. With two slides, it feels very spacious inside. For enthusiasts, you can check out this youtube video.
Are you an RVer? I'd love to hear more!
The post appeared first on Lee Strauss.
April 15, 2021
Designing a Book Cover
One of the great things about owning your own indie publishing company is that you get to control the cover art. I know they say don't judge a book by its cover, but everyone judges a book by its cover, even me!
After choosing a title, the cover is the next important thing. It's what first grabs the reader's attention~ or not. Being my own boss means I have to own the losers along with the winners, but it also means I can change a cover if the original idea isn't working, which I've done many times. The Clockwise Collection, my middle grade books, and my sweet romances have all had more than one cover design.
I love this part of the book creation process. With my next Rosa Reed Mystery new release, Murder at the Dude Ranch, I started with a search of 1950s style cowgirls, and when I saw this photograph, I knew it was the example for this book.


Once I have my basic idea, I contact my illustrator, Amanda Sorenson, and she comes back with a sketch. We discuss needed changes if any, and when we agree, we work on choosing the right colors.
Next, I send the illustration to Steven Novak of Novak illustrations, and he puts the pieces of the cover together using photoshop. We decide on the background and font colors~in this case, choosing from a palette popular in the 1950s~ and the rest follows the three panel template with the cover and title fonts that is already part of the series.
Add the cat drawing and the stars and VOILA!
Murder at The Dude Ranch is the 7th book in the Rosa Reed Mystery series, where Rosa discovers she's a long way from London.
Releasing April 29, preorder now and don't miss a yippie-ie-yay moment!

Don't see a button? https://smarturl.it/RRduderanch
The post Designing a Book Cover appeared first on Lee Strauss.
April 8, 2021
Books Springing up like Daffodils! (And a bit of honesty)
Get it? Books SPRINGing up. I've never longed for spring so deeply as I do this year after so much time spent at home. Norm and I were discussing how we haven't stayed in one space for this long in years. For the last three winters we've snowbirded to Mexico and before that we spent five years going back and forth to Germany twice a year for three months at a time.
This is part of the reason I've been so quiet on social media. Besides the fact that I vow to stay away from confrontational subjects, my life just isn't that interesting at the moment. We basically stay home most days working, and spend the evenings watching a little TV. To liven things up we've started taking an online Spanish course together, and now that the weather is a bit warmer, we're back to playing pickleball.
In all honesty, this lifestyle hasn't been hard for me. I'm a homebody and an introvert. At the same time, a life out of balance isn't healthy in the long term. So, with spring and summer in our future, we plan to spend more time outdoors being active and socializing with friends and family (safely). I'm also going to put myself out there via FB live chats and possibly youtube. That idea pushes me out of my comfort zone a little bit, but I think it's good to step outside of that zone once in a while. So, now that I've put that out there, watch for an announcement for when I plan to do my first live chat, and join me if you can.
Hey, what about the books, springing up like daffodils, you ask? The title wasn't click bait, I promise! I have a lot of books coming this year. Here are the next five, ready to preorder. CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE.
Speaking of Spring
Mark your calendar for the My Book Friends SPRINGPALOOZA on Sunday, April 11. You’ll get to enter for loads of giveaways from me and my fellow founding authors. Join our friendly and inclusive group today to be in with a chance of winning some goodies that will spring you into the season with lots of good reading.
Join us hereDon't see a button? https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourbookfriends
Hey, what about the books, springing up like daffodils, you ask? The title wasn't click bait, I promise! I have a lot of books coming this year. Here are the next five, ready to preorder. CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE.





Two new books for Rosa Reed and Ginger Gold, and, at long last, a new Higgins & Hawke!
PS: MURDER AT HIGH TIDE is FREE today (Apr 8) only. Tell your friends!
Get it FREE!don't see a button? https://smarturl.it/RRHighTide
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you have plans to get out and about this spring? What about your comfort zone? Are you stepping out?
The post Books Springing up like Daffodils! (And a bit of honesty) appeared first on Lee Strauss.