Lee Strauss's Blog, page 9
October 1, 2020
Don’t Miss These 2 Great Contests! + Journal Entry
To celebrate the upcoming release of the Murder and Rock ‘n Roll I'm giving away a FREE Rosa Reed mug, plus a $30 cash prize!
Click here to enter Gleam contest!
Contest #2 – Goodreads
Enter for a chance to win one of 10 e-book copies of Murder and Rock ‘n Roll!
A murder brings Rosa together with her former flame. Will Rosa keep her heart in line and find the killer before she has to sing the blues?
Click here to enter Goodreads Contest!
******
NEW GINGER GOLD JOURNAL ENTRY
Don't miss out on this week's Journal entry.
Ginger meets a German Soldier who appears in later Ginger Gold books. Can you figure out who it is?
The password is Goldmine. Don't forget to capitalize the ‘G'
Just a quick caveat: these entries aren't professionally edited.
If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers.
You can subscribe here.
The post Don’t Miss These 2 Great Contests! + Journal Entry appeared first on Lee Strauss.
September 24, 2020
Music of the 1950s
Popular music in the 1950s was dominated by a new and fresh sound called Rock ‘n roll, a sound that excited young people and annoyed their parents.
Rock ‘n roll was birthed out of a culmination of genres that had been developing at the turn of the 20th century, including rhythm and blues, country & western, gospel music and pop.
[image error]
Rock ‘n Roll Controversy – Elvis ‘the pelvis'
When Elvis performed on television, he was slammed by TV critics for his “vulgarity”, “appalling lack of musicality” and “animalism.”
[image error]
Much of this criticism came from his dancing, particularly when he swayed his pelvis, something his fans would scream for. People were very concerned that his performances were promoting juvenile delinquency and changing the moral values of the younger generation for the worse.
Watch this video of Elvis Presley singing ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ and see him sway his hips around the 1:12 mark.
How ‘shocking’ does this dancing seem today?
Rock ‘n Roll would go onto to influence fashions, lifestyles, language and attitudes for generations to come.
In Murder and Rock ‘n Roll, Rosa is surprised to hear Miguel and his band perform an original Rock ‘n Roll song that she suspects might have been written about her.
You can hear this song Pretty Little Lady in a White Corvette here!
Ginger Gold's Journal
I hope you're enjoying learning about Ginger's time with the British secret service!
If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers.
You can subscribe here.
The post Music of the 1950s appeared first on Lee Strauss.
September 17, 2020
Save when you buy books in a bundle!
What is a book bundle?
A book bundle is a bunch of books ‘wrapped together’ in a package or included in a boxset. If you are the type of reader who likes to buy many books by the same author, or if you like to stick to a certain genre or theme, then book bundles are for you!
[image error] Get more for less
Instead of paying full price for each individual book, choosing the bundle or boxset option lets you buy many books at once … for a lower price. I don’t know about you, but I like discounts. When something is both convenient and saves me money, I’m excited.
It also saves you time (and effort)! Instead of having to go through the entire store and putting each book into your cart one-by-one, you can order many books with one click. It’s as easy as that!
[image error]
Save money on Ginger Gold books
The first 3 Ginger Gold books are neatly packaged in a boxset, and at a lower price than what you would pay for them individually.
Get a Ginger Gold Mysteries Bundle (and other boxsets in the Ginger Gold series) here.
Save money on Rosa Reed books
Get the first 2 books of the Brand New 1950s Cozy Mystery Series Rosa Reed here, along with other Rosa Reed bundle deals.
Ginger Gold's Journal
I hope you're enjoying learning about Ginger's time with the British secret service!
If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers.
You can subscribe HERE.
The post Save when you buy books in a bundle! appeared first on Lee Strauss.
September 14, 2020
What's Coming This Fall
What are you working on this fall?
I've got a lot in the hopper (working hard with my husband and co-writer, Norm) and I hope you'll get excited for more fun escapism.
So, what's coming?
First up, releasing October 29, is Murder and Rock 'n Roll, set at an early Elvis Presley concert. Norm and I had a lot of fun researching and integrating early rock and roll history into Rosa's next misadventure. You might know that Norm is a singer-songwriter and used to make his living touring Germany, so this theme was in his wheelhouse. You might even get to hear new fifty-themes music written just for Rosa Reed!
Pre-order your copy now!
https://smarturl.it/RRrocknroll
I know everyone is eager for the next Ginger Gold mystery, Murder in Hyde Park, and it's coming Dec 22, just in time for Christmas! It's not a Christmas story, but set in the summer of 1926 at an outdoor fashion show in Hyde Park.
I sometimes include IRL (in real life) people in my stories and you'll be in for a treat when the flamboyant Coco Chanel gets entangled in the case.
Pre-order your copy now!
https://smarturl.it/HydePark14
But to warm you up for Christmas there's another Lady Gold Investigates short story volume coming November 17, just in time for Thanksgiving. You might notice the cover has been updated to a Christmas Edition. Norm and I have worked on the stories, The Case of the Haunted Castle, and The Case of the Christmas Goose, and they're a lot of fun.
Pre-order your copy now!
https://smarturl.it/LGI4
That takes us to the end of the year. Many more books are planned for 2021, but I'll talk more about them in another newsletter.
Don't miss out on this week's Journal entry. (Available to my newsletter list only, https://www.leestraussbooks.com/join-...)
I hope you're enjoying learning about Ginger's time with the British secret service!
September 10, 2020
What’s coming this fall + journal entry
September is back to school and back to routine, at least in normal years. 2020 is anything but normal!
What are you working on this fall?
I've got a lot in the hopper (working hard with my husband and co-writer, Norm) and I hope you'll get excited for more fun escapism.
So, what's coming?
First up, releasing October 29, is Murder and Rock ‘n Roll, set at an early Elvis Presley concert. Norm and I had a lot of fun researching and integrating early rock and roll history into Rosa's next misadventure. You might know that Norm is a singer-songwriter and used to make his living touring Germany, so this theme was in his wheelhouse. You might even get to hear new fifty-themes music written just for Rosa Reed!
Pre-order your copy now!
*****
I know everyone is eager for the next Ginger Gold mystery, Murder in Hyde Park, and it's coming Dec 22, just in time for Christmas! It's not a Christmas story, but set in the summer of 1926 at an outdoor fashion show in Hyde Park.
[image error]
Pre-order your copy now!
I sometimes include IRL (in real life) people in my stories and you'll be in for a treat when the flamboyant Coco Chanel gets entangled in the case.
[image error]
But to warm you up for Christmas there's another Lady Gold Investigates short story volume coming November 17, just in time for Thanksgiving. You might notice the cover has been updated to a Christmas Edition. Norm and I have worked on the stories, The Case of the Haunted Castle, and The Case of the Christmas Goose, and they're a lot of fun.
[image error]
Pre-order your copy now!
That takes us to the end of the year. Many more books are planned for 2021, but I'll talk more about them in another newsletter.
New Journal Entry
Don't miss out on this week's Journal entry. I hope you're enjoying learning about Ginger's time with the British secret service!
If you're not following and you'd like to, the Journal is available to my newsletter subscribers.
The post What’s coming this fall + journal entry appeared first on Lee Strauss.
September 4, 2020
Playing With Matches Free
September 2nd is when World War Two was finally declared a victory, and this year marks the 75th anniversary of that event. On September 2nd, 1945 Japan had officially surrendered to the Allies, following the German surrender 4 months earlier. The Surrender Document was signed in Tokyo Bay aboard the battleship USS Missouri, the last battleship to ever be commissioned by the United States.
Life Magazine reported that as soon as people heard the news, people began celebrating “as if joy had been rationed and saved up for three years, eight months and seven days since Sunday, December 7th, 1941.” New York’s City’s Times Square had the largest crowd in its entire history gathered there to celebrate.
The celebrations were so exuberant that they became a frenzy. By noon, 5 inch deep piles of cloth scraps and ticker tape had been thrown on the streets and sidewalks by workers in New York’s Garment district. Everybody was offering each other beer and wine, and streets across the globe were filled with singing, dancing, firecrackers, hugs and kisses (especially by young ladies to servicemen). Waves of friendly pillow fights erupted in cities like San Francisco out of pure elation and joy. What followed were hangovers, prayerful thanksgivings and the start of a brand new era for the entire globe: The Atomic Age.
World War Two was the largest global conflict in world history, affecting over 100 million people and over 30 countries. It also has the highest fatality rate in world history, with records of 70 to 80 million fatalities, and estimates of up to 17 million civilian deaths. The war is generally considered to have started on September 1st, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War Two, I'm offering Playing with Matches for FREE for a limited time. Enjoy reading this well-researched, dramatic story of what it was like to be a teenager in Hitler's Germany. A slightly different perspective than many world war two novels.
Also available in German: https://smarturl.it/GZpwm
Grab your free copy now!
Sale ends on September 6th.
******
I was compelled to write Playing with Matches a few years ago when a friend of ours sat on our couch and started telling us his story from when he was a young teenager in Hitler Youth and what happened to him directly after the war. It was very compelling and told from a different angle than any world war 2 novels that I had seen. Most books and movies tell stories of world war two heroes who were fighter pilots or soldiers in the field. Not many focus on the young people who bravely resisted from inside the ranks of Hitler's Youth.
Meet Oncle Alfred – former member of Hitler Youth
While visiting my husband's uncle and aunt a few years ago, we had the presence of mind to record Alfred's story. Here are the English transcripts from his interview.
******
I was born Alfred Radke in Tuckum Latvia 1929. From 1934 we live in Santen, That’s where Martha (ed note: my mother-in-law) was born. In 1936 we were back in Tukum. We swapped a few times. In 1938 we were back in Santen In 1939 we left Latvia for the province of Varegau It was an operation officially called ‘Back Home in the Reich’ for Germans. Hitler and Stalin made a pact. Hitler took the Germans and Stalin took the land.
We were on the train and as we were leaving on one track on the other track came the Red army with weapons and tanks. It was my first time I saw tanks. We travelled to the port of Liebow. The military was there too and as we left to go onto the ships the land was taken over. The Red army took over the official leadership, even today we don’t know what happened to the Latvian officials and where they fled to. They had destroyed all records.
We left Latvia and went to Danzig. Danzig is a good harbor with two cities. Then we went to Poznen and nearby in Ebenhausen. We settled and lived until 1945. In 1934 Dad was already called into the military. He was eventually killed in Gotha, Thuringen through a bomb attack. He was buried/funeral in Ebenhausen.
In 1945 the Red army came and we fled with our horses and wagons. We had a Polish worker that worked for us at the farm and he drove the wagon. Because we only had one horse we were given another (named Max) by our neighbor because they had three horses. We were always borrowing things to each other and so when it came time to flee we were helping each other. We fled until Brandenburg.
On the way we came to Cottbus. Martha got sick and we had to wait there for eight days, by then the thunder from the cannons was so loud we finally kept going until Hohenseefeld. There we stayed at the family ‘Theil’. We lived in the horse stall and that’s where I was enrolled into the Reich work ministry. I was taken to Bad Willsnacker on the Elbe for training, then I was in Brandenburg working the Flak 88 guns.
I had never seen a Flak gun. We had seen the military with normal guns but never these flak guns and we got there in the evening. The ones who were there before had been sent to the front. They were 18 or 19 years old. So we’re on the cannons in the evening. It was so loud. We were deaf and dumb. So, ya they told us when you fire you close your eyes and open your mouth. YA boom! (chuckles)
The post Playing With Matches Free appeared first on Lee Strauss.
August 28, 2020
Murder on Location is Here!
The 4th Rosa Reed Mystery
Here’s a teaser from Chapter 1.
>> One of the first things that attracted Rosa Reed to Dr. Larry Rayburn, assistant medical examiner for the Santa Bonita Police Department, had been that he was the picture of Texas charm. As a former Woman Police Constable for the London Metropolitan Police, Rosa had worked with many pathologists and found most capable and efficient, but they were a little, well, “stiff”. Perhaps that came with the job of examining corpses all day. Larry Rayburn, however, defied any stereotypes Rosa had ever had. As a Londoner, she appreciated his gentle formality—but just below that was a funny, unpretentious, and kind man that Rosa enjoyed. Click here to continue reading. <<<
★★★★★
_________________________________________________________________________________
Murder on Location is available exclusively on Amazon.
Don't read on a Kindle? No problem! Download the Kindle Reading App.
This awesome app allows you to read books from Amazon on devices other than a Kindle.
If you don't read on a Kindle, but would like to read the Ginger Gold books you can do so by downloading the Kindle Reading App HERE.
Happy reading!
The post Murder on Location is Here! appeared first on Lee Strauss.
August 21, 2020
Meet my co-author, a real live movie extra!
As promised, this week I'd like to introduce you to my co-writer, Denise Jaden, whose day job is working as an Extra in Vancouver, Canada.
Writing Murder on Location was a lot of fun and if you like movies, especially getting a sneak peek behind the scenes of film making, I think you'll enjoy it too. The release date is less then a week away, so make sure you've pre-ordered your copy if you would like it to magically show up on your device on August 27th.
[image error]
Denise Jaden is the author of several young adult novels and nonfiction books for writers, including the NaNoWriMo-popular guide Fast Fiction. Her new Cozy Culinary Mystery Series will launch later this year, and you can add the first book to your reading list on GoodReads. In her spare time, she homeschools her son (a budding filmmaker), acts in TV and movies, and dances with a Polynesian dance troupe. She lives just outside Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband, son, and one very spoiled cat.
1. How long have you been working in the film industry, and where do you work?
I started doing “extra work” or “background/BG” about seven years ago. At first, I signed up my son to try it out, but it often worked out well for me to work along with him or on my own as well. We get called all over the lower mainland, from several of the downtown studios to on-location shoots out in the remote town of Hope, and everything in between.
2. Have you met anyone famous? If so, who?
Background performers are usually dissuaded from speaking to cast members, however, I’ve given “the nod” to Sandra Bullock and Clive Owen among others, and have been on some super friendly sets where I’ve gotten into conversations with some fairly famous people in Crafty (the snack area).
My favorite story is of when I got to not only meet, but work several seasons of a TV series with my teenage celebrity crush, Jack Wagner. At fifteen, I was part of his fan club, and so I brought a photo/card he’d sent me long ago to work one day to show him. He is super sweet and friendly and offered to take a photo with me and the card.
[image error]
3. What's your favorite thing about working as an extra?
This is a toss up between the food and the plentiful writing time. I have been really spoiled in the food department—enjoying everything from prime rib to grilled ahi tuna and Crème Brule. It’s such a treat to be cooked for, no matter what the dish! But I’ve also penned probably close to a dozen novels while working on set. There is a lot of downtime, and I find it much easier to concentrate among all the creative folk, where my only obligation is to go to set when they call me than I do at home. I am constantly saying that I love my job, and I mean it!
4. What's your least favorite thing about working as an extra?
Okay, sure, there are a few drawbacks, like not finding out your call time or what you’ll need to pack for wardrobe until almost midnight (when you have to be on set by six a.m.) Or sticking hot shots on every surface of your body when you’re shivering for twelve hours in a tent in the middle of winter. It is definitely a job where you have to take the bad along with the good, but I appreciate the perks enough to grin and bear the not-so-fun parts.
5. In Murder on Location, we meet a couple of actors who are a little hard to work with. Is this common in real life? Hopefully you haven't witnessed a death on set!
While I have not been in the unfortunate circumstance of witnessing a death on set, I actually have several BG friends who have tragic memories of stunts gone wrong that will stay with them forever. I’m thankful I have not been around on any of those awful days.
As far as actors who are a little hard to work with, I’d have to say that for the most part, the majority of them are really pleasant. There have been a few that seemed testy, or argued with a director here or there. As background performers, we don’t generally have to get too close, especially when actors are having a bad day, but I do recall one instance where a few of us had been instructed to walk quite close to the camera and an actor yelled at us for making too much noise on the gravel. That’s about the worst that I have personally experienced.
All in all, though, it’s a great job and suits me and my lifestyle perfectly. I look forward to many more years as a background performer/author.
*****
Sign up on Denise’s website to receive bonus content as well as updates on her new Cozy Mystery Series.
Find out more at www.denisejaden.com
Last chance to pre-order Murder on Location. Grab your copy now!
The post Meet my co-author, a real live movie extra! appeared first on Lee Strauss.
August 14, 2020
Back to the Movies
Writing Murder on Location was a lot of fun and if you like movies, especially getting a sneak peek behind the scenes of film making, I think you'll enjoy it too. Next week I'll introduce you to my co-writer, Denise Jaden, whose day job is working as an Extra in Vancouver. Stay tuned!
Going to the cinema was a popular social past time in the 1950s, with thousands of people flocking to their local movie theatres.
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. Hollywood began marketing to youth as well as popularizing the concept of the rebel antihero, as was portrayed by James Dean and Marlon Brando.
1956 was a particularly great year for movies, with many classics being released. This is part of the reason why I began the Rosa Reed series in the early summer of 1956.
Here's a quick overview of a few of the greatest films from 1956.
[image error]
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, produced and directed, by Cecil B. DeMille, provides a dramatic portrayal of the biblical story of Moses. While DeMille took creative liberty in retelling the story, he put a great amount of effort into recreating the setting. The movie was filmed in Egypt and Mount Sinai and boasted one of the largest sets ever used to make a film. Not surprisingly, The Ten Commandments was the most expensive film made at the time of its release.
[image error]
Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days is a lighthearted adventure-comedy featuring the likes of David Niven and Cantinflas. The story portrays the adventures of a Victorian gentleman and his servant Passepartout whose stark differences and many quirks provide comedic relief.
The film received great attention for its extensive all-star cast of 46 celebrities, many of whom made only a brief appearance.
[image error]
The King and I
The 1956 version of The King and I received much critical acclaim and commercial success. The film won 5 Oscars and was among the highest-grossing films of the year.
Based on the 1944 book Anna and the King of Siam, by Margaret Landon, the film shows a widowed mother, and governesses, as she struggles to teach the English language and customs in the palace in Bangkok. When a group of European diplomats arrives, she attempts to prepare a welcoming party in efforts to change the Western perception of the King.
What is your favorite film from the1950s?
******
Don't miss MURDER ON LOCATION ~ Pre-order now!
Murder's a wrap!
Private Investigator Rosa Reed has finally accepted that her girlhood romance with Detective Miguel Belmonte has no hope of being rekindled, but when his actress girlfriend gets embroiled in a murder on her movie set, it's more than a movie schedule that's upsetting. Can Rosa put aside matters of the heart long enough to help Miguel solve the case?
★★★★★
Diego Movie
Watch Diego in action!
The post Back to the Movies appeared first on Lee Strauss.
Back to the Movies + Diego!
To celebrate the upcoming release of the 4th Rosa Reed Mystery I'm giving away paperback editions of the first THREE Rosa Reed books. Good luck!
Enter to Win!
*****
Writing Murder on Location was a lot of fun and if you like movies, especially getting a sneak peek behind the scenes of film making, I think you'll enjoy it too. Next week I'll introduce you to my co-writer, Denise Jaden, whose day job is working as an Extra in Vancouver. Stay tuned!
Going to the cinema was a popular social past time in the 1950s, with thousands of people flocking to their local movie theatres.
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. Hollywood began marketing to youth as well as popularizing the concept of the rebel antihero, as was portrayed by James Dean and Marlon Brando.
1956 was a particularly great year for movies, with many classics being released. This is part of the reason why I began the Rosa Reed series in the early summer of 1956.
Here's a quick overview of a few of the greatest films from 1956.
[image error]
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, produced and directed, by Cecil B. DeMille, provides a dramatic portrayal of the biblical story of Moses. While DeMille took creative liberty in retelling the story, he put a great amount of effort into recreating the setting. The movie was filmed in Egypt and Mount Sinai and boasted one of the largest sets ever used to make a film. Not surprisingly, The Ten Commandments was the most expensive film made at the time of its release.
[image error]
Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days is a lighthearted adventure-comedy featuring the likes of David Niven and Cantinflas. The story portrays the adventures of a Victorian gentleman and his servant Passepartout whose stark differences and many quirks provide comedic relief.
The film received great attention for its extensive all-star cast of 46 celebrities, many of whom made only a brief appearance.
[image error]
The King and I
The 1956 version of The King and I received much critical acclaim and commercial success. The film won 5 Oscars and was among the highest-grossing films of the year.
Based on the 1944 book Anna and the King of Siam, by Margaret Landon, the film shows a widowed mother, and governesses, as she struggles to teach the English language and customs in the palace in Bangkok. When a group of European diplomats arrives, she attempts to prepare a welcoming party in efforts to change the Western perception of the King.
What is your favorite film from the1950s?
******
Don't miss MURDER ON LOCATION ~ Pre-order now!
Murder's a wrap!
Private Investigator Rosa Reed has finally accepted that her girlhood romance with Detective Miguel Belmonte has no hope of being rekindled, but when his actress girlfriend gets embroiled in a murder on her movie set, it's more than a movie schedule that's upsetting. Can Rosa put aside matters of the heart long enough to help Miguel solve the case?
★★★★★
Diego Movie
Watch Diego in action!
The post Back to the Movies + Diego! appeared first on Lee Strauss.
