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!

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.