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Joyce T Strand Mysteries
Joyce T. Strand writes contemporary and historical who-done-it mysteries that typically involve a murder or two, often a touch of romance, and always a few red herrings.
Jillian Hillcrest, a public relations executive at a Silicon Valley biotechnology company; Brynn Bancroft, chief financial executive turned winemaker in the Sonoma valley; or, Emily Lazzaro, manager of a bread-and-breakfast in a small rural, equestrian California town (Ramona)—solve her contemporary mysteries.
Her novel, THE JUDGE’S STORY, is her first historical mystery. Set in a small California town (Ventura) in 1939, the novel features a California Superior Court Judge. In THE REPORTER’S STORY, set in 1912 San Francisco, a young woman confronts murder, intrigue, and smuggling on her way to becoming a world-known reporter.
Although fiction, the Jillian Hillcrest, Brynn Bancroft, and Emily Lazzaro mysteries are inspired by real California cases. She based THE JUDGE’S STORY, also fiction, on the memoir of a California Superior Court Judge (1941). THE REPORTER’S STORY is inspired by a front-page female reporter of the time.
Much like her protagonist Jillian Hillcrest, Strand headed corporate communications at biotech and high-tech companies in California’s Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder in her career. She focused on writing by-lined articles, press releases, white papers, and brochures.
An avid mystery fan, she has always enjoyed the challenge of following clues to solve the puzzle of a mystery before it is revealed. Therefore she relished the transition from writing marketing copy to creating fictional sleuths.
Today, in addition to creating mysteries, Strand writes and publishes a blog, Strand’s Simply Tips, is actively involved in promoting the wine industry in the San Diego region, and serves on several local committees to enhance her local community.