I'm author ELLE STRAUSS and welcome to my website!

I write fun, lower Young Adult (teen) fiction to do with whimsical things like time-travel, fairies and merfolk.

When my serious side peeks out, she's called LEE STRAUSS. She likes to write upper YA about real things that have happened in the past, or made up things that could quite possibly happen in the future.

This blog is about books, mine and other fab authors', but occasionally I'll share about other topics.

Thanks for dropping by!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Those Ah-ha moments

I was inspired to write this after reading this post by DL Hammons.  A couple weeks ago I had a personal ah--ha moment. It wasn't anything spectacular. I was just dropping my daughter off at school before heading to a coffee date. As I was musing about life and such, as I'm prone to do while driving, I had this thought: If I were to die today, I'd be satisfied.

I've had (and still have) a long, happy marriage, I've raised four kids who still bring me pride and joy, I've had travel adventure and excitement. And I've written books. Even if they never get wildly popular, they are there on the virtual shelf for my grandchildren to read someday. (No, I'm not a grandmother, yet, but my grand children and great grandchildren can get to know me a little from my books.)

I'm satisfied. So, would I still like to write more books and make more money? Sure. But, I don't need those things when I'm dead, so the pressure's off. If this sounds like I'm suicidal or something crazy like that, I'm not. I'm just not afraid of death. There's still plenty I'd like to do before I go, don't get me wrong. It's just all, you know, okay.

Anyway, enough heavy stuff! CLOCKED  is out!!

Yes, indeed. If you've been wondering what Nate was thinking when he asked Casey to dance on a dare and what he thought of life in the 1860's and what he really thought about Casey, now you can know!


This 15,000 word novelette is only 1.95 on Amazon and Smashwords.


How about you? Have you had any ah-ha moments lately?
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Posted by Elle Strauss at 4:00 AM
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9 comments:

  2. Elle, thank you for sharing this ah-ha moment. I'm almost where you are now. (btw, I have four kiddos too! My oldest graduates from HS on Wednesday. Been a tough week. lol)

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  3. Looking forward to CLOCKED! And I'm sure my son will want to read it, too.

    Lovely to be at a point in life where you are content and where death is not something to be feared. Such peace is a blessing... :)

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  4. I had a bit of an "ah-ha" moment at my sister-in-law's graduation this weekend. It's always bothered me that I wasn't able to finish my degree (and since I was homeschooled through high school, that means that I've NEVER gotten to wear a cap and gown and receive a diploma, unless getting my GED in the mail counts as receiving a diploma), and while I still fully intend to go back to school sometime, I've been feeling blue that it likely won't happen until my children are a lot older.

    But sitting there watching my SIL, I remembered the first-ever graduation ceremony I ever attended - my grandmother receiving her bachelor's degree. And then I thought of watching my mom get her bachelor's, while I was pregnant with my first daughter. And I realized that it just might be even more inspirational to my kids if I get my degree when they're older, and they understand more, and that waiting a few more years doesn't make me a quitter: it just makes me more determined.

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    1. Louise, I got my BA by distance ed last year (at age 43), and I didn't get to go to the ceremony (too far away). But I had a mortar board cap from someone else's highschool grad, and wrapped myself in a black shawl, and my daughter took my "grad photo" (which most people can't tell isn't the real thing). Point being that one can make one's own ceremonies! Sounds to me like you're not a quitter, but a person who accomplishes so many other things that getting an official diploma has had to take a back seat. Might be worth a ceremony right there. :)

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  5. What an awesome A-HA moment to have. And you know, now that you say it, I'm having my own Aha moment: I'm not there yet. If I were to die today, I'd feel ripped off- to the tune of "But I haven't had a chance to finish!" And that inspires me all the more to keep going after those goals. Thanks!

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  6. I'd like to say I've had my a-ha moment. Because the stories are still ticking in my head and just now making it on the computer screen and still not in place to share with others, well, I'd feel just the tiniest bit disappointed. I've been blessed with a rambunctions Chimpmunk who lights my world. I've known love and loss. I've been nearly to the mountaintop. Now, if I can get some of my stories out, I'd probably feel that same a-ha that you have.

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  7. Congratulations and good luck on Clocked!!

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  8. What a wonderful realization!! Frankly, I'm not there yet...I still feel unfulfilled, which means I can really connect with this post! I'm so happy for you that you are where you are! :)

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