A heist, a hunt and a notorious all-female gang are featured in Kitchener author's new novel

Kitchener author K.D. Straus takes readers on a journey through London, England's high society to familiar nearby southern Ontario cities in her first book, To Be True, of the North of the Avon series. 

Set in the 1920s, main character Marion Pallas navigates a heist, a hunt and a notorious gang of female thieves. Along the way she grapples with love, loss and quirky aunts. 

Straus joined CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris to talk about the details of her first release and the next steps for the six book series. 

Audio of this interview can be found at the bottom of this story. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Craig Norris: Give us a brief overview of the story. 

K.D. Straus: Well, how long do I have? I have my novel, To Be True, beginning in London, England in 1924. That's where we first meet Trudeau Tuttle, a Canadian playwright at a posh party being thrown in his honour. 

It's there that he is introduced to my story's main character Marion Pallas. They have an instant connection, which Marion has never felt before. She's always been the plain middle sister and had resigned herself to be nothing more. The high society ladies of London say their typical snide comments about Marion, like being less than her sisters and questioning Trudeau's interest in her. 

Now, Marion no longer gets mad, she gets even. A revenge heist happens the night of the party and Marion and her ever present pets are behind it. Only this time they have lifted a priceless brooch that begins that brings about an investigation. 

At this point, Marion panics and confesses to her devoted and decidedly unconventional Aunt Wink, who is my comedic character and one of my favourites. Once Wink becomes involved in trying to save her niece from the long arms of the law, mayhem ensues. 

She pulls in a motley crew of her cohorts, like the 40 Elephants All Girl Gang, and her poor playboy poker buddy to aid Marion. She also knows that a backup plan might be needed, and sadly, it is.

I next have Marian escaping on an ocean liner to Canada with the man she loves. Once there, she struggles with loss of family and her own identity, but eventually moves forward, making Canada her new home, though never forgetting that she's still a fugitive. Suddenly, Wink's standing at her door. And this could only mean one thing: trouble's coming, and it is.

Norris: This is the first book in a series. What made you want to write a series? When and how did you decide that it had to be a series?

Straus: My husband is a dreamer and told me that if I want to write, I should just write. So I did. I love historical fiction, I love history. I come from small towns, and they say to write what you know. 

Norris: You can say the small town you come from.