Corsets and Casualties: A Ghostly Fashionista Mystery
by Gayle Leeson
Beyond the Obvious:
What My Research into Auction Houses Taught Me About Value
By Gayle Leeson
“Five hundred thousand dollars for a wooden duck?” I stared at my computer screen in disbelief, convinced I’d misread the auction results. It was no joke. The “preening black duck” was one of Elmer Crowell’s early carvings, and it did bring half a million dollars at auction in 2018. Crowell’s decoys are considered masterpieces in the hunting world; and you can bet from now on if I ever see a wooden duck at any kind of sale, I’m turning it over to see if it has a Crowell stamp on the bottom.
When I began exploring auction houses for background on my novel, I expected to learn about fine art, antique furniture, and vintage jewelry. What I didn’t anticipate was falling down a rabbit hole of surprisingly valuable items that most of us might overlook—or even discard without a second thought.
My research revealed overlooked treasures that routinely command surprising prices. Vintage fishing lures, particularly those made by companies like Heddon or Creek Chub in the early 20th century, can sell for thousands, especially if they retain their original paint and packaging.
Then there’s ephemera—those paper items never meant to last: old travel brochures, product labels, movie posters, and vintage advertisements. A collection of early 20th-century circus posters might command five-figure sums, their vibrant colors and dramatic typography capturing a bygone era of entertainment. Even old seed catalogs with their charming illustrations can fetch hundreds from the right collectors.
This research transformed how I approach value in my writing. The character who discovers a forgotten treasure in my book isn’t just finding an object worth money—they’re connecting with the human story behind it. The auction house becomes more than a setting; it’s a place where the past and present negotiate their worth to each other.
For readers interested in exploring auctions themselves, I learned a few valuable tips: research thoroughly before bidding, arrive early to inspect items carefully, set firm spending limits, and most importantly—look beyond the obvious. Sometimes the most valuable items aren’t displayed prominently or touted by the auctioneer. They’re waiting quietly for the right person to recognize their worth—much like the overlooked clues in any good mystery.
The next time you pass a dusty wooden duck at a yard sale or flip past old advertisements in a box of papers, perhaps pause for a moment. You might just be looking at something extraordinary—hidden value waiting to be discovered.
Thank you, Gayle, for visiting today!
Keep reading for more information about Gayle and Corsets and Casualties!
About Corsets and Casualties
Corsets and Casualties: A Ghostly Fashionista Mystery
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher : Grace Abraham Publishing (March 25, 2025)
Number of Pages: Approx. 242
Digital ASIN : B0DV3KKSR1
Stitched together with charm and mystery, this is one ghostly fashionista adventure you won’t want to miss!
For retro fashion designer Amanda Tucker, creating showstopping Halloween costumes seemed like the week’s biggest challenge—until her ghostly companion, Max, discovers an antique Bible tied to her own family history. When the Bible, purchased at an estate sale, is revealed to have belonged to Max’s grandmother, Amanda finds herself caught in a whirlwind of hidden relatives, long-buried secrets, and family intrigue.
Meanwhile, Amanda’s assistant, Zoe, struggles to decide between chasing her dreams in fashion and giving in to her mother’s demands to work at the family diner. As if the week couldn’t get more tangled, Amanda’s grandfather and Max’s nephew uncover shocking news at the estate sale’s auction house: the proprietor has been shot.
With Designs on You hanging by a thread, Amanda and Max must unravel the mysteries of the past before they sew up a perilous future. Will their sleuthing skills save the day, or will these secrets prove too dangerous to handle?
Great Escapes Praise for Corsets and Casualties: A Ghostly Fashionista Mystery
by Gayle LeesonCorsets and Casualties is another highly enjoyable mystery from Gayle Leeson! Her engaging writing voice and delightful characters drew me into this story from the beginning and held my attention until I turned the final page!
~Reading is my Superpower
About Gayle Leeson
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent, an author living in Virginia with a beautiful family and quite a few pets. I have also written as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I wrote the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I wrote the Embroidery Mystery series. As Gayle Leeson, I have written and/or am writing the Down South Cafe mystery series, the Ghostly Fashionista mystery series, the Kinsey Falls women’s fiction series, the Movie Memorabilia mystery series. I also co-wrote some of the NYT best-selling Victoria Square series with Lorraine Bartlett. As G. Leeson, I write the Literatia portal fantasy series.
Kerry Vincent, Hall of Fame Sugar Artist, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show Director, and Television Personality says the series is “a must-read for cake bakers and anyone who has ever spent creative time in the kitchen!”
Says Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author, “One day I found myself happily reading . . . mysteries by Gayle Trent. If she can win me over . . . she’s got a great future.”
Author Links
Website Facebook Instagram BookBub GoodReads
Purchase Links –
Amazon – Books2Read –
Find all Gayle Leeson’s books HERE.
Find all books written as Gayle Trent HERE.
Find the Embroidery Mysteries written as Amanda Lee HERE.
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