Today, 18/09/2015, is my chance to welcome you all to the RRBC Back to school book and blog block party.
This month, to celebrate the start of a new school term, The Rave Reviews Book Club, or RRBC, has decided to throw a book and blog party. I hope that by now you have visited many other blogs in the party and some of you may have already won some prizes! Anyone is eligible to win a prize. You don’t have to be part of the book club to win. Just leave a comment on my blog page today and RRBC will select today’s winners.
My Prizes today:
Free ebook copies of my second book Love’s Child for everyone today! It’s free to download today from Amazon. Grab your free copy here: UK link. USA link.
1st prize: A £10 or $15 Amazon voucher.
A week of tweet support from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree with over 23,800 wonderful real followers. (Writers: You don’t need a Twitter account as I can still promote your books/blogs/websites etc.) If you don’t have a book to promote, but do have a Twitter account or a business, I can promote your account/business, to hopefully find some new followers or customers.
The first prize winner will also gain a mention on my networking hour #creativebizhour. We have over 17.3M timeline views and 22K RT’s in 1 hour some weeks and we have been trending a few times so far.
Prize 2: A £10 or $15 Amazon voucher and a day of tweet support from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree with over 23,800 wonderful followers.
Prize 3: A £10 or $15 Amazon voucher.
Back to school:
As this is a back to school party, I thought I would tell you about what I was like at school! I loved books and reading at school but was definitely not one of the cool crowd. I fell somewhere into the middle of trendy and uncool as I was overweight, but I was very good at sports! I loved art because I could wander off into a dreamland and let my imagination run riot. I lost four stone in my last year at school and started college to study art, design and product display. I remember my first day, walking into a huge building, filled to the rafters with art supplies, easels, clay, enamel, (life models!) and the buzzing noise of discussion and play. It was bliss.
Later, I attended The School of Communication Arts in London, where I learnt to interpret my creative ideas. At this point I invented a new product, called ‘Runaway Spray,’ which won me the accolade of one of the Female Inventors of the Year. Runaway Spray, is a lipstick size spray, that prevents further ‘running’ or ‘laddering’ in stockings and tights. My first customers were Superdrug and The Arcadia Group. It was so exciting and scary! Luckily my clients were fantastic and they helped me learn about retail placement along the way. If you have any questions about inventing a product, I would be happy to help in any way I can.
By now, I was also running my own retail and wholesale business, as designing and producing a new product is expensive, so I worked to finance the prototypes and production runs. It was hard work, but great fun. During this time, I often thought of plot ideas for books, as my mum had written stories for my sister and I and told them to us as children.
As a small child, my daughter became unwell and I would sit in my studio at night, writing to keep myself awake, so that I could hear her breathing. She was ill for many years, (she’s fine now), but in in the second year it helped to dream of glamorous people on sun drenched beaches with exciting lives, as this was about as far away from my life at that time as you could get. My first novel Babe Driven evolved and it really helped me to get through a difficult time.
My love for writing has grown and grown, until plots and characters clamber around my mind much of the time. It really is addictive. Now I am discovering the world of other writers. Not only their craft and skill of the written word, but the joy they have in sharing their time and advice with their fellow authors, bloggers, reviewers.
A few months after my book went on sale I decided to teach my self about social media and Twitter in particular. I wanted to find a way to help people, like me, who were starting something new creatively, who might need a support network. It’s my way of paying it forward. I began a networking hour, called #creativebizhour. I don’t get paid, but I spend quite a bit of my time chatting and promoting the writing, design and creative skills of some inspiring people. They in turn, support each other.
Each week someone wins a week of tweet support from myself and my co-hosts (Professional photographer Kelly and published author Maureen). You can win more than once. To be in with a chance of winning, add #creativebizhour to your tweets and replies to chat during the hour and then RT others using the # to create a buzz about each others latest work. It is a really busy hour that has generated sales and offered advice to many, which is all I could have wished for.
Currently, I am finishing my third novel and I have been offered a publishing deal for Babe Driven in America, which is very exciting. I am also contemplating starting a book cover design service on my website www.writewithsydney.com I really enjoy the creative process of capturing readers interest through design and am thinking of offering this service to other authors.
I hope you have enjoyed today’s party. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
To see everyones comments today, click on the comment box at the top right hand side of this blog page.
Introducing my books:
Babe Driven
Driving straight out of trouble and into paradise!
Harriet’s crazily successful business idea is under serious threat, and the danger seems to be coming from inside her own family. She whisks her sister and her friends away to an exotic location to try and work out whose side they are on. It’s time to start damage limitation.
When the girls arrive at the glorious villa owned by Harriet’s maverick business partner Nikki, they find a gorgeous band and their sexy lead singer Max staying next door, out to entice their new neighbours into all kinds of trouble.
This isn’t a holiday for Harriet and she can’t afford to be distracted. She has to sell her business idea to the powerful resort owner, the elusive Mr Grant, while she is there, or she may not have a business to go back to. Harriet will have to choose between family and friends, business or pleasure. For someone who stays out of the limelight, even though her new company is the hottest ticket in town, she’s going to have to avoid the front pages of every newspaper if she wants to survive the ride!
Book link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babe-Driven-Lizzie-Chantree-ebook/dp/B00FAUT0SS
Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars A fun novel give it a go!!!! 19 Mar. 2015
By EMMA MAKEY
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
By the end of the first chapter I was completely gripped…
This is a really compulsive read and not easy to put down; but quite light hearted.
The characters are really fun, engaging and believable.
I am really looking forward to the authors next Novel… Give it a go!!!!
Love’s Child:
Jemima Trent is desperate to have a designer baby to keep up with her socialite friends, reconnect with her work-obsessed husband, Lucas, and regain some respect from her domineering father, but the number of women able to conceive each year is in decline and no one seems to know why.
Dr Cole believes that the answer can be found in a warehouse full of delinquent teenagers, where David Love and his beautiful girlfriend Tilly, have been hitting the headlines for turning youngsters’ lives around. Dr Cole’s violent and callous employer will stop at nothing to discover the reason behind their success and why girls at the warehouse are able to fall pregnant.
Jemima finally tries to step out of her father’s shadow, but discovers they are more alike than she could ever imagine. David and Tilly race to protect a secret they have held for years, that could have a bearing on family life for generations to come. An action packed love story, with powerful men and formidable women.
Lies, deceit and betrayal, all in the name of love!
Book link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Loves-Child-Lizzie-Chantree-ebook/dp/B011236ZC0
Review: 5.0 out of 5 starsLoved the book 29 July 2015
By Jackie
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Don’t forget to continue the party with the next hosts!
https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/back-to-school-book-blog-block-party-line-up/
Images: istock
Photos, book covers: Lizzie Chantree
Lizzie sorry I missed your stop. I was away at a family wedding out of town.Also sorry I missed out on your wonderful prize. But I see you aren’t missing a beat at your party. lol
No worries. Thanks for coming by my blog anyway Shirley. I hope you had an amazing family wedding.
What an amazing woman you are, Lizzy. Your life would make a great book. You are an inspiration to all women with your accomplishments at such a young age. Thank you for the free download of ‘Love’s Child.’ I took a peek and it already has my interest.
Thank you Micki. That’s such a lovely compliment! I hope you enjoy the rest of Love’s Child.
Great post and I have Babe Driven waiting in my Kindle to read!
Thank you, that’s great. Don’t forget to download your free copy of Love’s Child too. It’s still free today.
Thanks for joining the party!
Reblogged this on Novels by Jennifer Hinsman.
Thank you for the reblog. That’s so kind of you:)
Lizzie, I just love the description of your books, they are very inticing.
Thank you Robert. I appreciate you joining the party. Have a great weekend.
Lizzie–Loved Babe Driven and am looking forward to Love’s Child! Your life story is motivating! You have been blessed with the gift of creativity, and I love that you share your talents to promote others!
Thanks Rebecca! I’m so glad you loved reading Babe Driven and hope you enjoy Love’s Child just as much.
Everyone I have met at RRBC has been so generous with their support, it’s wonderful to be able to be there for them too.
Hi Lizzie! I think I’ve told you before how much I love your covers. I downloaded a copy of “Love’s Child” and hope to read it soon. “Babe Driven” is already on my TBR list. You are so talented and I loved hearing how you started your first business.
Thanks Kim. I really enjoyed designing my covers and can’t wait to try some for other authors. I appreciate you downloading my books and adding them to what I know is a huge TBR list! Mine is about the same size. I have so many great books I want to start to read.
Thank you for all of your support to everyone in RRBC. You are a total star:)
Hi Lizzie,
Fabulous website! Lovely to learn more about you and your work! The block party is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow RRBC members! Cheers. 🙂
Thanks Natalie. I’m new to blogging, but am really enjoying discovering more about it. I have read so many great profiles and book blurbs in the book and blog party. My TBR list is growing every day!
Have an inspiring weekend.
Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
Lizzie Chantree hosts another RRBC Block Party stop today where she shares a wide array of talents!
Thank you for the reblog. Much appreciated. 😀
My pleasure.
Lizzie, thanks for hosting a stop today on the blog party! I love your covers, how you help others and your variety of talents! Cheers!
Thank you! It has been a really great party and I appreciate you stopping by. Have a relaxing weekend.
You too.
Fascinating blog. Great back story (your oen)…and all that technical talent. More and more I am beginning to realise that my colleagues in the RRBC are technical wizards and I am stuck out somewhere on the fringes of the stone age. Somebody help meeee!!!!
Thanks Brian. I’m no technical wizard, but I am fascinated by graphics, social media and computer design.
I taught myself, so you can too. I’m always happy to help if you have any questions in my area of expertise ( although I’m not really sure myself what my area is!)
😀
Great post! Nice to learn about you and your creative endeavors, as well as your books!
Thanks Christa. I appreciate you joining the party.
Look at all the people here today! What a great party you’re throwing, Lizzie! You lost “four stone” you say? What the… You mean you had, like, rocks in your pockets? I’m an American. I don’t know what that means! What I do know is, you are quite accomplished as a creative soul. This is one of my top 3 favorite stops on this blog block party. I wish you amazing success, Lizzie!
What a compliment! Thanks Beem.
If only I could have lost weight by taking a few stones out of my pockets. Unfortunately I had to jog around a lot and do a few thousand star jumps!
I really appreciate you joining the party.
Have a brilliant weekend.
Hi, Lizzie. Great Party Post! I enjoyed learning more about you and your books, my #RRBC friend. 🙂
Thanks Bette. It’s wonderful to see you here. Have a great weekend.
Great party! Have a fab weekend, my talented friend! 🙂
Hi Lizzie. I enjoyed visiting your blog, and have downloaded my copy of Love’s Child. I’m glad you were one of the stops on the Back To School tour. Hope you have a great Friday. 😃
Thanks Rhani. I hope you enjoy Love’s Child. Have a great weekend.
Fabulous to read here of your journey…great to meet you and I really must get a kindle now! x
Thanks Gigi. You can also download the free kindle app on your iPad, computer or phone. That way you can read kindle books anywhere!
Thanks for joining the party today. You could have bought the music! Yours is amazing.
Way to go Lizzie. Loved the story. Great to have you as a fellow member.
Thank you! It’s great to be part of such a creative group of people like RRBC.
Just downloaded the free ebook. THX! Looking forward to reading it. Great blog post. Best of luck with your writing.
Thank you. I hope you enjoy reading Love’s Child. Have a fabulous weekend!
Hi Lizzie:
Thank you for the free book. I’m also amazed, and slightly in awe, of your background. The one thing I’ve really enjoyed about this tour is reading everyone’s story, no matter what they do for their day. Have a great weekend.
Regards,
Ani
Hi Ani. Thanks for joining the party! Thank you for your kind words.
I have been lucky enough to grow up with parents who encouraged my creativity since I was very small and wandered around with a paintbrush in my hand. They ran their own businesses right up into their 70’s, so having a business has always been a way of life for me.
I have also really enjoyed getting to know everyone on this tour. Each person has inspired me and I can’t wait to read their work, or hear more about their life.
And I thought you’d paid for all those followers 🙂 Now I realise it’s because you’re just a force of nature!
Lol! Thanks Steve. That made me smile. I’ve never paid for a follower. What would be the point? I like to talk to my Twitter followers and am interested in what they do. I’ve met so many creative people there. It’s a fun way to interact!
Thanks for sharing your interesting history, Lizzie. Lovely post and site. Best wishes for a super day.
Thanks Jonna. Have a fabulous weekend.
Hi there, Lizzie – really glad to see this party’s swinging along very nicely! Love your generous giveaways today and looking forward to book #3 with great anticipation 😀
Thanks Jan. Book 3 is almost finished. I love the feeling of writing the last line of a book and the story getting ready to be floated out into the universe. Then the excitement begins again for the next one!
I tride being artist but was not good enough
Good luck with the book civets whish I could
Have a grate party
Thanks for joining the party! Everyone experiences art in different ways, so as long as you enjoy painting, paint on!
Hi, Lizzie! I loved your personal story and how you turned a dark time into a creative outlet. Your books look like fun reads and I’ll definitely be checking them out! I also love the fact that you’re offering Tweet support! I’m definitely going to follow! How unique!
Thanks Ernestine! I think good things can come from troubles in some instances. It’s just hard to realise at the time. Thank you for taking the time to look at my books. Don’t forget you can download Love’s Child for free today. The tweet support is something I like to do as the people who win each week tell me how much it helps to spread the word about their businesses. Plus I get to find out more about each persons wonderful work!
Thank you Lizzie for an inspirational and informative blog! Welcome to the Blog Party!
Thank you for stopping by Marc. It’s been a great party so far. It’s about time for some dancing!
Neat post–I’m glad your daughter is well now. I picked up your book and am looking forward to reading it.
Thanks for stopping by today Joe. I hope you enjoy reading Love’s Child. Have a really great weekend.
Joe. You have won the top prize! Congratulations.
Joe, Your prize is A £10 or $15 Amazon voucher.
Plus a week of tweet support from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree with over 23,800 wonderful real followers and a mention on my networking hour #creativebizhour.
That’s amazing! Thank you so much!
Hi Lizzie, I am so touched by how you turned obstacles into miracles. Your creativity leaves me speechless, and I’m ever so grateful to know you through RRBC. I suspect you inspire everyone you meet….thank you for being you! (PS…your books are added to my Kindle collection–to be read very soon) 🙂
Thank you Gwen! I feel the same way about you and everyone I meet through RRBC. I am inspired by your generosity of spirit and ability to welcome in people you haven’t met before. RRBC is a fabulous place to spread your wings or snuggle up under some warm feathers for a quiet read.
I hope you enjoy Babe Driven and Love’s Child. Have a relaxing weekend.
Interesting post and good of you to be so supportive of others!
Thanks Cassidy. The huge list of creative talent on #creativebizhour are just as supportive to me. The same goes for RRBC. It’s like being part of a big cuddly team!
Wow, those are some very impressive accomplishments. I soooo need runaway spray, what a great idea! Good luck with the Block Party today!
Thanks Tara. That’s so kind of you to say so. It’s taken me a long time to believe in myself. Now, I love to help others feel the same way. So many people have given me sound advice, or a moment of their time over the years. Without them, I would still be at the drawing board, without a clue how to move forward in my ever growing list of creative plans!
Good Morning, Liz! I’m honored to share this day with you! I will be downloading Love’s Child today. It sounds great! Do you illustrate any of your covers?
Likewise Linda! I can’t wait to stop by your page. For my covers, I use stock art, my own photos and some of my own illustrations. I’m currently working on a children’s book with my mum and I will illustrate the whole book.
Thanks for taking the time to stop here today, you must be so busy with your own party. I’m heading there now!
Hi Lizzie, I’m impressed! You’re a very caring mother, a great innovator, a terrific entrepreneur, and on top of this you’re a wonderful writer. Congratulations on the publishing deal and I wish you all the very best with your future endeavours.
Thanks Renae! Thank you for such a wonderful compliment. I was equally impressed when I stopped by your blog page. Thank you for joining my party.
Amazing experience Lizzy. You have indeed been successful in a number of areas. I like how you look forward to new opportunities. Very inspirational.
Thanks John! I love creativity. Seeing people express their ideas, inspires me too.
Your books sound great! 🙂 It’s really cool that you spend so much time and energy supporting and promoting other authors. 🙂
Thank you:) I love the whole creative process and sharing innovation is great fun. I get to meet a whole host of interesting, funny and talented people and see the beautiful work they create.
It’s too good not to shout about!
Hi, Lizzie! Thanks so much for sharing these parts of your journey with us today. You are a very talented and generous person – and we at Rave Reviews Book Club are lucky to have you! Thanks also for the free book – I’m looking forward to it! Have a great day today at your Block Party! Our Block Party straddles the Atlantic with one foot in the Chicago area and the other in London! That’s cool! That’s RRBC!!
Thanks John. I’m lucky to have found you all! It’s great to have so many people coming to my party from different parts of the world.
I think you are all amazing:)
Lizzie…great job. Congrats on your publishing deal
Hello Richie. Thanks for joining in with today’s party. Have a fabulous weekend!
Good morning Lizzie 😊
Hi Frank! Thanks for joining the party from Twitter. Much appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend.
Frank. You have won the third prize. Congratulations! It is a $15 Amazon voucher. I will send it to you via email. Well done. Have a fantastic weekend.
Very interesting blog Lizzie. I vaguely remember someone on Dragons Den with a product like your spray. Was it you? All the best with your writing. Bill.
Thanks Bill. I have never been on Dragons Den, although I love the programme. I have been on Sky news and the ITV lunchtime news with Runaway Spray though, so might you have seen it there?
Bill you have won my second prize of a £10 or $15 Amazon voucher and a day of tweet support on Monday. Congratulations!
Hi Lizzie. Great blog. Babe is another waiting patiently on my Kindle. Have a great party day.
Thanks Peter. I hope you enjoy Babe Driven, she is feisty and a lot of fun!
I’m in awe of the idea that you invented something. That is so cool, and I never would have learned that without the blog party. Very cool.
Thanks! It was a long process and took ten years of research and development. I learnt so much from the process though. I was 17 at the time and had a lot of energy! I started my own business to pay for the patent and prototype costs.
That is just inspirational. Who’s going to play 17 year old you in the movie?
And congrats on your publishing deal!
Thanks Traci! It is very exciting.
Wow, what a incredible success story, Lizzie! And it’s so impressive that you’ve decided to help others with what you’ve learned. That’s true character 🙂 I shall be following your blog and adding your hashtag for sure. I wish your spray would have been around when I used to wear pantyhose LOL. I gave up on them a long time ago 🙂 Enjoy your blog party today!!
Thanks for joining the party Traci. I had no idea what to do when I first published Babe Driven, so I spent three months teaching myself about the basics of publishing and marketing. I’m still learning!
I really wanted to help others in a similar situation with any creative product. #creativebizhour is a support network for people with ideas. Everyone chips in and helps each other out. I’m glad you are going to join in, or take a look. It is frantic, but the people/businesses on there are welcoming to everyone, plus they love to have a good chat!
Nice to learn so much about you! On my way to download your book’
Thanks for stopping by, Bruce. I hope you enjoy the read.
Hi Lizzie, you offer great gifts today at your book party. Some lucky people are going to be quite happy after your party. I have read your book.”Babe Driven,” and I loved it. I believe the next one is going to be as good. Have a wonderful day, with lots of fun. 🙂
Thanks Joy. You never know, you might be one of the winners! I have won a book and a book trailer so far from other blogs in the party, so it has been brilliant. I’m glad you loved Babe Driven and hope you enjoy Love’s Child just as much.
Not cool?! You are WAY cool! Even my stick figures are complain-worthy! I am very happy to hear that your daughter is doing well now. Though I have been blessed not to endure that worry and stress over my child, I know too well how writing can be your comforting friend when the world is quite silent and you just don’t want to feel alone. I downloaded your generous gift to us, and I can’t wait to read it! Keep doing what you do! You are very talented and quite an inspiration! 🙂
Thank you Yvette. Such kind words. My children would disagree with you on the cool factor! It’s usually, ‘Oh Mum, not another crazy idea!’ Lol:) I agree that writing can be a comfort. You enter the world of imagination and float away for a while to just about anywhere. I’m glad you have downloaded Love’s Child, I hope you enjoy the read. I appreciate you joining me for today’s party!
What a lovely post, Lizzie! I loved Babe Driven and have downloaded my copy of Love’s Child … can’t wait to read it! I am in awe of your many talents, and Creative Biz Hour sounds great. I totally relate to being a bit of a book nerd at school, LOL. Very best of luck with everything, Lizzie! 🙂
Thanks for joining the party Harmony and for downloading my books. I’m glad you loved Babe Driven!
Creativebizhour is such a fun filled hour. It whizzes past so quickly each Monday as everyone is chatting and letting each other know about the previous weeks work. Lots of people have met others to collaborate with, which makes me really happy.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Interesting blogg. Like the Design layout. Fun characters with an interesting theme. Hope you have a good party.
Hi Maureen. Thanks for joining the party!
Lizzie, you are multi-talented! Congrats on your publishing deal. I will check out the #creativebizhour hashtag. Have a great day at the party!
Thanks Michelle 🙂 I’m not sure about that, I’m just old, so have had lots of time to try new ideas! I’m glad you are going to take a look at #creativebizhour. It’s such a lot of fun and a great way to meet other creatives.
I loved hearing about your background, Lizzie! Wow. Inspiring to hear about the different forms of your creativity, and I definitely believe that cross-inspiration or cross-fertilization goes on when we create or innovate in different areas. Also using writing therapeutically to deal with life’s burdens – bravo. Was such a treat to download Love’s Child too – I look forward to reading. All the best on your special featured day of the RRBC blog block party!
Thanks Lisa! I really feel that writing helped me through some difficult issues. It brought a little sunshine to a really dark time. Thank you for downloading Love’s Child and joining the party. I hope you enjoy it.
Hi, Lizzie! Love your site, love your covers! I have downloaded my copy of Love’s Child, and can’t wait to get started on the book trailer for BABE DRIVEN!!!! Yayyyyy! Good luck today! Have much fun!
Thank you Nonnie for all of your generous support of everyone in RRBC. You are a total star.
I’m glad you love the site and covers! I can’t wait for you to start on my new book trailer too. I’ve never done one before and am already thinking of booking one for my third book, which will be finished soon. Thanks for downloading Love’s Child. Enjoy!