Today is my chance to welcome you all to the RRBC book and blog block party!
This month, 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 prizes! Anyone is eligible to win a prize. You don’t have to be part of the book club to win. To be in with a chance of winning some great prizes, leave a comment on my blog page today (15/08/2016) and RRBC will select the winners. Winners will be notified on my blog and via email. To see everyones comments today, click on the comment box at the top of this blog page.
My Prizes today:
1st prize: A £20 or $25 Amazon voucher.
A week of tweet support from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree (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 and on my Instagram page. We have over 17.3M timeline views and 22K RT’s in 1 hour some weeks on #creativebizhour and we are often trending.
Prize 2: A £15 or $20 Amazon voucher and a day of tweet support from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree.
Prize 3: A £10 or $15 Amazon voucher and a day of tweet support from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree.
Let’s party!
I am looking forward to introducing you to my work, but realise you have probably seen a lot of blogs and discovered some great books already on this tour. I can only hope you are still full of energy and are ready for another party!
Before I became an author, I started my career by inventing things, (picture a mad inventor with pencils sticking out of her hair!) so I thought I would introduce you to my first invention and tell you about some writing related innovations that I have found, just for fun.
My first invention is called Runaway Spray. Runaway Spray is an instant ‘ladder’ or ‘run’ stop spray for stockings and tights. It is the size of a lipstick, not tested on animals and easy to add to any handbag. I invented this product when I was 17 and had such an amazing time learning all about patents, product design and wholesale and retail for the high street. Not book related, but very handy all the same! Great for looking smart at a book signing. I often refer to the business skills I learnt from this time in my life in my novels, as they all involve creative businesses. Babe Driven is a successful chauffeur company with stunningly gorgeous women drivers, company espionage and sizzling beaches. Love’s Child has a warehouse centre for delinquent children as the main setting, run by an ex-boxer who is hiding a secret that can affect the whole of humanity. Finally, Finding Gina has an fledgling events business and a cosy coffee shop, run by a vain young woman with ‘issues’. Gina is someone who is just passing through the town, but her arrival affects everyone.
Back to extreme inventiveness! Here are some gadgets that have been inspired by writers. In 1973, Martin Cooper made the first public cell phone call from a hand held device. Afterwards he acknowledged that he had been inspired by the script of Star Trek, to develop the technology. Rockets, satellites and tablet computers all started in the minds of creative authors, who helped innovators to discover new product ideas. I didn’t get my inventive idea from a book, but from an orange and a lilo, that’s another story altogether!
Some inventions have sprung from the imaginations of creative writers who have no expertise in design, but have an imagination that can think beyond the here and now. These writers, in turn, inspired those with the technical knowledge, to create actual products from science fiction novels.
Script writers bought us voice-controlled robots like R2-D2 in Star Wars and voice responsive computer, Hal, in A Space Odyssey. In the 1950-60’s Bell Labs designed it’s first computer which recognised digits. IBM then developed a machine that could recognise 16 words. By the turn of the century, consumer electronics were starting to use this technology. Apple worked with specialists to develop the Siri software. A Space Odyssey also had astronauts looking at rectangular screens, which look remarkably like iPads. Writer Arthur C Clarke described touchscreen computers as ‘news pads’, which could also be similar to e-readers.
Comic book hero Dick Tracy by Chester Gould, was able to talk to his parter via a 2 way radio watch. Did this evolve into the modern smartwatches?
In 1998, Mark Twain wrote a short story and described a phone system to share information over the world wide network.
In 1887, novelist Edward Bellamy mentioned a credit card in his book, Looking backward. He used the term ‘credit card’ as a means of paying for a citizens dividend from the government.
Do you think you might have dreamt up a new innovation that could benefit the world, in your last book, poem, or blog, without realising it? I found it really interesting to discover that inventors and authors had such a connection!
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 links: Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Review: 5 stars
Babe Driven, book trailer, click here.
Love’s Child
Power, deceit and betrayal, all in the name of love!
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 links: Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com
Review: 5 stars
Love’s Child book trailer, click here.
Finding Gina
Can a sprinkling of stardust overcome a past full of demons?
Gina had traversed the breadth of the country in her little campervan to try and find everyone on her grandmother’s list, before her father drunk himself into an early grave. She lent down and pulled the battered and worn journal from her bag and opened it to the latest page. The neatly written names were etched onto her heart and she was determined to visit every single one and compensate them in some way. Her family’s debt had to be repaid.
Toby, heir to Bluebell Manor, couldn’t believe his luck when a flame haired beauty arrived at his door. Just when he thought all hope was lost! Looking for somewhere to stay for the night, Gina’s decision to turn left on a country lane, might have greater consequences than she could ever realise.
Lewis read another provincial story about a ‘guardian angel’ who had been helping families across the country and his reporter’s nose began to itch. He was sure that if he could track down the girl they were talking about, he would unearth an even bigger story. He just had to work out how to locate her and then find out what it was that she was running from!
Finding Gina book trailer, click here.
I hope you have enjoyed today’s party. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Join me on some great social media sites:
Twitter: @Lizzie_Chantree
Facebook: Facebook.com/LizzieChantree
LinkedIn: Lizzie Chantree
Pinterest: Lizzie Chantree
Instagram: Lizzie_Chantree
To see everyones comments today, click on the comment box at the top right hand side of this blog page.
Don’t forget to continue the party with the next hosts!
Today:
Sparta Reconsidered/Helena Schrader
The rest of the tour:
https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/back-to-school-book-blog-block-party-line-up/
Images: Istock
Book cover design: Lizzie Chantree
Be the first to know when my next book is available! Follow me on social media for updates.
Great post! You must stay very busy!
Thanks Bruce! I appreciate you stopping by today.
Great blog post, Lizzie! Glad to see your wonderful addition to the RRBC block party!!
Thanks Miranda! I appreciate you stopping by.
Hi Lizzie. What a fun and interesting post that was! I had a great time visiting your lovely blog. 😃
Thanks Rhani. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Have a fun filled week!
Great blog post, Lizzie. A fun way to keep this Block Party rolling! Best wishes.
Thanks Beem. I appreciate you stopping by.
What a fantastic blogs it you have, Lizzie. I never met an inventor/ writer before. I did read Love’s Child and loved it, pun intended. Great prizes today,so I’m wearing my lucky Opal ring. Have a great tour party.
Thanks Micki. I’m thrilled that you loved Love’s Child! I hope that your Opal ring works and you have a fabulous and lucky day!
Hi Liz! Great blog site, very much enjoyed learning about your inventions and some of the history involving writers and inventors. A lot of ‘science fiction’ has become science fact over the years. Hope you are having a great Blog Block Party day! – MikeL
Thanks Mike! I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by today. Have a great week.
Hello Lizzie! I enjoyed meeting a “mad inventor” and hearing about your inventions and those by others. Made for very interesting reading. Adding your books to my TBR. At this rate, I’m buried in books. Cheers! S.J. Francis
Lol! I’m glad you have so many great books to read and I’m really flattered that you have added mine to the pile. I certainly am a ‘mad’ inventor as I have so many bonkers ideas! My family are used to it now and just nod resignedly when I approach them with my latest antics. At least they are never bored!
You have a really lovely blog 🙂 looking forward to reading some more of your blog posts and having a browse!
Thanks Rachel. I appreciate you popping by from #creativebizhour to offer support. Multi-tasking at it’s best! I hope you enjoy browsing my blog now you are here. Have an amazing week:)
Sorry I missed you on the 15th as I was traveling. Very interesting post! Thank you!
It’s still the 15th here, so you haven’t missed anything Linda! Thanks for joining the party:)
Lovely post, Lizzie! Your creativity is inspiring for sure. 🙂
I enjoyed the story of Love’s Child and have Babe Driven downloaded already. Love the book covers as well. I’m so far behind in my reviews, but I hope to catch up soon. Have an awesome party day! Cheers. 🙂
Thanks Natalie. I really appreciate you reading and reviewing my work when you get time. What a compliment! I’m glad you like the book covers, as they were great fun to design. Have a fun filled week.
Such a multi talented lady! It takes a creative mind to invent something as well as to write an interesting and stimulating story. I look forward to reading your books, all of which are on my TBR list…it is way too long. I also love the covers for each of your books. My favorite is Babe Driven…great title too.
Thanks Karen. I appreciate you adding all of my books to your TBR. What a compliment! I’m so pleased you love the cover of Babe Driven. Readers often comment that they bought the book because the title intrigued them, which is fabulous. Thank you for joining the party today.
Very talented lady, Lizzie! I’m reading BABE DRIVEN right now and enjoying it immensely.
Thanks Kim. That’s great news! I really appreciate you reading Babe Driven. Thanks for stopping by today.
Hi Lizzie, Thank you so much for sharing your inventions and many interests with us today. I hope to become more familiar with your work over the next few weeks. Kind regards
Thank you for joining the party today. I appreciate you looking into reading my books. Let me know what you think!
Thank you so much, Lizzie. I will. At present I’m in Italy and until today, my internet connection was not very regular – depending on where we were, but we are now settled in one spot for a few days and I’ll be able to revisit some of the blogs. As soon as I get back I must complete a whole string of illustrations, but I try to fit one or two books into my schedule for the sheer enjoyment of reading at least once a month. 🤓
I hope you are having an amazing time travelling! I like to try and find a few new books each month too and it is difficult with a busy schedule, but once I start reading I begin to relax and really enjoy the story. I would love for you to come back to my blog and share your illustrations with us. What are you illustrating?
Thanks for the enquirer, Lizzie – much appreciated! I’m trying to illustrate the fourth book in Fauna Park Tales (bridging the gap between Early Readers and Middle Grade) and it has taken me longer than anticipated, but I try to read in between. It seems to help when I lose focus 🤓
That sounds wonderful. I illustrate children books for my family, but my style is very modern. I love to paint huge canvases too. We recently visited Spain and I managed to sit by a lake and paint for a few days. It was bliss!
I’ve never tried my hand at very large canvases. It must be quite a challenge! Although I really like the thought of sitting by a lake to some painting😎
I would like to do a mural on a wall though, but I only use watercolours, so I don’t know what outcome to expect.
Painting outside with a beautiful view is really inspiring. I painted murals for my children when they were little and they took a lot of effort, but the end result and smiling faces made it worth while.
My younger daughter did two murals when she was still living at home and has done one in her own home now. So I’ll have to speed up my efforts to keep up! It’s nice chatting to you. I hope to get more familiar with your work in the nearby future💥🐾💥
Thank you. Lovely to chat with you too. Have a fabulous week!
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
Thanks you so much for the reblog Kim. You are wonderful!
What a great post! I cant imagine every inventing something at only 17 (cant imagine it now to be honest!) I loved your links between novelists imaginations and real inventions – makes you think!
I’m glad you enjoyed my blog party post. Inventing a new product at 17 was great fun. It took lots of years of research and development before the product was ready for the high street though!
Thanks for the party stop. Books look intriguing. Love the idea that you are an inventor also. Love creativity in all its forms.
Thanks Joan. Me too! I run a networking hour on Twitter called #creativebizhour on a Monday evening, 8-9pm (GMT) for creatives. It’s a place to chat and network with others who love creativity. Join in in you like networking!
Wow, super cool stuff! I really like the sound of your works and the covers are amazing!
Thanks Lincoln! I’m going to start designing the cover for my new book soon and I can’t wait to begin the whole process again. I love the creativity of designing book covers and after months and months of writing, it’s a fun way to relax a little.
Well, you’ve lived a thousand lives, Lizzie. Thanks so much for the insight into your life and the lives of writer/inventors. Very good post! I’m so glad I stopped by.
Thanks Patricia! What a compliment. Inventing a product is a long process. It took me ten years from first idea to product on shelves, but I learnt so much along the way. Thank you for joining us today. I’m glad you stopped by too!
cant believe you were seventeen for your first invention… way cool
Thank you! I was at college and it took a long time to get the product to market, as I started work to pay for each stage of development. It was a real learning curve though and I had an amazing time!
Whew! I finally found the “comments” box! Is it just me? Hello Lizzie. Its so much fun visiting different countries. It is tremendously educational without leaving your home. I have “Babe Driven” and it going to have to be my next read. I’m so far behind. lol Now I have all your books on my radar.
Lol! Glad you found the comments box. It is rather hidden. Thank you for downloading Babe Driven. I hope you enjoy the read! Have a great week Shirley.
FYI: I had Babe Driven since July. I forgot that I had it. lol
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An inventor and so creative….and what a great attitude. I knew it the moment I saw you on Twitter.
have an awesome day Lizzie!
Thanks Rob! Have an amazing day too:)
Great post! I loved reading about your various inventions…
Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by today.
Lizzie,
I love the fact that your stories are about people in business. I’m an economist (when I’m not writing historical fiction), and I grew up with a professor who couldn’t drive into any town or go to any new place without asking “what’s the economic base of this community.” I still do that today. I’m usually so wrapped up in my research and writing that I don’t have time for other genres, but your description of “Finding Gina” made me think I might just find time for it while flying back to Ethiopia. Hope you have a great day today!
That’s great news Helena! I hope you enjoy Finding Gina and have an amazing time in Ethiopia. My parents have pretty much always run their own businesses, so growing up, this was normal for me. I started my own business at the age of 19 and the idea of people running any type of business fascinates me! I think that’s why my books are always based around a business idea. Often ones I would like to start, but would need three of me to run:)
Hello Lizzie! I had no idea you are an inventor! Bravo! I loved reading “Finding Gina” and I must read the other two books. Have a great party today!!
Thanks Mary. I’m so glad you loved reading Finding Gina and I really appreciate your kind review and tweet support. You are a total star!
Most welcome Lizzie! 🙂
Fascinating post. It was great to learn more about you and your books.
Thanks Brent. I appreciate you stopping by.
Lizzie, you’re so cool! 😀 I also marvel at how movies and books foretell the future in ways that we don’t normally think about. I’m a big believer that if someone can imagine it today, someone in the future will create it. It’s fun to think about all of the items that I’ve read about in fantasy novels and whether I’ll be around long enough to see them come to life. lol! I have Love’s Child and Finding Gina on my kindle waiting to be read, and I am going to enjoy reading them! 🙂
Thanks Yvette. I’m glad you joined the party! It is fun to think about where all of the everyday items we use come from. I had a great time researching this post. I began thinking about being an author and my first invention and wondered if there could be a connection between new products and authors. There are so many fabulous inventions that have grown from a seed planted from the imagination of writers.
Thank you for downloading Love’s Child and Finding Gina. I hope you enjoy the reads!
Wow! How awesome to have invented something! I love the idea of a spray that stops runs in nylons. Great blog idea and fun stop along the party tour.
Thanks Tara! It took ten years of research and development, to go from an initial idea, to a product on the high street shelves. It was an interesting and inspiring time of my life, where my invention was suddenly on TV and radio and in magazines, whilst I was quickly trying to learn about product placement and delivery. Runaway Spray is such a great little gadget. It was a fabulous opportunity to learn all about product design and packaging along the way.
Lizzie,
Very interesting discussion on writers and inventions. Thank you for this. Hope your day is great.
Thanks John. I’m glad you enjoyed my blog today. It was a fun topic to write about. I appreciate you stopping by.
🙂
Hi Lizzie! Your books sound great and your covers are awesome. I loved reading about the various inventions and how writers’ ideas contributed to them. Great kickoff to Party Day. Enjoy!
Thanks Linda. I love designing book covers. I like the fact you have to convey the story through one image, but also catch the readers attention very quickly, so that they might stop and read what the book is about. It’s a really interesting challenge! Thanks for joining us today.
Very interesting post!
Thanks Cassidy!
Hi, Lizzie. Wow, I had no idea you’ve been inventing things since you were 17! That’s truly amazing. Then factor in you skill at writing and how wonderful to be so multi-talented. Congrats on all of your accomplishments. All of your books sound great, but I think I could especially fall in love with Babe Driven. It’s on my TBR!
Thanks Mae! I was set a project at college to make a new product by adding two old ones together. I tried to think of it a different way and decided to make a new product altogether. The result was Runaway Spray.
Babe Driven is full of sunshine, giggles and sandy beaches, but it also has strong women running a unusual business that is about to hit the big time! I hope you enjoy reading it. I loved writing Babe Driven. The characters made me smile.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Such a fun post about creativity! And inventions! How wonderful for you to have a mother whol believed in magic.
Thanks Susan! It was a lovely topic to write about. My mum is wonderful and she always made up stories for us. We now work together and will be completing our first children’s book later this year or early next year about a magical little dragon called Sydney. My mum is also a writer, who is finishing her first full length magical novel too!
Reblogged this on susanjoycejourneys and commented:
Fascinating inventions!
Thank you so much for the reblog Susan. You are a total star!
Great to have something to smile about on a Monday . Interesting content . Loved the book covers .
Thanks Mo. I love to see people smile! Thank you for the compliments. I’m glad you like my book covers. I love designing them and can’t wait to start my latest one.
Loved your post today, Lizzie – I was entertained and informed! Your books look like real winners! Have a great day on your Block Party!
Thanks John. That’s great to hear! I really appreciate you joining us today.
What a great post, Lizzie! You are such an inspiring woman 🙂 I love your inventions and your books, and the history of where some modern tech came from is fascinating … yay for writers and their imaginations! Have an AWESOME day today, Lizzie, on your blog party, and best wishes with everything 🙂 Oh, and I’ve definitely got plenty of energy and enthusiasm for the books and blog stops through August’s Block Party! 🙂
Thanks Harmony. That’s great to hear. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the blog post and love my books. I’ve just finished reading one of yours and will post a review as soon as I can and add it to this blog.
Your creativity evokes awe, Lizzie. I’ve tweeted your Party to help bring in the crowds. Have fun today!!
Thank you so much Gwen! I really appreciate all your support on Twitter too. You are a total star.
Reblogged this on Novels by Jennifer Hinsman.
Total star! Thank you:)
I enjoyed your post and I also immensely enjoyed Babe Driven. I need to get your other books read, I have Love’s Child and can’t wait to get into it. Thanks! 🙂
That’s great news! I’m glad you enjoyed reading Babe Driven. I loved writing the story as it has strong women, sandy beaches and gorgeous men!
Love’s Child is a futuristic view of how family life could be and is full of intrigue and suspense, but is still a love story. I hope you have fun reading it.
Thanks for joining us today. I really appreciate it.
The fun thing about writing scifi and fantasy is that it’s fun to suspend disbelief – it definitely helps make writing fun.
It really does! Thanks for joining the party today Neil.
An inventive mind as well Lizzy!… 🙂 No wonder your writing, at least the one I read; “Babe Driven” was such a new money making idea. 😀 Now I know where that was coming from. Have a wonderful and fruitful day, and enjoy your party. 🙂
Thanks Joy. I loved dreaming up the business for Babe Driven as its so dramatic and sexy! I really appreciate you joining the party today.
Great post. Here’s to hoping the “Paveltron” and “Paveldome” in the book I’m currently working on become a reality. 🙂
Thank you! Can’t wait to read your book. Thanks for stopping by my party today!
I love learning more about Authors i follow, thanks so much for sharing your insights and inventiveness, an eye for detail is apparent in the descriptions of your books, and the covers are great. Hope the remainder of your day is awesome.
Thanks Suzanne. What a compliment! I really enjoy designing book covers as they are so expressive and have to get the message across in one image. It’s an interesting challenge for authors and designers.
This was such an inventive way (no pun intended) to introduce your work. Loved the post. Enjoy your party!
Thanks Staci! There are so many fabulous blogs and amazing authors on this tour that I wanted to change it up a little. I’m glad you enjoyed my post.Thanks for joining us today!
Hi Lizzie! Thanks for being my first guest today over on the Dreamless Roads party segment! 😉 I luuuurve coming over to your blog because it’s so bright and breezy and I always learn something new! 😀
I think most fiction writers have a default talents for exploration and invention – fairy tales are full of things that were way ahead of their time and just needed the technology to be a fairy godmother for them! lol
Am in the middle of Finding Gina at the moment and loving it – have a great time for the rest of today hon! 😀
Thanks Jan. Im glad you’re enjoying Finding Gina! It was so much fun to write. It’s influenced by the stories of magic my mum told me as I was growing up. She always made up tales of magical people and creature who lived at the bottom of our garden. It was interesting to weave a little magic into a romance story of my own.
Thank you for the compliment about my blog. You are such a support. I made sure I popped by your blog early as I didn’t want to miss it either!
What an interesting post, Lizzie. Have a great day at the party!
Thanks Michelle. I appreciate you stopping by and joining the party!
I loved your post! I found your connection to inventions and authors very interesting! Got me to thinking how I thought we would have flying cars by now..I loved your invention there have been many times that would have come in very handy! .Also, I loved the cover of Love Child and your banner. All of your books sound interesting, so, I will have to just pick one–I will go with my favorite cover. I am having a great time with this blog tour and can’t wait to start reading all the books, I’ve picked up. Thanks for all the great information!
Thanks you for the compliments and for joining my party today. Runaway Spray is a handy invention. It has been on sale in the UK for many years now and customers seem to really like it. Flying cars would be a wonderful sight! Thank you for picking one of my books to read. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the read!
Hi Lizzie,
A wonderful multi-dimensional imagination must be spinning around in your mind. An author and an inventor – very cool. I love the eye-catching bright colours on your covers.
Best wishes with your book party.
Cheers,
Wendy
Hi Wendy. Thank you! I have a brain that likes to solve problems, so I naturally look for solutions to everyday annoyances. It works well for writing too! I’m glad you like my book covers. I really enjoy designing them and can’t wait to finish writing the end of a book, so that I can begin the design process. I worked in graphic design for many years and it’s very useful for the product design of my inventions and for my books.
Great post, am I the first one here? That never happens. Hope you get a ton of traffic today.
Thank you! You are the first person to leave a comment. I really appreciate you stopping by. Have a great day.