Today, 3rd April 2017, 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 block party. I hope that by now you have visited 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 (3rd April 2017) 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 £10 Amazon voucher.
A WEEK OF TWEET SUPPORT from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree (40.3K followers) You don’t need a Twitter account as I can still promote your products/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.
2 TWITTER ADVERTS for your book or business: Value £20
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 on #creativebizhour and we trend each week.
Prize 2: A £10 Amazon voucher
A DAY OF TWEET SUPPORT from my Twitter account @Lizzie_Chantree.
Plus 2 TWITTER ADVERTS.
Prize 3: 2 Twitter adverts.
Let’s party!
I look forward to introducing you to my work. I’m an author and inventor, so my last blog tour post was about my inventions and how many authors have inspired new product designs in the future.
This time I thought I’d tell you a bit about how I come up with my book ideas. I have been running my own businesses since I was young and now I am writing romance novels that revolve around my passion for new business ideas and the slightly eccentric people, (like me!) who run them.
Today, entrepreneurship is on the rise and there are over 400 million entrepreneurs all around the world. I began my first retail business selling hand made products when I was 18, after working at a design agency for a year. This made me realise I wanted to be my own boss, as customers were enquiring where they could buy products I had been making as a hobby. As my business grew, I designed a mail order catalogue to reach more customers and began to exhibit my work at trade shows across the U.K. During this time I prototyped, patented and brought to retail my first invention, Runaway Spray, to market in major retailers.
My writing career began later in my life, as a sort of personal therapy. My youngest daughter had some health issues when she was little and I wanted to be at home all of the time to be near her. During the first year I wrote Babe Driven. The book revolves around an exciting new business idea, but the woman who owns the company is reclusive and shy. Babe Driven is full of sunshine and sizzling beaches, some irrepressible band members and some people who aren’t who they seem. While writing the book, it felt like I had a new business to run for a while and some interesting workmates whose personalities I needed to unravel. I hid the book for 5 years until my daughters health improved and then self-published, as I read an article about it and the world of publishing fascinated me.
Since then I have written 3 other books, which all have unusual businesses in them and the people who run them are entrepreneurs with issues! Through writing the stories I have hopefully created a different business model for myself and my family. What I have discovered while doing so, is that this is where my passion lies. Writing fills my soul and I can’t wait to start work every day with a new idea or character to unfold. It combines creativity and technology and I have met some of the nicest people on this journey. My daughter proudly tells everyone she was the catalyst for my new career and it shows that something good can shine through the darkness in troubling times.
The businesses in my books:
Babe Driven is about a hot new chauffeur company with stunningly gorgeous drivers. It’s full of company espionage, unconventional girls, frisky band members and sizzling beaches!
Love’s Child revolves around a warehouse centre for delinquent children, run by an ex-boxer who is hiding a secret that can affect the whole of humanity. There is an underlying love story that flows throughout this book and hopefully the conclusion is a bit thought provoking about family life and the relationship between parents and their children.
Finding Gina has an fledgling events business and a cosy coffee shop in the story, which is run by a vain young woman with ‘issues’ called Rachel. Gina is passing through town, but her arrival effects everyone who lives there. There is something a little different about Gina, but she doesn’t start to uncover what that is, until she stops avoiding her past and discovers a possible new future.
Some fun facts about Entrepreneurs:
1 out of every 18 people own their own business.
There are no developed countries in the top 25 most entrepreneurial countries.
A typical entrepreneur:
95% have a degree.
70% are married.
51% were the first in their family to launch a business.
They work on average 66 hours per week.
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 whisk
s 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 singe
r 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
Click to buy a fun filled beach read, Babe Driven!
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 🙂
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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 and to visit any earlier ones you may have missed!
Images: Istock
Book cover designs: Lizzie Chantree
Twitter ad designs: Lizzie Chantree
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Oh my gosh, you are obviously an amazing person– entrepreneur and author. Congratulations on your ingenuity and commitment, and thanks for being part of this.
Thank you so much for the compliment and for stopping by my blog today.
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I’m shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Hi Lizzie, just found the lineup list today–been sick. Your blog is awesome!! Hope you had a great tour day!!
Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell Micki. I hope you feel much better soon.
Lizzie, I’m sorry I’m running late to these blog stops. Great page…
Wish I looked like that guy on Love’s Child!
Lol! Thanks for popping by. Have a great week. 🙂
Gee I’m sorry I missed your stop. Better late than never. You have a nice post.Your books are making me go back and take inventory of what I have on my TBR list. lol
Thanks Shirley! I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
An author and inventor! Interesting reading about your story lines. Finding Gina may be on my already full reading agenda. Thank you for introducing me to your books. .
You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by and squeezing Finding Gina into your already very full TBR list! Much appreciated.
Great post, Lizzie! I enjoyed reading about how your writing career began, and the interesting facts about entrepreneurs.
Thanks Michelle. I appreciate you stopping by.
I didn’t know those stats about entrepreneurs, Lizzie. Thanks for sharing. Great post.
Thanks Staci!
I loved Babe Driven, Lizzie! And find you so inspiring! Sorry I missed yesterday’s stop (only 1 link showed on the tour page when I checked in!). Best of luck with everything! 🙂
Thanks Harmony. I find you inspiring too! I’m so glad you enjoyed Babe Driven, as that is such a special book for me.
I loved your blog mixing your inspiration for writing, facts, and fun descriptions of your books. I read Babe Driven and really enjoyed it. It was probably one of the first books I read when I joined #RRBC!
Thanks Laurie! I really appreciate you joining the party and it’s great to hear that you enjoyed Babe Driven. RRBC is such a great place to meet other book lovers. I have discovered so many new authors that I didn’t know about before. It’s inspiring!
These books look wonderful, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for joining the party Suzanne!
I’ve read Finding Gina and Love’s Child and enjoyed them both! Your blog today was great! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks Yvette. I’m so pleased you enjoyed Finding Gina and Love’s Child!
Hi, Lizzie! What a fresh, forward thinking, and enjoyable post! Bravo! We all have our own way of blending ourselves into a fine caviar, it feeds us, and that in turn … inspires our writing! Great post!
Thanks Soooz! I appreciate you joining us today. Enjoy the party!
Lovely post about your motivation behand your books – so creative!
Thanks Wendy! My parents have run their own businesses since I was small, so I have been surrounded by entrepreneurs for as long as I can remember. It’s been a roller coaster, but very inspirational.
Great blog. Well done on your books and everything you have achieved. Very inspirational. Running my own creative business is all very new to me. I’m soaking up all the information I can so will be following your blog!
Thanks Sharon. Congratulations on running your own creative business! It’s a lot of hard work but is so rewarding. I’ve met some amazing people and every day is different.
Hi Lizzie, I am gradually reading through your books. I loved Babe Driven, and now, that I can see the background to the story, it makes more sense. Good luck with your party. I can see you have a great spread with your gifts. 😀
Thanks Joy. I’m thrilled you enjoyed Babe Driven. Best of luck with your wonderful new book too. The cover art looks amazing. I read and reviewed your first book and can’t wait to read your next one!
An amazing blog. Loved how you laid out all of your books with detailed explanations. Very impressive.
Thanks Gracie!
Lizzie, this was a wonderful post! I always seem to be learning something new (and fascinating!) about you. Thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to seeing what the world brings you next!! 🙂
Thanks Marlena! I appreciate your support. I was lucky enough to have my books featured on your blog recently and you are tireless in the effort you put in to showcasing other authors. Let me know when you would like your work featured here!
Aww… thank you so much! It was my pleasure having you on my site. Fingers crossed my debut will be published within the next month or so. Then, we can talk! 😉
That’s wonderful news! Let me know when it’s out so I can buy a copy.
Thanks, Lizzie! Will do!
Hi Lizzie. Congratulations on your novels. Interesting facts about entrepreneurs and that there are no developed countries in the top 25. Interesting. So what do you create and sell?
Hi Maggie. Thanks for joining us today! It is interesting that there are no developed countries in the top 25, isn’t it? I think it’s because developing countries see more opportunities to start a business, as self-sufficiency is sometimes the only way to make money. Many new ventures fail due to lack of research to find out if there is an actual market for their product.
I created a product called RunawaySpray, which is a lipstick size ‘ladder’ or ‘run’ stop spray for hosiery. I have also designed greetings cards with phonics in the to assist independent writing skills in pre-school children.
My retail/wholesale businesses sold products for the home that I designed and produced.
Terrific post, Lizzie. All your books sound intriguing. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks John. Enjoy the party!
I will.
I always enjoy visiting your blog. It’s so beautiful, Lizzie! Thank you for the great post for the Springtime Book and Blog Block Party!
Patricia Green
Thank you for the wonderful compliment! I trained in graphic design at college, which really helps me with book cover and blog design. I love the feeling of finishing my latest manuscript and then beginning the cover art. It brings everything together and makes me smile.
It’s always a treat to come over to your bright and breezy blog, Lizzie! Hope you’re having a whale of a time and have attracted lots of new fans today 😉
Thanks Jan. It’s been great fun. Thanks for joining the party!
Reblogged this on Room With Books.
Thank you so much for the reblog!
Woohoo having a blast at the #RRBC book and blog block party!
It’s so great that you are such an inspirational entrepreneur and I love how you are so supportive of other artists.Finding Gina does look like a must read….I must get it on my Kindle for my Easter hols xx
http://www.studioemmakaufmann.blogspot.com
Thank you! I’m glad you are enjoying the party. I’m happy to support other artists, as it’s inspiring to see all of the creativity out there. Finding Gina was great fun to write, so I hope you enjoy the story. Happy reading!
How exciting! Thank you for sharing so much about yourself here! I’m about to launch a book I may contact you for the blog tour ideas. I’d love to win one of your prizes. I’ll be on the tour on April 24th so hope to see you there as well!
Congratulations on your book launch! I’m always happy to help with ideas. I look forward to checking out your tour date.
This is the first time I have read your blog but I will be saving the link and keeping up with it. It’s great reading about entrepreneurship in such a positive light.
Thanks Sian. That’s great news! I post all sorts of things each month about business, design, writing and whatever else I can discover!
This was a real joy to read, Lizzie! It’s a remarkable thing to be able to merge your passions as you do. Bravo! I have Finding Gina on my Kindle and looking forward to it. I loved the ending in Love’s Child, such a brilliant, poignant message. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Cheers! 🙂
Thanks Natalie. It’s so much fun to be able to bring my passion for new business to my writing. I am able to see what it’s like torun some really zany businesses as I write them and it means I can take my work with me wherever I am.
Thank you for downloading Finding Gina. I’m so glad you enjoyed Love’s Child too. It was a wonderful book to write and i’m thrilled you loved the ending. Thanks for joining us today!
I love the way you are marrying your two passions: entrepreneurship and romance into your writing, Lizzie! I hope you have a great Block Party today!
Thanks John! I have always held a real fascination with invention and new business ideas and through writing, I get to try out lots of new ideas as the stories unfold. Thank you so much for visiting my blog today. Enjoy the party:)
Thanks, Lizzie!
Such a lovely blog! I will bookmark and enjoy having a browse at the rest of your blog too. Found your facts about entrepreneurs really interesting especially that 1 in 18 of us have a business! That is amazing.
Loving Creative Biz Hour tonight, so much friendly support, chat and promotion 🙂 thanks for running it.
Thank you! You’re so welcome. I love running #cretaivebizhour on Twitter. I had no idea of how to use social media when I published my first book and it’s been a steep learning curve. Luckily the whole process intrigues me, so I taught myself about it and jumped in!
I think it’s fantastic that there are so many creative and supportive businesses out there. You all inspire me every day.
I thought your product photos were really wonderful tonight on #creativebizhour by the way!
Hi Liz – great blog – nicely organized! Have a great RRBC Spring Block Party fling! – MikeL
Thanks Mike:) I appreciate you joining the party!
A very insightful post, Lizzie. I am truly impressed by your accomplishments. Thank you for sharing this with us. Best wishes on your Block Party!
Thanks Beem. I was pretty young when I started my first business, so I’ve had a loooooooooong time to cram a lot of my madcap ideas into my daily routine. At least now I put them into my books instead of starting the businesses myself. My parents can breathe a sigh of relief! Lol:)
Wow, Lizzie you are one ambitious lady. I enjoyed learning more about your books and your insight on entrepreneurs.
Thanks Peggy. I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by.
I find your story fascinating how you started your own business with your own invention! Reading has taking me through many rough patches in life, but writing let’s me live there for a while. I am glad writing got you through a difficult time and now your daughter can take credit for your writing:) I really enjoyed “Finding Gina” and added “Love’s Child” to my kindle. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you stopping by today. I’m really pleased that you enjoyed reading Finding Gina. Let me know what you think of Love’s Child when you have read it too.
Both reading and writing take us to other worlds sometimes don’t they? I’m glad they have helped you through difficult times and that your days sound much brighter. Happy reading!
Hi Lizzie, beautiful and informative post. I am totally enjoying the Party. Thanks for sharing a little more about yourself. It’s fun getting to know the authors behind the pen. You did just that. Well done! Party on!
Thank you for joining me here today. It’s great fun hosting a party like this and meeting so many wonderful people is such a bonus!
I am always in awe of you, Lizzy! Your creativity and courage are just amazing, and on top of it all, you are a wonderful person – something that comes through loud and clear in this uplifting posting. ♥
Thank you for your kind words Gwen. I feel the same way about you!
Lovely post, Lizzie! I thoroughly enjoyed Babe Driven and your other books are waiting for me on my Kindle. Your drive amazes me. My husband, through the years, has come up with ideas for invention but never took them any farther than the drawing, idea stage.
Thanks Kim. I love the process of invention. It’s so exciting! One tip I would give to budding inventors, is to draw your designs and patent your idea in every possible format until it doesn’t work. This prevents anyone bringing anything similar to market.
What a fun post. Your passion comes through in the blog, and the blurbs.
Thank you so much! I really enjoy the process of seeing new ideas blossom into something real. It’s exciting and inspiring.
You’re an inspiration, Lizzie! I’ve started Babe Driven and it is so much fun! I love how you’ve managed to cram so much of the fun and creative into your work. Enjoy your party!
Thanks Linda! I’m really glad you’re enjoying Babe Driven. That book helped me so much and it holds a special place in my heart.
Every time I read one of your posts like this I come away with the feeling of “how does she do it all”.. you must never stop 🙂 Great post 🙂
Lol. Thank you for the compliment. I think the same way when I read about what you are doing next!
I am passionate about entrepreneurship and really enjoy new business and design, so being able to bring this all together in a book is a real joy.
Wonderful post, Lizzie. You are a woman who wears many hats and my hat is off to you for all of your accomplishments. Great prizes you are offering on your tour stop. Hope you have a great day!!
Thanks Jan! I think that all of the authors and business people I know all multi task so well. I’m just trying to keep up! 😀
Great post, Lizzie. I just finished reading and reviewing Babe Driven. It was a fun, flirty, sizzling beach read 🙂
Thanks Mae. I’m glad you enjoyed Babe Driven. I appreciate stopping by today. Enjoy the rest of the party!
Nice BLOG!!! ADD my BLOG too!!! Kisses!!!
Thank you for joining us today!
Awesome. Thank you for sharing! I love entrepreneurship and will have to get around to reading your books. Until then I’ve signed up to your email list 🙂
You’re so welcome! If you love entrepreneurship, then hopefully my books will make you smile. They are full of zany businesses and were such fun to write.
Thank you for signing up to my newsletter. It is sent out once a month and the next one will be full of my writing news, hints of the next business idea that is in my new book and marketing tips. Have a fun filled and creative week!
Sounds good! You too.
Thank you:)
Love that you are doing this and promoting women entrepreneurs! ❤
Thank you! I love entrepreneurship and the creativity it involves. Having the chance to weave this into my novels is a real pleasure!
I used to do the marketing for a women’s networking organisation and I met so many inspirational women doing so many amazing things. Was really something.
I often go to women in business networking meetings too. I’m always in awe of the talented ladies there and the variety of businesses they run is totally inspiring.
Thank you Lizzie for posting about your books. I hope my comment isn’t too early. I loved reading Finding Gina!
Thanks Mary. You’re not too early, as we have to post the night before so that the links can go live and be sent to RRBC. I really appreciate you stopping by. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed reading Finding Gina so much!
Thank you Lizzie. I hope to read your other books soon.
That’s great news! Thank you.
Welcome
Reblogged this on When Angels Fly.
Thank you for the fabulous reblog Mary!
Welcome Lizzie!