Guest post: Lizzie Chantree

I am delighted to welcome Lizzie Chantree back to my blog, to talk about her writing story, and her brand new business venture. If you’re looking for Christmas gifts for bookish types, look no further! Take it away, Lizzie…

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Hello everyone! My name is Lizzie Chantree and I am a contemporary romance author and writing mentor.

When I was nineteen, I had been making my own products for a while and had a design background, so I decide to set up my shop. I had been unemployed for six months and had no real investment, but was determined to try. I began with a market stall which evolved into two shops and a wholesale business, where I exhibited my products at trade shows and sold them all over the world. During this time, I also invented a product called Runaway Spray, which prevents further running, or ‘ladders’ in hosiery, which won me an award at the Female Inventor Of The Year competition, run by Fair Play London and The Patent Office.

After running my business for many years, my daughter became unwell and I wanted to be close to home.  Writing my first book during this time kept me awake (and eased my anxiety) at night so that I could hear her breathing. Hiding the manuscript for five years until my daughter’s health improved seemed like a good idea, as I was unknown as a writer.

Publishing my first novel took me on a journey of creativity and discovery and rocketed my book into the bestseller lists, which I was completely astounded by. During this time, I became part of the reading and writing communities and found mentors, friends and people just like me. Writing can be isolating, which is why I started mentoring other writers and began a book group on Facebook called Lizzie’s Book Group and a community writing group called Writing Buddies, near where I live in Essex, U.K.

At the end of last year, I looked for an agent and was lucky to find one quickly. Working with Nicky at WGM Atlantic Talent & Literary has been really exciting. Getting the manuscript ready and then waiting while the book is on submission takes time and anxiety can easily build. I knew I needed to refocus my mind and look after my mental health, so I combined my two passions! I have designed a selection of book and writing themed gifts, t-shirts and hoodies with readers and writers in mind. I opened my online shop in November 2024 and it has been a whirlwind ever since, but in the best way.

My products are organic and sustainable and even the printers are green powered and the packaging is plastic free. I love the thought of writers drinking tea, or coffee, from one of my sustainable mugs, or readers curled up in their reading snugs, at the library, or popping to the bookstore, whilst wearing one of my bookish t-shirts. I write books to make people smile and now I’m hoping that I can do that with my fashion and homeware ranges too.

Most roads to publication can be so rewarding, but when someone asks me which path they should follow, I tell them to follow their heart.

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International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, has been featured on television and radio. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, BookBub, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.

Lizzie’s book links:

The little ice cream shop: viewbook.at/IceCreamShopByTheSea

The little cupcake shop: viewbook.at/LittleCupcakeShopBySea

My Perfect Ex: viewbook.at/MyPerfectEx

The One That He Wants: https://mybook.to/TheOneThatHeWants

The Eternal Bachelor: https://mybook.to/TheEternalBachelor

If you love me, I’m yours: mybook.to/IfYouLoveMe

The Eternal Bachelor: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDC1TK2W

Ninja School Mum: viewbook.at/NinjaSchoolMumRomance

Babe Driven: viewbook.at/BabeDriven

Love’s Child: viewBook.at/Amazon-LovesChild

Finding Gina: viewbook.at/FindingGina

Shh… It’s Our Secret: https://www.bhcpress.com/Books_Chantree_Shh_Its_Our_Secret.html

The woman who felt invisible: viewbook.at/InvisibleWoman

Networking for writers: viewbook.at/NetworkingForWriters

Ice Cream Shop Series: https://mybook.to/IceCreamShopSeries

Cherry Blossom Lane Series: https://mybook.to/CherryBlossomLane