Step into Lizzie Chantree’s world, where entrepreneurship met storytelling during a challenging period. Her first bestseller, “Babe Driven,” not only marked a shift in her career but also became a source of sunshine during a difficult time. Uncover the inspiration behind her narratives, infused with the dynamics of family life, resilience, and the spirited essence of girl power romance.
What inspired you to become a fiction author?
My daughter was unwell and I wanted to stay at home to be near her, so I closed down my business. I wrote my first book at night while I listened to her breathing. It took a year. I filled the story with the sunshine and happiness that was missing from my life at that time. I then hid the book in a cupboard for five years until my daughter’s health began to improve. This book was my first bestseller and it gave me a whole new career.
How do you find inspiration for your stories and characters?
I find inspiration all around me. It might be the way someone looks at the person next to them or the way a couple hold hands. My book, the little ice cream shop by the sea, was inspired by the kindness of strangers. I was sitting in a café as a waitress was consoling an elderly lady who was crying. After she left, I asked the waitress if her friend was okay. She said they’d never met before that day. It inspired a story about a young woman who was trying to save her family’s café. A lonely pensioner with a hidden past, comes into the café, and their lives become entwined. The friendship between them becomes something very special until trouble arrives, in the form of a dashing, but grumpy, grandson.
What has been your biggest challenge as a self-published author and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me was marketing my books and finding a readership. I have written a book about networking for writers and I believe this is what helped me to become a bestselling author with my very first book. Writing can be isolating, but there is a huge, welcoming, community of writers and readers, who love to support each other. It’s about surrounding yourself with your own network of book lovers and authors who all enjoy the same thing you do… books!
Who are some authors that have greatly influenced your writing and why?
I have always adored Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I will also always pick up a book by Katie, Fforde, Jilly Cooper and Marian Keyes who write beautiful romances with lots of drama and insights into family life. When I was at school I was astounded by The Hobbit, by J.R.R.Tolkien. I hadn’t ever read such a magical book before and couldn’t wait to turn page after page
How do you infuse your own life experiences into your narratives?
I ran my own business for over fifteen years before my daughter became unwell (she’s fine now). My romance reads are full of feisty entrepreneurs, so I get to pretend to run some pretty eclectic businesses, which is great fun! I also enjoy writing millionaire romances. In my books, the millionaires are often women, even if the other characters in the book don’t know that about them at the start. I write about women finding strength and courage, which is what I had to do while my child was unwell.
What keeps you motivated during the difficult periods in your writing process?
I’m motivated by nature and coffee! I love going for a walk with my dog when I need a creative boost. I also enjoy meeting friends or other creatives for a chat and a coffee. I always return to my desk full of energy and ready to put pen to paper.
What of your book(s) are you the most proudest of, and why?
I would say it is my first book, Babe Driven. This book is about an unassuming woman who has a very successful business, but someone inside her friendship group or family is trying to destroy it. The story is set on an exotic island and is full of glamour and fun. I wrote the book at a very hard time in my life, but the book brought its own sunshine to me, in the form of a brand new career!
What is your most recent book and/or what are you working on currently?
I have just published a book called The Eternal Bachelor. This is book three in my Cherry Blossom Lane series. Book 1 is called My Perfect Ex. Book 2 is called The One That He Wants. The series is about a group of former school friends and their journey to find love, which includes the local legendary ‘heartbreak brothers’.
I have just written the first book in a new series set on a steamboat by the river Thames.
Is there a book project you have in mind that you plan to write one day? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?
My next book will be book two of my latest series. The series is about three siblings who live near Windsor. Each book follows the story of one sibling and they get up to so much mischief! They have eccentric grandparents and I giggled a lot while writing book one, so I hope readers enjoy the series when it is out.
You can find Lizzie Chantree on her website, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on Facebook.
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