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Are you in San Diego and looking for something fun to do on Saturday afternoon? Join us tomorrow in La Jolla for a special perfume testing event from 4-7 pm with the new club, .

Co-Founder Francois Duquesne will be speaking about the art of perfumery and the world’s top perfumers who are contributing their unique creations to the Fragrance Republic. It’s such a fascinating concept–every month a different perfumer creates a one-of-a-kind perfume for the club members.

If you have a passion for perfume and are looking for exclusive perfumes no one else is wearing, this is for you.

Francois is a dear friend and a remarkable Renaissance man. Among his many accomplishments, he was president of L’Artisan Parfumeur and Erno Laszlo. And his beautiful wife Celeste is a Hollywood makeup artist who counts many celebrities among her clients � she’s also an accomplished actress.

The event is at a private home and there’s no charge, so if you want to join us, send me a message or make a comment below and I’ll give you the address and put you on the RSVP list. I’ll be saying a few words, too. Should be fabulous! Hope to see you there!

For more info, click theÌýÌýto learn more.

If you can’t make it, I’ll be sharing an interview with Francois here later…so stay tuned!

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Recently I had the opportunity in this Author and Entrepreneur Interview series to talk with Ruth Mancini about her book, . Ruth is an attorney, mother, and author who lives in England, so it was a real treat to push back the curtain and learn how Ruth juggled these roles and tackled herÌýentrepreneurialÌýwriting career.Ìý

Here’s the set-up for Swimming Upstream:

“After seven years, Lizzie wonders whether she’s truly happy with her long-term boyfriend. When one wrong step and a chance meeting set off an unexpected chain of events, her life begins to unravel. On the same day that she meets Martin, an attractive lifeguard, her old friend, Catherine, re-appears. But is Martin really all he seems? And what is the secret that Catherine is hiding? As Lizzie struggles to confront the ghosts of her past, can she survive the shocking twist that will change the course of her future?

Ìý

“Swimming Upstream is a life-affirming and often humorous story about a young woman’s pursuit of happiness. It is also a story of female friendship, love, and divided loyalties � and the moral choices that we find ourselves making when the chips are down.�
What inspired you to write Swimming Upstream?

Author Ruth Mancini

I wrote Swimming Upstream after a painful relationship break up. I had ended the relationship because I wasn’t happy, yetÌýstill had strong feelings for my ex-partner and was unable to move on. A lot of issues from my past came rearing up to haunt me and I felt that I needed to deal with these issues before getting into another romantic relationship. But it was really hard doing that alone. I’d never really been alone, having left home and jumped straight into a long-term relationship. I’ve been an avid reader all my life and I wanted to read something similar to what I was going through, to know that someone had been through what I had and survived. I read some self-help books, but couldn’t find a novel that had issues that I could relate to. So I decided to write one!

What’s your book about and what is the genre?

It’s a women’s fiction novel. It’s been described as “Thinking Women’s ChickLit.� It’s the story of a woman who finds herself unhappy with her long-term relationship and with her life, despite having achieved all the things that she thought would make her happy. Then a series of unexpected events begins to change her life for ever. It’s very much inspired by the events in my own life. But I also wanted to write a story with lots of drama. I love psychological thrillers so I wanted to create a story that had some of that aspect to it, too.

Is there a theme in your book that holds special meaning for you?

Yes. The central theme of the novel is that being who you truly are and knowing your own truths is the key to happiness. That means a lot to me, partly because of my own life experiences, but also as a woman. I think women historically have been expected to conform to a certain ideal created by society and have had to fight hard to change that.

Are there places or settings in your book that hold a special meaning for you?

Most of the story is set in parts of London where I studied and lived for many years. I love London. It’s an amazing city. I live in Oxford now, but I have to have my London “fix� every few weeks!

When did you begin writing? Is this your first book?

I started writing as a child and always loved the feeling it gave me. Swimming Upstream is my first novel. I wrote the first draft more than twenty years ago. I shelved it for several years while I did other things � trained as a lawyer, got married, and had children.

Where can people find your book?

It’s available on , Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

Where and when do you write the best?

I write at home, preferably without a child yelling “I want my breakfast� � which one of them has just done! Excuse me a moment�

Can you tell us about your recent book deal?

Yes, I’m so excited about it. I submitted the manuscript to Booktrope on a bit of a whim several months ago after chatting online to another author, Gale Martin, who told me that they published her book and that they were currently open for submissions. I submitted mine, but didn’t hear anything for some time. Finally, they offered a deal to me in September after my publicist approached them and “sold� me to them.

What was the most effective way you marketed ?

I did a couple of big free promotions early, and I spent time on Twitter making friends and chatting with other authors and readers. I also did an interview with the BBC. But I have to say that it’s a lot of hard work doing that, as well as working as a lawyer, running a business with my husband, and raising the children. One of my kids is disabled and needs a lot of extra help.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

If you don’t have too much time and you can afford it� hire a publicist! Sarka-Jonae at SJ Publicity is in charge of marketing my book at Booktrope, but she also acted as my publicist before I got the deal and she has saved me a lot of time and effort.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a sequel to . It wasn’t something I had originally planned but so many readers had commented that they loved the story and would like to see a sequel. I realised how much I’d like to spend time with Lizzie (the central character) and her friends again. And then the ideas started to flow�

Thank you, Ruth! Be sure to check out and follow her on Twitter .

Ìý

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Recently I had the opportunity in this Entrepreneur Interview series to talk with Ruth Mancini about her book, . Ruth is an attorney, mother, and author who lives in England, so it was a real treat to push back the curtain and learn how Ruth juggled these roles and tackled herÌýentrepreneurialÌýwriting career.Ìý

Here’s the set-up for Swimming Upstream:

“After seven years, Lizzie wonders whether she’s truly happy with her long-term boyfriend. When one wrong step and a chance meeting set off an unexpected chain of events, her life begins to unravel. On the same day that she meets Martin, an attractive lifeguard, her old friend, Catherine, re-appears. But is Martin really all he seems? And what is the secret that Catherine is hiding? As Lizzie struggles to confront the ghosts of her past, can she survive the shocking twist that will change the course of her future?

Ìý

“Swimming Upstream is a life-affirming and often humorous story about a young woman’s pursuit of happiness. It is also a story of female friendship, love, and divided loyalties � and the moral choices that we find ourselves making when the chips are down.�
What inspired you to write Swimming Upstream?

Author Ruth Mancini

I wrote Swimming Upstream after a painful relationship break up. I had ended the relationship because I wasn’t happy, yetÌýstill had strong feelings for my ex-partner and was unable to move on. A lot of issues from my past came rearing up to haunt me and I felt that I needed to deal with these issues before getting into another romantic relationship. But it was really hard doing that alone. I’d never really been alone, having left home and jumped straight into a long-term relationship. I’ve been an avid reader all my life and I wanted to read something similar to what I was going through, to know that someone had been through what I had and survived. I read some self-help books, but couldn’t find a novel that had issues that I could relate to. So I decided to write one!

What’s your book about and what is the genre?

It’s a women’s fiction novel. It’s been described as “Thinking Women’s ChickLit.� It’s the story of a woman who finds herself unhappy with her long-term relationship and with her life, despite having achieved all the things that she thought would make her happy. Then a series of unexpected events begins to change her life for ever. It’s very much inspired by the events in my own life. But I also wanted to write a story with lots of drama. I love psychological thrillers so I wanted to create a story that had some of that aspect to it, too.

Is there a theme in your book that holds special meaning for you?

Yes. The central theme of the novel is that being who you truly are and knowing your own truths is the key to happiness. That means a lot to me, partly because of my own life experiences, but also as a woman. I think women historically have been expected to conform to a certain ideal created by society and have had to fight hard to change that.

Are there places or settings in your book that hold a special meaning for you?

Most of the story is set in parts of London where I studied and lived for many years. I love London. It’s an amazing city. I live in Oxford now, but I have to have my London “fix� every few weeks!

When did you begin writing? Is this your first book?

I started writing as a child and always loved the feeling it gave me. Swimming Upstream is my first novel. I wrote the first draft more than twenty years ago. I shelved it for several years while I did other things � trained as a lawyer, got married, and had children.

Where can people find your book?

It’s available on , Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

Where and when do you write the best?

I write at home, preferably without a child yelling “I want my breakfast� � which one of them has just done! Excuse me a moment�

Can you tell us about your recent book deal?

Yes, I’m so excited about it. I submitted the manuscript to Booktrope on a bit of a whim several months ago after chatting online to another author, Gale Martin, who told me that they published her book and that they were currently open for submissions. I submitted mine, but didn’t hear anything for some time. Finally, they offered a deal to me in September after my publicist approached them and “sold� me to them.

What was the most effective way you marketed ?

I did a couple of big free promotions early, and I spent time on Twitter making friends and chatting with other authors and readers. I also did an interview with the BBC. But I have to say that it’s a lot of hard work doing that, as well as working as a lawyer, running a business with my husband, and raising the children. One of my kids is disabled and needs a lot of extra help.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

If you don’t have too much time and you can afford it� hire a publicist! Sarka-Jonae at SJ Publicity is in charge of marketing my book at Booktrope, but she also acted as my publicist before I got the deal and she has saved me a lot of time and effort.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a sequel to . It wasn’t something I had originally planned but so many readers had commented that they loved the story and would like to see a sequel. I realised how much I’d like to spend time with Lizzie (the central character) and her friends again. And then the ideas started to flow�

Thank you, Ruth! Be sure to check out and follow her on Twitter .

Ìý

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How many people can say they received their first on-screen kiss from a famous Hollywood actor? In honor of Valentine’s Day and Flashback Friday, I thought we’d have a little fun today on the blog. Rummaging through some old video clips of a morning television show I once hosted, I came across this clip of an interview I did with actor Robert Stack â€� whose credits include Emmy Award-winning television series The Untouchables and Unsolved Mysteries, movies such asÌýThe High and The MightyÌýwith John Wayne, and Written on the Wind, and even parodies Airplane and Caddyshack II.

I caught up with Robert Stack when he had a Golden Palm Tree star dedication on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. He was such a dynamic, charismatic man, and an incredible gentleman. I felt a little like actress Deanna Durbin, with whom he starred in his first movie called First Love. Stack was the first actor to give him an on-screen kiss, which was pretty steamy in 1939 (how quaint!).

At the end of my interview with Stack, he surprised me with a kiss. ÌýWatch the clip and see what happens! Oh, and pleeeez forgive me that dreadful hairstyle! At least I’m wearing Valentine’s Day redâ€�.

I’m using some of the experiences I had both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in Beverly Hills in an upcoming book. Sign up to stay tuned!

Ìý

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It’s easy to fall in love with Paris, and many of the best contemporary novels set in France celebrate love â€� or at least, a love affair with France. In this installment of books set in France, you’ll find a multitude of genres, including literary fiction,Ìýsuspense, mystery, young adult, and mainstream fiction. Earlier lists in this blog featureÌý, as well as a general list of favorite .

The first post about books set in France garnered so many comments and suggestions that I promised to follow-up with books gleaned from readers� comments, along with a few of my personal favorites.

Ìý

Contemporary Novels Set in France

This list features several book series set in France, such as those from Cara Black, Laura Florand, and Stephen Clarke. For these I’ve included the first book in the series, but subsequent titles deserve exploration, too.

Each of these authors captures different nuances about France. For example, M.J. Rose explores perfumery, while Laura Florand delves into chocolate making. Stephanie Perkins captures the young adult experience in Paris.ÌýCara Black’s forte is murder, and Stephen Clarke’s books will have you laughing out loud in no time. And who can resist the suspense of Dan Brown?

The next list will feature readersâ€� favorite memoirs andÌýnonfiction books on style, perfume, and culinary delights. Stay tuned for more by following this blog, and be sure to leave your cherished books in the comments!

Ìý

Ìý

ÌýÌýby Corine Gantz

ÌýÌýby Patricia Engel

by Dan Brown

by Cara Black

Ìýby Ellen Sussman

Ìý by Laura Florand

by Elizabeth Bard

Ìýby Susan Conley

Ìýby Stephen Clarke

Ìýby Stephanie Perkins

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

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Paris is a city of artistic inspiration for writers, painters, and dreamers alike. Is it any wonder why legions of literary folks have succumbed to her beauty?ÌýSome of the world’s most cherished books are set in Paris, or other parts of France; in fact, an earlier post on has been one of the most popular articles here on the blog. This second feature covers historical fiction â€� classics and new books alike.

Most travellers agree that Paris deserves a return trip. In fact, each time I travel to France, I fall in love just a little bit more. The same could be said for many places I love to visit, but France holds a special place in my heart due to the work I’ve done in perfumery and the books I’ve written about it.

For this return to the literary shelves I gathered books readers have recommended. And yes, keep those recommendations coming�

Historical Novels Set in France

On this list you’ll find beloved classics as well as new historical fiction. Soon I’ll post a list for contemporary books set in France (fabulous new novels), and still another for nonfiction (cooking, wine, and style), so stay tuned. Better yet, follow along so you won’t miss a thing.

As I writer, I solemnly promise to uphold this literary tradition (someone has to travel to Paris to write, n’est-ce pas?). France and French culture seeps into many of my writings, from perfumery, to fashion, to art. Be sure to sign up on my mailing list â€� myÌý will whisk you back to Paris, too, naturellement. Plus, you’ll discover one of my favorite hotels in Parisâ€�.

For those of you who are new to this lively discussion, check out the first, too. Don’t forget to add your favorite nonfiction or novels set in France to the comment section, too. And now, in no particular order, your fellow readers� favorites:

Ìý

by Kathleen Tessaro

ÌýÌýby Tatiana de Rosnay

Ìýby Stephanie Cowell

by Edward Rutherfurd

ÌýÌýby Julie Orringer

ÌýÌýby Jennie Fields

ÌýÌýby Charles Belfoure

Ìý by Ernest Hemingway

ÌýÌýby Patrick Suskind

ÌýÌýby Lisa Appignanesi

ÌýÌýby Victor Hugo (andÌý)

Ìýby Jennifer Robson

by Carolyn Hart

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

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A big shout out today to Emily Chase Smith, who invited me to chat with her on her highly rated podcast show, , which is also available on or as an .

Emily is a fellow entrepreneur, as well as an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy. As she says, her unique mission is to be a lighthouse to entrepreneurs, to help them avoid the rocks and regain their true course with dignity.Ìý

As two people who are really passionate about what we do, our discussion ran the gamut. We shared what it’s like to start a company, how to retain clients, and how to attract and manage a business with venture capital.

Self-Publishing & Traditional Publishing

We spoke about self-publishing and landing a traditional publishing deal. You’ll hear the story of my early self-publishing experience with 10,000 unit print runs. Technology has certainly changed this corner of the world for the better.

The Entrepreneurial Journey

Emily asked about my entrepreneurial journey with Scentsa, the company I founded, whose technology was recently sold to Sephora. You’ll hear us talk about the importance of serving your clients after the sale.

Venture Capital Advice

Emily inquired about what an entrepreneur should consider before bringing on venture capital, and also asked meÌýto share some advice for those who are starting down the venture capital path. We talked about my new venture,Ìý, which includes for start-ups, solo-preneurs, and small businesses.

All in all, Emily really rocks in the small business arena, and we had a great time chatting. Come join us!

is someone I truly admire; be sure to subscribe to her podcast series,Ìý.

Ìý

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If you’re new to content marketing, one way to build an email list is to offer a free white paper, or research article, when a reader enters their email address on your site.Ìý A white paper is a B2B marketing tool, an information-packed report which addresses a problem and proposes a solution. Well-researched and well-written, these are long form authoritative works often used in technical circles. Today, these are being used more frequently in the marketing arena.

One tool that savvy marketers should look at isÌý,Ìýwhich offers a technology designed especially for marketers that allows white papers to be read seamlessly across platforms, meaning that you can read a white paper on your smartphone or tablet as easily as on your computer. (Ever tried to read an article that’s not optimized for your tablet or phone? How embarrassing, particularly if it was your boss was trying to read itâ€�)

Readz can support efforts in a world where reading on multiple devices is the norm rather than the exception, and includes analytics and SEO without IT involvement.

1. State the Objective

What do you want to accomplish in this white paper? Will it be use to build an email list? Or, will it be disseminated in a media campaign as well? Make sure your focus is in alignment.

2. Determine the Target Audience

Consider your target audience or market, and speak their language. Instead of telling them how great you are, tell them how you’ve solved a problem that they might be experiencing. Why should they register with you?

3. Select a White Paper Subject

For example, if you wish to build an email list with a white paper, make sure you’ll be speaking to clients that you want. Make sure your company can solve their problem.

4. Compile Third Party Sources

Unrelated, third party data that supports your position will heighten the credibility of the white paper.

5. Write with Purpose: Concise, Organized, Persuasive

Keep your writing short and well-organized with headings and images that quickly convey information and credibility.

6. State a Call to Action

What do want to achieve? Don’t leave it to chance. Clearly state the action at the end of the paper. For example, can you offer a free trial or analysis?

7. Determine Methods of Distribution

Will you disseminate the white paper through traditional media,an online campaign, social media, podcast, or webinar? Determine how you will drive traffic to the site to download the white paper.ÌýSites such asÌýÌýandÌýÌýcan distribute technical white papers to a targeted audience.

The development of a white paper is an important component in a content marketing strategy plan. Follow the Readz blog for moreÌýÌýand advantages over PDF usage.

Ìý

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When the was made in the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital and Women’s Wear Daily that Sephora, the beauty retail giant, had acquired Scentsa, a technology I’d envisioned and guided to market, many people asked me: what’s Scentsa?

Scentsa is a touch-screen technology, an in-store retail experience, a digital shopper’s guide, an on-screen experience, a training guide for salespeople, a link to mobile marketing and social media…all this and more.

In my mind, it was a rich, multifaceted idea.

A Founder’s Story

So, if a picture tells a thousand words, I figured a video must be worth about a million. I thought I’d share this crazy idea I had one night that grew into a multimillion dollar idea. You see, it all starts with the idea. This is an example of what I call a Rich Idea.

Why “rich� and not “big?� Because a big idea is just big. “Rich� means wealth not only in terms of money, but also in terms of impact. The more people you impact, or serve, the better. That’s the “love� a business should create.

(Want to see Scentsa in action? Click here or on the image above to see the really cool on YouTube.)

Scentsa Began as a Book

Since I’ve asked others to share their entrepreneurial stories, I thought I’d share mine, too.ÌýI had written a book that was a guide to perfume called ,Ìýwhich has a story of its own, too. Unable to sell it to traditional publishers, I decided to print and distribute it myself. This was old-school time, back when the minimum cost-effective print run was 10,000.

So, with my first 10,000 copies of a gorgeous hardcover book in hand, I proceeded to sell it into the major retailers, including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Dayton Hudson, as well as to booksellers through Ingram and other book distributors.

Imagine my surprise when it hit the top ten bestseller list at Rizzoli Bookstore.

Going Digital with a Touch Screen Application

Fast forward a few years: I had a huge database of fragrances by now, and thought, wouldn’t it be cool it you could look up any fragrance you wanted on a sleek touch screen applicationÌýand find those in stock in the store, and then learn all about them? Or, enter what you’re wearing, and voila, it would recommend other, similar perfumes in store and in stock based on what you already liked? Thus was born Scentsa.

I’d worked as a programmer back in the dark ages, so I knew a thing or two about manipulating data and files. I guided the creative and software development for the kiosks, built a team withÌýmy husband, and we were off and running with our touch screen application.

After a few months of testing and tweaking, Scentsa became a hit. We rolled out the touch screen application Ìýchain wide to a few hundred Sephora stores in the U.S. and Canada, then to Mexico, Brazil, France, and Denmark.

Sephora’s LVMH sister company, DFS, gave it a go in Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and other airport locations. We traveled, we trained, we shared.

From perfume, we went into skincare, makeup, haircare…and then jewelry, pet supplies, and golf gear. Anything that had a complex buying decision could be Scentsa-tized.

Scentsa won a few for technology, including one from Cisco and The Fragrance Foundation, a FiFi. Really, how many technology folks can say they won a FiFi?

Building Creativity

Along the way we created mobile and tablet applications, too. We also createdÌýanother company and installed about four hundred screens for digital advertising into Barnes & Noble college book stores.

We hired and trained great people, and had Friday barbecues and go-cart races, water gun assaults and Halloween makeup sessions. We had fun, created value, and delivered a great product with excellent, friendly service.

It was on some of those long journeys that I began to write novels, too. Creativity in one area often breeds creativity in another. And it helped soothe the bruises along the way.

Rich Ideas

As a born entrepreneur, I love to share the entrepreneurial journey with others. That’s the basis of my new book,Ìý. Let’s share stories; let’s explore this entrepreneurial path together.

Whether you’re a writer, designer, inventor, or consultant…whatever title you give yourself, if you’re in business for yourself, you’re an entrepreneur. Whoa, not yet, you say? Okay, and we’ll take you along for the ride. And when you’re ready to make the leap, we’ll be here for you.

There you have it, from beauty to book to business, now you know the story of my entrepreneurial genesis. I’ll save my early childhood business for another episode�

If anyone wants to talk about touch screen applications or really gorgeous GUI, give me a jingle.

Love to hear what you’re working on, too. And if you’ve been to a Sephora store, did you ever use the touch screen application?

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

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Since I often escape the world to write at the beautiful on Dove Lane, I wanted to do something special for other library goers, and promote the local Bookstore shop there as well. It’s the season for giving, and I wanted to give back.

A couple of weeks ago I donated several hundred of my remaining title,Ìý, which was a Rizzoli Books bestselling guide to popular perfume. These hardcover books are brand new, shrink wrapped, and sold for $29. Now they are FREE with any bookstore purchase of just $5.

For many years (even the rocky ones) I’ve bought toys and books to donate during the holiday season to those less fortunate. Library bookstores are wonderful, because even if you’re on a budget, you can find new and almost new items there at great prices to share the love with others. My Carlsbad Library even has beautiful gift items and T-shirts. If you live elsewhere, donate toÌý, , your local nursing homes, shelters, and other aid groups. Take a look around.

And consider making book donations to libraries, or time or monetary donations. Many writers (like me), discovered their calling at the oasis of their local library.

Just imagine the happiness you’ll spread! It’s a surefire way to lift your spirits, and teach your children about appreciating what they have.

If you’d like to say hello, drop by my website atÌý, or follow my blog atÌý. Please to receive my every-so-often newsletter, where I’ll share more about my upcoming books and events.

Now, back to writing� I have two novels coming out in 2015 from . Read more about those on my websites. And yes, the first one is about a French perfumer�

Wishing all my friends theÌýhappiest ofÌýholidays!

PS: If you’re in San Diego, please reblog this and share the news!

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