Published on 1st April 2025

Dee Blick is a chartered marketer with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Having written best-selling books and establishing a successful business, The Marketing Gym, she has now penned her first work of fiction, The Boutique. AAH met Dee at her Horsham home to find out more…

Tell us about The Boutique...

The Boutique is a collection of short stories, each focusing on an individual character connected to the eponymous women’s fashion shop. I have been developing the characters for several years, gradually creating a story arch for each of them. I wanted something to connect them so that their stories intertwined, and the shop gave me an outlet to do that.  

Is The Boutique inspired by a real place?

When I was a little girl, my aunt used to manage a shop called The Cottage Boutique and it was fascinating. It attracted incredible, glamorous women with strong personalities and I loved watching and listening to them. When it came to the book, I initially thought about linking my characters through a slimming club, as I wanted to be able to introduce them slowly before adding depth in their own chapter. However, my friend Joshua suggested a fashion boutique. Immediately, I knew it was perfect, as it brought back memories of my aunt’s shop.  

What themes does the book tackle?

The Boutique tackles hard-hitting issues including homophobia, coercive control, bullying and addiction. I never wanted to write a fluffy rom-com and the book confronts dark themes, but there are lighter moments too that focus on philanthropy and love in later life. The characters are inspired by people I have met and respect or have made a lasting impression on me. There are nine stories – one man and eight women – ranging from twenty-somethings to one woman in her seventies, tackling issues that impact us at different times of life in a relatable way. 

Is there an autobiographical element?

There is one character that is me, almost to a tee. I made a conscious decision to share my story. Many people know me as a businesswoman who has enjoyed a degree of success. I know that I can appear to be very confident when speaking to an audience, and at times that is how I feel. But there is another side of me that has gone to hell and back and I was able to draw on that experience to tell the story of one woman’s recovery from alcohol addiction.

Was writing that chapter hard?

There were times when I was writing in tears, as it brought back painful memories. There was a time when my drinking almost cost me my marriage, but I recovered through a 12-step fellowship programme and have been sober now for 26 years. So, I can write with experience, which meant I could shape a character that was not a heroine, but a flawed individual with traits that readers can hopefully relate to.  

You have had success with some of your previous books…

I have written four books on small business marketing. The first was Powerful Marketing on a Shoestring Budget, but I still had Learner plates on at that stage. My second book, The Ultimate Small Business Marketing Book, was much more accessible and its success changed my life. It reached No.150 on Amazon’s list of best-selling books in the world and remained at the top of the Small Business Marketing chart for five years. The Chartered Institute of Marketing also made it their book of the month, which garnered attention from the business community and launched my career in public speaking. 

Your books have also been translated...

Having self-published my second book through Filament Publishing in Croydon, it went on to sell 20,000 copies. The publisher received a request from Asia and the book was translated into a beautiful book for the Chinese market. I can’t read a word of it, but it takes pride of place on my bookshelf! Having grown up living in a council house, it felt crazy to suddenly be making deals with publishers on the other side of the world! 

Is your success down to the books or your marketing skills?

Undoubtedly, my marketing knowledge propelled the books along. However, I know the books have had a positive impact on readers from the reviews. They connect with people as I write in layman’s terms, without getting bogged down in jargon. You often see new books become best-sellers, but they tumble down the charts quickly without positive word-of-mouth. The longevity of my books is something I’m proud of, as it shows that I have written something that has real value. Nobody writes a book for headlines or money; you write in the hope that it will resonate with people.

This is your first work of fiction…

I thought it would be easier, as a first-time novelist, to write self-contained short stories, rather than maintaining a thread throughout a novel. I have been plotting stories and developing characters for a long time, but it was only last year that I finally decided to put pen to paper. Everything you read informs your own writing, but the author that has most inspired me is Enid Blyton. When I was young, I had a voracious appetite for reading her books and that passion sent me on the path to becoming an author.

What are your hopes for the book? 

I hope it will be a best-seller, like some of my other books. Although I have self-published through Kindle Direct on Amazon, I have worked once again with Filament to produce a high-quality paperback. When it comes to the written word, it is vitally important that it is produced the right way. For that, you need a good editor and a professional sleeve design. I want to show people that you can self-publish a book that wouldn’t look out of place in Waterstones, next to those from a top publishing house. 

Presumably, marketing the book shouldn’t be a problem!

There are many talented authors whose books do not see the light of day as they lack understanding of how to promote them. You need to be a writer and a marketer. Even when working with a major publishing house, you still have to get out there and work hard to sell your product.  After launching the book at The Bear in Horsham, I will be talking to local WI groups and at Billilit (Billingshurst literary festival) to promote further signings. AAH is mentioned in one of my stories too and I’m thrilled to finally be featured in the magazine! I find that publicity often leads to something else, as you build a portfolio that opens new doors. That is where a lot of authors fall down, but I’m determined to give the book every chance to connect with readers and be a success. 

WORDS: BEN MORRIS / PHOTOS: ALAN WRIGHT FOR AAH

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The Boutique is available on Kindle and in paperback on Amazon.