Rising Stars: Meet Natalie Edwards of Inland Empire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Edwards.

Hi Natalie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My background is actually in nursing. After over two decades of working in the healthcare field and pursuing my creative endeavors part time, I decided to retire from nursing and fully embrace my creative business ventures full time.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would have to say that the hardest thing was working full time as a nurse while running a part time creative business (flowers/event design/party rentals/candy and cakes). Anything creative comes very easily to me, just like how the story for my debut children’s book, Fifi, The Miracle Dragon came to me. I was making Spanish rice for my family on a Thursday evening. As the rice began to brown I thought to myself, what if everyone had their own dragon? Suddenly words, images and scenes began to flood my thoughts—I immediately knew that I had something here. I wrote the manuscript for my book the very next day. I sat in my manuscript for a for about a year before deciding to self publish. The one obstacle I faced was getting my book out there to all of the beautiful souls that I wanted to share it with. Once I made the decision to self publish with my book being available online globally, I knew I made the right decision and I haven’t looked back since.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I mentioned shortly before, I am a retired nurse and worked in the healthcare field for over twenty years. In tandem with my nursing career, I have always had a part time business dealing with something creative. The creative business began with working with brides in the Inland Empire to create beautiful floral bouquets and arrangements for their wedding day. (I also had an online candy business where I specialized in handmade toffee in 12 different flavors along with specialty cakes). This creative business has morphed into my present day event rental business—Ambiance Event Rentals— www.aerevents.com., a boutique event rental business serving the Fontana/Inland Empire area, where I am the owner and creative director. Writing an award winning children’s book has been the icing on the cake! I would love to offer Fifi, The Miracle Dragon themed birthday party packages for children to enjoy—That is definitely in the works! I believe that what I am known for, and what my business is know for is treating people and with kindness and treating them like family. I am proud of winning the Golden Wizard Book Prize for my Fifi, The Miracle Dragon book , but I am most proud of being a positive role model to my son, my nieces and my nephews. I always tell them “Do what makes you happy and the money will follow—your happiness is the most important thing and the happier you are, the healthier you will be!!

What makes you happy?
Coffee!! Coffee makes me happy!!! But after coffee, planning fun parties, deep diving into the world of Fifi, The Miracle Dragon to complete a book series for children to enjoy globally and spending time with my family. In a nutshell, I love the freedom that being a business creative affords me and I love spending time with my family. So, coffee, creative freedom, and family make me happy.

Pricing:

• Fifi, The Miracle Dragon (Hardback) $18.99 online at Amazon, Barnes and Target, and most online bookstores
• Fifi, The Miracle Dragon (E-book Amazon) $6.99
• Fifi, The Miracle Dragon (paperback) $14.99
• Ambiance Event Rentals—serving the inland empire- Lowest Prices on Chiavari Chair rental $5.00 each

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aerevents.com
• Instagram: @fifithemiracledragon
• Other: Instagram: @ambianceeventrentals