Making Waves

More than the true story of a daringly successful entrepreneur, MAKING WAVES will inspire the reader to take to heart the author's parting advice, "It's frightening to step into the unknown. But if you never risk it, you'll never know what might have been. And simply by taking that step, win or lose, you succeed." In 1975, Libby took a chance and, with her partners, started This End Up Furniture Comapany. The business began what would become the crate furniture phenomenon in America, and ultimately grew to a nationwide chain of 253 stores, 6 factories, 12 distribution centers and 2500 employees. When the company was sold in 1985, at 41 years old Libby found the choices for the rest of her life to be gloriously broad. Eight years of blue-water cruising between the Florida Keys and Venezuela aboard the 70-foot motor yacht "Crossroads" generated pleasure and terror in equal measure. With wanderlust sated, Libby and her husband then turned their assets and business acumen to developing a resort in the Bahamian out-islands. The Browns bought a 50-acre island of rock and ruined buildings, 75 miles from the nearest city, devoid of potable water, power or communications. Three and a half years of extraordinary will, work and wealth went into the little cay, the entrenched culture of the tropical island country and the inscrutable bureaucracy of the Bahamian government. In 2002, Fowl Cay Resort opened for business and showed Libby the backside of fortune.