Wishing Shelf Book Award WINNER! – Comic Memoir – ‘Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper’

Back in March, I discovered that my latest memoir, Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper had been chosen as a finalist in the Adult Non-Fiction section of the Wishing Shelf Book Awards!

I was delighted to get so far in an international book award, and felt anything else was purely icing and cherries on top…

When the winners were announced on 1st April 2025, I got icing, cherries – and a MASSIVE scoop of ice cream – when I found Building The Beast had WON bronze in its adult non-fiction category!

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards is run by award-winning children’s author Billy Bob Buttons (Edward Trayer), who says, “I want this award to be where the ‘big boy’ publishers go when they want to find the next bestseller.”

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards is recommended by ALLi, the Alliance of Independent Authors, and also supports a very worthy cause, Blind Children UK. If you are an author, you can enter the 2025 Wishing Shelf Book Awards here. It costs just £59/$75 to enter the awards, or £109/$140 if you want feedback, quotes, and reviews on Bookbub.com and Goodreads.

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards is different from other book awards.

1. Firstly, Edward says, “We think this Award is the only independent book award run by an independently published author.”
2. It is the only independent book award judged by schools and groups of readers who love to read, and not by anonymous so-called experts.
3. It is also the only independent book award which is not ‘in it for the cash’. Wishing Shelf is not the front for a dodgy vanity press which plans to sell you lots of stuff. “You will not be charged for the certificate or asked to buy dodgy stickers for the cover of your winning book. I will not be trying to sell you a bogus editorial service, a licensing fee, or promise to publish the winners’ books if you pay me a ton of cash. If you win, you win. The entry fee is there to cover the costs of the Award, not to fill the pockets of the organisers.”

Building The Beast has already been awarded a Readers’ Favorite 5* Seal and was a finalist in the memoir section of the Page Turner Awards 2024. Click HERE to read the Readers’ Favorite review.

I am pleased to say that I am still working on the sequel, More Manchester Than Mongolia, and hope to release it later in 2025, although recent events, where my husband skied off the side of a mountain on my birthday, mean I have had little time to write, because I have been a full-time slave to Mark and The Fab Four. As Mark regains mobility, progress should resume!

Reviews for Building The Beast

Reedsy Discovery found it ‘Delightful, humorous and filled with vivid imagery‘, and said:

If you’re looking for a quirky & intelligent read about going on the road…this is an excellent choice.

Review by Reedsy Discovery

Award-Winning Author Valerie Poore also reviewed an advance copy of Building The Beast and shared her five star review on her excellent blog, Marvellous Memoirs Reviews and links.

“Written with lively wit and understated humour…A great read, as always and I look forward to more of their adventures.”

Valerie Poore, Award-Winning Author

Read Valerie’s full review of Building The Beast HERE.

Why Not Subscribe to My New Author Website!

I recently launched a dedicated author website, JacquelineLambert.co.uk where you can find book news and writing tips.

Why not check out my recent posts, such as a guest post from author Peter Barber: Publish and Be Damned: How I Got Scammed, Learned My Lesson, and Came Out Fighting?

Shortly, I plan to publish a post on whether everyone has a book in them, or how to work out which book awards are worth entering.

Posts you might have missed include What Goes Into A Book Launch Campaign, or Coddiwomple: A Purposeful Mosey Through The English Language.

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Come And Meet The Beast!

We are on show at a number of UK events during May/June, so why not come along and see us?!

At the beginning of May, you will find us in the Self Build area of the Campervan Campout Festival in Ardingly in Sussex, where I will be giving a talk, Log, Blog, Vlog: Crafting Captivating Travel Stories which will explore how creatives in the travel niche—journallers, bloggers, or YouTubers—can elevate their storytelling. Although I am an author, I will discuss storytelling techniques which will make your travel narratives immersive and compelling, regardless of the medium.

Towards the end of May, we will be in the Adventure Vehicle Zone at the Bushcraft Show in Lutterworth. For 10% Off Tickets – Visit https://bushcraftmagazine.com/tickets and input code JL10 at checkout.

Then in early June, you can find us at the National 4×4 Festival & Camper Festival at Stratford-upon-Avon.

For a full roundup of campervan-related shows and events, see my post 2025 UK Van Life Festivals, RV, Caravan, Camper, Motorhome, Overlanding & Self-Build Events.

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