There’s something wonderfully surreal about talking about your own writing journey while parked up somewhere on the road with dogs snoring in the background and a kettle threatening to boil over. But somehow, that’s exactly where life has led me.
Coinciding with our 10 Year Vanniversary, I’m delighted to be featured in the May edition of What’s Your Story the The Writing Wall’s eMagazine.
In the interview, I reveal how one of my award-winning travel books ended up in the hands of Prince – now King Charles III – and the British Ambassador for Romania.
All because of windsurfing, dogs, and a blog about toilets!
Today is a very special day. It is our 10 year Vanniversary! On 10th May 2016, a month after we accidentally bought our first ever caravan, Mark, The Fab Four and I hit the road full-time, and set off on a three year trip around Europe…
It all started when we went out one day to ‘just to look’ and accidentally bought a caravan. We already had a trusty tow vehicle and toy box, Big Blue – and couldn’t fit all our windsurfers, bikes, SUPs and skis in a motorhome!
So launch day had it’s own particular brand of glamour – and found me holed up in a geological feature, desperately trying to co-ordinate publicity with my internet signal leaping up and down like a kangaroo on a trampoline.
Who says this authoring business is all glamour? My launch day view of a Moroccan quarry – with dodgy internet. It was the only place we could find to park The Beast.
Then, en route to our return ferry crossing from Tanger Med, The Beast got a flat tyre!
It was the pawfect opportunity to put my birthday presents to use. A couple of years ago, Mark bought me a 20-tonne bottle jack and a pair of axle stands.
However, I suppose this is exactly what the book is about. Life on the road seldom goes to plan. It involves breakdowns, messy bits, unplanned detours, and moments when things go spectacularly wrong – usually at the most inconvenient moment.
Yet somehow, those become the best stories later.
We made it to the port. I’m not quite laughing yet, but I’m sure I shall!
The Beast with a flat tyre on the way to the ferry, Morocco
Nevertheless, the early feedback and reviews have made my day and in spite of everything, From B to A launched as a bestseller.
For a limited time, the ebook is still available at the special launch price of 99p/99c. After the launch, it will go revert to its normal list price of £2.99/$3.99.
Now, all we need to do is navigate 3,555 km home with a car satnav, because our truck satnav has given up the ghost – which has led to some ‘interesting’ drives through the Atlas Mountains.
World Wide Walkies 