I am delighted to be featured this week as guest author on Rita Lee Chapman’s website.
Rita Lee Chapman is the author of the five-book Anna Davies Mystery Series, Winston – A Horse’s Tale, for horse lovers, and crime mysteries Dangerous Associations and The Poinciana Tree. She has also written three children’s books, The Unicorn Angel, My Very Naughty Pony, and Frankie – The Unicorn Who Couldn’t Fly. Click on this link for more information about her books.
Each week, Rita hosts a different author on the Guest Author page. If you would like to participate, please contact her using this form on the About/Contact me page of her website.
Over to Rita
My guest this week is travel writer Jackie Lambert from Lancashire who, at thirty years of age, undertook an unintended adventure holiday which led to a life of discovery, danger and excitement. This, in turn, led to her writing about her adventures with husband, Mark and four dogs in an RV trailer. This fascinating interview recalls places they have visited, how she came to write her first book and an excerpt from Dogs ‘n’ Dracula. Her latest book, Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper, was awarded a Readers’ Favorite Five Star Seal.
Transcript of the interview:
This week it is my pleasure to interview travel writer Jacqueline (Jackie) Lambert. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Jackie, and share something about your life.
I am from Blackburn, Lancashire, in the damp north west of England. A town famous for cotton milling, 4000 holes in the Beatles’ song, and world superbike champion Carl Fogarty, who lived across the road when we were kids. He can brag that we once sat on a swing together when we were around 9 years old.
I grew up with two brothers, and always preferred action and sport to more traditionally feminine pursuits. I spent my childhood riding horses bareback and hurtling down hills on a bike I recovered from a skip.
My life changed in 1994 when, as a 30-year-old London-based singleton, I undertook a solo holiday: Rafting The Zambezi: The River of the Gods. I misunderstood ‘rafting’ to mean floating down the river on a barn door looking at wildlife. On the Slambezi, as some call it, ‘rafting’ meant spending six days navigating 60 km of the biggest white water in the world, avoiding wildlife (crocs and hippos), and sleeping under the stars on beaches by the river. It was the best roller coaster ride on the planet, in a stunning location, but so inaccessible that most people will never see it.
It started my addiction to adventure.
Since then, I have jumped off, dived under, floated around, flown over, slid down, and raced around almost sixty countries (and counting) on six of the seven continents.
In 1999, I met and married someone who shared my passion: a fellow skier, windsurfer and mountaineer. Since work interfered with the fun, Mark and I always planned to quit to fit more of the good stuff into our lives…
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
Mark and I gave up work in 2016, and accidentally bought a caravan (RV trailer). You know those days when you say, “Let’s just go out and have a look…”
A few celebratory bottles of champagne later, we decided we could live without working if we moved into it full time and toured with our four dogs. We intended to travel for three years, but eight years in, we haven’t lost the buzz.
Friends encouraged me to set up a blog to record our travels, share the practicalities of touring with dogs – and answer the question they didn’t dare ask. “You’re not millionaires and didn’t inherit a windfall, so how did you retire at 50 to follow your dreams?”
I’ve always loved writing, so blogging was a great outlet. Besides publishing honest warts-and-all travel stories and the truth about van life, I answered that big question of finance.
In September 2018, Nicola, one of my readers commented, “You should write a book. No one writes like you. Even your blog about toilets was a joy to read.”
If I did, she promised to buy six copies as Christmas presents. Never one to miss an opportunity, I sprang into action, learned all I could about publishing independently, honed my first year of blog posts into a manuscript, commissioned the cover, formatting, proof reading and editing – and my comic memoir, Fur Babies in France: From Wage Slaves to Living The Dream, was born on 2nd December 2018.
It was a Hot New Release on Amazon.
Thanks Nicola!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I am a scientist (biochemist), so I am very factual and don’t feel I have the imagination to write fiction. That said, I love humour, and use that creatively when I tell my stories.
Non-fiction is my preferred genre for reading. I do enjoy some fiction, but the last highly rated fiction book I read irritated me with gaping reality gaps and a preposterous, over-convenient ending involving helicopters that simply screamed, ‘I want to be a film starring Tom Cruise!’
I did, however, thoroughly enjoy Lessons in Chemisty, which read rather like my own biography as a female scientist. Author Bonnie Garmus wrote it so magnificently, she even made the talking dog work!
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My books are travelogues, so they follow a natural chronology of the trips I have undertaken. I do tend to sit down and write and love that feeling when the words flow. Even the comic asides tend to just come to me.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
An excerpt from the award-winning Dogs ‘n’ Dracula: A Road Trip Through Romania.
Back at the campsite, our Romanian neighbour, Miron, popped around again. He lived in Bucharest but had brought his family to see his home town. He gave us a small, plastic water bottle filled with pálinka; a plum brandy, which is Romania’s national drink. This particular example had been lovingly fermented and home-distilled to the point of being almost vaporous by Miron’s uncle.
“Be careful with it,” he urged. “It’s about 50% alcohol.”
We thanked him profusely for his kindness, but checked; “Are you sure you don’t want it yourself?”
“My Uncle gives us at least two litres every time we visit.”
We sensed that Miron’s liver – along with the livers of his close family and friends – were silently beseeching us to accept.
Since I have conducted in-depth research, now seems a good time to guide you through the labyrinth of Romanian plum-liquor terminology as I understand it. So here goes; pálinka and ţuică are both made from plums, but pálinka is generally more alcoholic, since it is twice- or thrice- distilled. Or it might just be that pálinka is a word of Hungarian origin for ţuică, or refers to ţuică made in the Ardeal region. Or it might just all be the same thing.
According to tradition, distillation must take place in a brass still over wood or charcoal. However, since gas is more controllable, it gives more consistent results. The heat source probably makes little difference to the final product, but don’t mention gas to pálinka purists – or Romanian Standards.
Horíncă, jinars or fățată are all terms for “very strong ţuică” – or might simply be different names for ţuică in different regions. None of these should be confused with slivovitz. Slivovitz is still plums, but ground plum stones are added to the fermentation to give a nutty flavour. Popular in other Balkan states, slivovitz is less common in Romania.
Although țuică can be drunk straight from the still, old țuică (țuică bătrână) is aged in oak barrels, while “țuică cu fruct” is țuică with a whole plum inside the bottle (a plum centre!)
“How do they do that?” I hear you ask in wonder.
Here, I shall share with you a special Romanian secret. Just place an empty bottle over the branch of a plum tree in Spring and then; Hey…
…wait three months…
…Presto!
A whole fruit has grown inside the bottle. (Note – this is not the method used for ships.)
Rachiu is the same drink, but made with other fruit. Although rachiu can also be made with plums.
Phew. I’m glad that we’ve got that cleared up. I hope that you have been keeping up as there will be a test later. And I am hoping that during my careful fact-checking, my Romanian friend, Lia, wasn’t just spinning me a plum line.
Lia informed us that our pálinka was a bit ‘lightweight’. Her grandparents considered 70% alcohol more acceptable. For context, a bottle of vodka is usually around 40% alcohol. Romania is one of Europe’s top plum-producers. I could make another pun around the epithet ‘plum centre’ here, but I won’t, because that would be plumbing the depths.
Lia also wowed me with the numerous different types of Romanian plum jam, although statistics suggest that over 75% of Romanian plums end up as alcohol. Even though it is traditionally served in a small glass to be sipped before a meal, pálinka represents 40% of Romania’s alcoholic beverage consumption. And it is used on special occasions instead of wine to propose a toast.
“Noroc – Cheers!”
Who is your favourite character and why?
My husband and soul mate, Mark! We met on the 9 January 1999 and were engaged 37 days later. We were married on the rocks outside a Scottish lighthouse 37 weeks after meeting. This year, we celebrate our silver wedding.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I thoroughly enjoyed writing my third book, Dogs ‘n’ Dracula: A Road Trip Through Romania, because Romania was such a surprise.
Anais Nin said, “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
My main motivation for writing Dracula was to set Romania’s record straight. We were told so many horror stories about Romania, we almost didn’t go. Yet Romania stole our hearts with its fabulous unspoilt landscapes, fascinating history, and such kind people that I dedicated the book to them, in Romania’s centenary year.
Dracula was the first of my books to win an award: it won the Chill With A Book Premier Readers’ Award and was a finalist in the Romania Insider Awards for the ‘best promotion of Romania abroad’. The British Ambassador to Romania and Prince Charles (now King Charles III), who has a special connection to Romania, (as you might discover in the book!) both have a copy.
When readers leave reviews such as ‘Romania now firmly in my sights’, I feel it’s mission accomplished.
It was a real pleasure to revisit Romania’s El Dorado, the real Dracula’s birthplace in one of the oldest occupied citadels in Europe, and towing a caravan over two cornfields, a footpath, and Romania’s second highest mountain pass.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Build a following – preferably before you write your book.
When I published my first book, I had a small following from my blog. I’m sure this – and Nicola’s six copies – helped with the rather flattering ‘Hot New Release’ Amazon rankings on publication.
However, this advice truly hit home when someone published ‘my’ book. For twenty years, I’ve nursed the idea of writing a book of achievable adventures but never got around to it. Recently, I saw someone had done it. A couple whose Instagram account showcases stunning photos of their own achievable adventures to their thousands of subscribers.
When they hit publish, a fully engaged audience who know them and love what they do was ready and waiting to buy their book.
This is a much easier route than publishing a book as an unknown, then trying to get people to understand what you’re about.
I don’t say this from any position of envy – it was a Eureka moment for me, and I wish them every success. Meanwhile, I will continue building up my following!
I spent much of my career in sales and marketing (scientific equipment, not books). The first rule, which applies across the board is that people buy from people. It’s so important to get yourself out there and let people get to know you.
How would you describe yourself?
Cheerful.
A disposition which has allowed me to cope with adversity or take on challenges without getting discouraged or taking myself too seriously.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I am a permanent nomad, so I am usually exploring. Currently, we are checking out Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania before a slow mosey back to England via Poland, Germany, and France.
Since we’re owned by four dogs, we do a lot of walking. We all love being out in nature. In winter, we ski, while our summer passions are windsurfing or stand up paddle boarding (SUP).
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
There are plenty places on my bucket list.
In 2020, a second bout of window shopping resulted in the purchase blind off the internet of a 24.5-tonne 6-wheel army truck, which Mark and I converted into an off-grid home fit for a trip to Mongolia. Why Mongolia? I am fascinated by Genghis Khan and have often fancied myself as a Mongolian horse archer, streaking across the steppes. Unfortunately, political unrest and the war in Ukraine have scuppered our route to Mongolia.
I would love to visit the wild landscapes of Iceland, and there is a lot more I’d like to see in South America or Asia. Long-held dreams of mine are to ride horses through the Torres del Paine national park in Patagonia, or gallop across the desert on the Lawrence of Arabia trail to the ancient city of Petra.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
The Fab Four, our four cavapoos (cavalier King Charles/poodle cross), are a constant source of joy and entertainment. The sweetest story was when we had a friend to stay who we were comforting after she broke up with her boyfriend. Our little Kai is more human than dog. He trotted off to the kitchen and came back with a heart-shaped biscuit, which he pushed gently on to our friend’s knee. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I like to learn as I read, so I choose books that sound enlightening. If there’s a smattering of humour, even better!
Do you have your own website?
I have two websites, my travel and doggie blog, www.WorldWideWalkies.com and my author website, which has information about my books, interviews, and articles on writing, www.JacquelineLambert.co.uk
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes – I’m working on the follow up to my latest release, Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper, which was awarded a Readers’ Favorite Five Star Seal. The new book will follow our first year of lorry life adventures.
Although the trip was more Manchester than Mongolia, because Putin invaded our route, it was eventful. We had to get used to the quirks of a 24.5-tonne vintage army truck, which in turn led to many encounters with interesting characters, including one who kidnapped Mark!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Our truck, The Beast, will be on show at The Adventure Overland and Campervan Show in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, on 14-15th September, so come along and meet her and have a chat. https://adventure-overland-show.com/display-vehicles/
I will be hosting an author talk and Q&A with Leek Loves Books on Thursday 19th September 2024. https://www.leeklovesbooks.com/
And Finally:
Jacqueline’s latest book, Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper, is out now.
•Find All Jackie’s books & anthologies on Amazon: https://author.to/JLambert
• Follow her travel blog: www.WorldWideWalkies.com
• Visit her author website: www.JacquelineLambert.co.uk
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The Fab Four at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford Upon Avon, England
Jacqueline Lambert 