We were told, quite firmly: “Don’t go there.”
So naturally, we built a truck, packed four dogs, and went anyway…
After months of writing, rewriting, and reliving every questionable decision, I’m finally able to share something a bit more visual…
The first book in my Never Mind The Balkans series, From B to A: Britain to Albania will be released as an eBook and Paperback on 1st May 2026. The ebook is currently on pre-order across most markets at the special pre-launch price of 99p/99c.
After launch, it will return to its normal list price of £2.99/$3.99.
This book follows our journey in The Beast – our sixteen-tonne, self-built truck – taking the long way through France and Italy to Albania. No motorways, no rush – and absolutely no guarantee that things would go to plan…
And, of course, they didn’t!
The cover needed to capture that balance: the humour, the adventure… and the sense that this might not be the most sensible idea we’ve ever had.
At the heart of it all are The Beast and The Fab Four – our four dogs – because this isn’t just a road trip. It’s a dog-filled, slightly chaotic, overland expedition where even the simplest decisions may not turn out as expected.
I wanted something bright and bold. Something that would stand out as a thumbnail, but also hint at the story inside: a mix of wild landscapes, unexpected detours, and the occasional moment where things got a little bit too real.
Since the lady who designed the fabulous covers for my Adventure Caravanning With Dogs series retired, it’s been a long and protracted search for the perfect book cover designer.
For the first time, I’ve used MiblArt, a Ukraine-based book cover design studio whom I’ve been following for some time. They have a very useful blog newsletter for indie authors, and created my author logo. Known for creating bold, market-savvy covers at an affordable price, I felt that working with MiblArt would not only mean that I got a design in keeping with my genre and audience, but also supporting a talented creative team operating in challenging circumstances.
Seeing it all come together has been one of those “this is actually happening” moments.
I’d genuinely love to know what you think – does it feel like the kind of journey you’d want to be part of?
More soon… including a peek behind the scenes at how the cover came together.
About Jacqueline Lambert’s Books
From B to A: Britain to Albania: The True Story of an Overland Van Life Adventure Through Europe to the Balkans – With Dogs follows on from my award-winning Adventure Caravanning With Dogs series and multi-award-winning Wayward Truck series. Each volume is a stand-alone road trip adventure, although the books are consecutive in time, following our adventures since we gave up work almost a decade ago to hit the road and live our dreams.
All my books have received multiple 5* reviews. My third book, Dogs ‘n’ Dracula: A Road Trip Through Romania won the Chill With a Book PREMIER Readers’ Award and was a finalist in the Romania Insider Awards for ‘Best Promotion of Romania Abroad.’
Building The Beast won BRONZE in the Adult Non Fiction Category of The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, was awarded a Readers’ Favorite 5* seal, and was a finalist in The Page Turner Book Awards.
More Manchester Than Mongolia was awarded a Readers’ Favorite 5* seal, and is a finalist in the Adult Non Fiction Category of The Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
All of my books are available to purchase as either e books or paperback on Amazon, or you can read them for FREE on Kindle Unlimited.
April is Drop Everything and Read Month!
My books make pawfect Easter presents for the dog/travel/RV-lovers in your life. They have fewer calories than chocolate – and are the gift you can open again and again!
About Jacqueline Lambert
Jacqueline (Jackie) Lambert is an award-winning travel writer and blogger. A dedicated adventurer, B.C. (Before Canines) she rafted, rock climbed, and backpacked around six of the seven continents. A passionate windsurfer and skier, she can fly a plane, has been bitten by a lion, and appeared as a fire eater on Japanese TV.
A.D. (After Dog), she quit work in 2016 to hit the road permanently with her husband and four pooches.
To date, they have toured nearly 30 countries.
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The Fab Four at the Dacian Capital of Sarmizegetusa Regia, Romania
Jacqueline Lambert 