building the beast: how (not) to build an overland camper


A picture of the book cover for Building The Beast superimposed on a photo of The Beast on a beach at sunset.
Released 26th April 2024

synopsis


Featuring ‘The Beast’, an expedition truck, as seen on TV*

A Vintage Truck: An Amateur Team: An Immovable Deadline

The Comic Memoir of a Crazy Idea

In this captivating true tale, join an intrepid married couple as they take another wild leap into the world of nomadic living.

Jackie and Mark gave up work to embark on a permanent road trip with four dogs. However, one Friday the 13th, forces beyond their control cause them to throw caution to the wind and buy a 30-year-old army truck sight unseen from the internet.

Their goal: to create an expedition truck fit to drive overland to Mongolia.

Follow them as they dive headfirst into the daunting but thrilling task of converting this rugged vehicle into a perfect off-grid tiny house on wheels.

Yet their first ever DIY van conversion proves to be a rollercoaster ride, when they sell their house to fund the build, and Friday the 13th comes back to haunt them.

Is their confidence that, ‘there’s always a solution,’ misplaced?

With their relationship, sanity, and finances on the line, can they navigate the pitfalls of their first-ever build and avoid becoming homeless?

Filled with quirky van life friends and unexpected twists, this is an inspiring tale of perseverance, friendship, and finding the courage to conquer the challenges that face those who dare to chase their dreams.

* The Beast made a guest appearance on Ben Fogle’s New Lives In The Wild

A photo of The Beast, a NATO green Volvo N10 bull nosed truck, with New Lives in the Wild TV presenter Ben Fogle flanked by author Jacqueline Lambert and her husband Mark.
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read a sample


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praise for Building the beast


awards

Readers’ favorite 5* Seal

“Although hilarious at times, their patience was stretched to the limit.”

Lucinda E. Clarke for Readers’ Favorite

Read the full Readers’ Favorite 5* Review HERE.


a few of Building the beast’s 5* advance reviews

  • A page-turner!…You never know what will happen next!” Carrie Riseley, Author
  • Hugely inspirational, because I think many would have just given up trying, with all the things they had to put in place to get their dream of owning and converting The Beast off the ground. What a story – and a fabulously entertaining book/read.” Julie Haigh, Goodreads Librarian and Top 1,000 Amazon reviewer.
  • A must read – even if it’s just to stop you making the same mistakes! The trials and tribulations of building a home on six wheels, told with laughter and insight…” Maximilian Sam, Award-Winning Author
  • A fantastic look at designing a unique project and going for it with humor and perseverance. If one is tired of another ‘chucking it all and renovating an old house’ story, this is a quixotic twist that will keep you entertained.” Kari Iverson Lane

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To Order


To order Building The Beast, from Amazon.co.uk click here, for elsewhere in the world, click here.

The ebook and paperback are available from Amazon stores worldwide.  The ‘elsewhere in the world’ universal link should take you through to your local Amazon store..

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