Two-Hundred Steps Home Series

"Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Together with her hated 1980s Skoda Estelle - another part of the assignment - Claire sets off for Berwick-Upon-Tweed and a new way of life. Will Claire get used to sharing a room, going without skinny lattes and travelling in an Eastern European rust bucket. More importantly, will travelling the length and breadth of her home country enable Claire to forget her lost love Michael?" Volume 1 of 'Two-Hundred Steps Home' contains the first 31 instalments of Amanda Martin's daily challenge on her WriterMummy blog. February's instalments will be published as Volume 2 in March 2013.

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Volume Two follows Claire to the Lake District where she finds herself dangling from ropes and swinging through trees in search of exciting stories for her blog. The handsome and mysterious Josh tags along too, helping Claire face her fears. Is he looking for company, though, or a place to hide?

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Volume Three follows Claire to the Derbyshire Dales, where she tries to understand Josh's revelations and her feelings for Michael. She also has to undertake the tasks presented by her boss's nasty PA Julia. However, Claire's biggest challenges are yet to come.

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Claire has faced high-wires and heart-break, has abseiled down a waterfall and kayaked across turbulent waters, but nothing has prepared her for life with a six-year-old. Discovering that a child needs entertainment as well as food and board, Claire has to delve deep within to survive the first week of the Easter Holidays.

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostels in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Even when she does make the leap for freedom, life continues to be less than straightforward and Claire finds herself still on the road, this time in the south west of England. In volume eleven Claire tries to process her feelings after her boss's advances. However her confusion is soon superseded by new troubles, when her brother Robert calls to ask her to look after her nephews for two weeks. Reluctantly, Claire agrees, with no idea what she will do with two adolescent boys in the remote corner of England she is travelling round. She survives the ups and downs and discovers great affection for her nephews Alex and Jack. But how does she really feel about her boss, Conor?

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostels in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Even when she does make the leap for freedom, life continues to be less than straightforward and Claire finds herself still on the road, this time in the south west of England. In volume ten Claire makes it back to the UK, but life doesn't become any easier. Her best friend is in a dark place and her new boss is making demands. Claire finds herself torn between friendship and the need to make a living. Her travels pick up again in Devon as she fights to get her life on track. Will she find her way to a new future or will Kim and Conor disrupt her plans?

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. In volume six, Claire spends time in the west, visiting castles in Wales and hiking in Border country. Travelling life clashes with everyday reality as she gets involved in Kim's plans. Michael muscles back in on her life, but does he push Claire too far? And will Claire's friendship with Kim survive the different paths their lives are taking?

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Claire's journey around the hostels of England is overshadowed by her sister's illness and her friend Kim's surprising news. Claire must negotiate family secrets and evolving friendships whilst still undertaking sufficient adrenalin activities to keep her boss at bay.

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostels in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Even when she does make the leap for freedom, life continues to be less than straightforward and Claire finds herself still on the road, this time on the other side of the world. In volume nine, Claire's past catches up with her, as Josh arrives in Wellington. Will Claire fall for his charms or see through his declarations? As she journeys around the beautiful and dramatic south island of New Zealand with her new friend Bethan, Claire wonders if travelling has lost its appeal? Forced to make tough choices, and face dark days, in the end will Claire have to fight to get back home?

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. In volume seven Claire travels from west to south, trying to find somewhere she is welcome, as her life begins to unravel. Her friendship with Kim seems irrevocably broken, she has left Michael behind, and is searching for a new future. Can she continue travelling round the UK, staying in hostels, when life has lost its purpose? Or will she be tempted by new opportunities, either at home or abroad?

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostel in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Even when she does make the leap for freedom, life continues to be less than straightforward and Claire finds herself still on the road. In volume eight, Claire is reeling from her showdown with Kim and she wants nothing more than to escape. Will flying half way round the world help her leave her mistakes behind and make a fresh start? Claire begins her adventures in New Zealand, finding travelling by bus a very different experience to her journey around the UK in her trusty Skoda. Will Claire succumb to the lures thrown out by the enigmatic Neal? Will she learn to embrace the Country of the Verb? And will she give in to the ultimate temptation? Time will tell.

Claire's life revolves around Starbucks, stilettos and her career as an Advertising Account Director for AJC. That is until her boss Carl decides to send her on a mission to visit every one of the 200 YHA hostels in England and Wales as part of a marketing campaign. More used to five-star spa resorts than 'flea-infested hostels' Claire only takes the assignment to save face. It becomes clear to her the 'mission' is a ruse to make her resign. Even when she does make the leap for freedom, life continues to be less than straightforward and Claire finds herself still on the road, this time in the south west of England. In this final volume, Claire is approaching the end of a journey that started nearly two hundred days ago, when she left for the hostel at Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The journey has been long and eventful, and has included many heartaches and many mugs of coffee. Now she needs to decide where to call home. Will it be Dorset, working for Conor, or somewhere new? Claire must come to terms with her feelings for her boss, and her need for freedom. New opportunities arise, but will Claire be strong enough to seize them?