D. J. Stanton
illustrated by Julie Ann Art
What happens when you decide to trade a predictable routine for a one-way ticket across the globe?
Aimed squarely at fans of Rick Steves, Bill Bryson and readers of immersive travel. Working for the Horizon trades the rainy British Isles for the open roads of South America, maintaining that same blend of dry humour, earnest curiosity, and sharp observation.
Society expects you to chase that promotion, buy that house and car, and then settle down. But the pandemic completely disrupted that accepted script. The lockdowns made the future unpredictable, acting as a wake-up call about how we choose to spend our days. In 2023, Julia and Daniel stood at a crossroads. They had both just finished their master's degrees, and the tenancy on their flat was coming to an end. They faced a stark choice. They could sign a new lease somewhere else and step back onto the corporate ladder, risking another year stuck indoors if the world shut down again. Or they could pack their bags, avoid the trap of routine, and spend their time actually living.
They chose the latter. For this couple, that meant finding themselves completely out of their depth in Chile and Argentina, at the mercy of missed connections, erratic local weather, and a rural vocabulary they had to invent on the spot.
In this honest, funny travel memoir, the couple leave their safety net behind to take on a series of unpredictable jobs, offering a raw look at life on the road beyond what they can control. From stumbling their way through vineyard management in the Andes to assisting with rural construction and wrangling animals on a remote gaucho ranch outside of Buenos Aires, their trip is proof of the hilariously chaotic situations that arise when Murphy's Law meets South America. Through severe language barriers, physical exhaustion, and comical mishaps, they quickly learn that the ultimate luxury is not merely living paycheque to paycheque, running the risk of lockdowns, but living to the fullest in new environments. They discover a deeper appreciation for each other through the good times and the bad — and find out exactly who they are when forced to rely on their own wits.
Every copy makes an impact: Annual proceeds from this memoir are donated to global mental health charities.
About the author
Daniel is a Bournemouth University graduate, a public health advocate, and a dedicated work-exchange traveller. Trading a conventional routine for years of grit and discovery across South America and Texas, he channels his experiences into honest, engaging storytelling. His writing captures the humour and heart found in the unpredictable moments of life over the horizon.
About the illustrator
Julie (Julia) completed her masters in illustration at Arts University Bournemouth and has been a professional illustrator for over a decade. Her works are inspired by a contemporary fusion of Japanese prints and vintage aesthetics. She uses soft gradients, muted colour palettes, and dreamlike environments. She frequently blends human figures with fluid, surreal natural elements to explore themes of mindfulness, resilience, and personal growth. The resulting aesthetic is both tranquil and emotionally grounded.
Reviews
5
"...it left me wanting to go and do something equally badly planned. I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it. Definitely earns its five stars."
Pete Bennett
4.5
"Perfect for fans of experiential travel with calloused hands, not curated feeds."
Donna
5
"What a great read. It doesn't sugar-coat the realities of working abroad, but that's exactly what makes it so engaging. The mix of humour, hard work, and unexpected adventures kept me turning the pages, and Julia and Daniel were easy to root for throughout. A great read if you've ever dreamed of taking a chance and seeing where it leads."
Claire Harris
5
"Great book. I took this with me on the sleeper trip from London to Edinburgh and I woke the people up below me from the some of the laugh out loud moments. I also read Bill Bryson, ' notes from a small island', and the humour in this is similar."
Ashley
5
"Leaving a comfortable life always sounds romantic until you’re the one standing there tired, confused, in the wrong language, doing work you never imagined doing. That’s the part that made this feel real. It doesn’t sound like a glossy “we left everything and found ourselves” story. It sounds more like two people stumbling through something bigger than they expected and learning as they go."
Atlas
5
"It’s one of those books that feels like sitting down with someone who is actually living a life worth hearing about. The mix of travel, near-misses, genuine awe and quiet self-reflection makes it incredibly engaging, especially because the writer is so honest about the exhaustion, uncertainty and strange joy that come with stepping off the map."
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