Elaine Steane (née Fullard) is the daughter of a cartographer and a geographer so grew up being able to identify glacial moraines and U-shaped valleys. She has an enduring love of maps. Her first book was The Seven Shires Way, a 234-mile walk around the Oxfordshire county boundary, which was followed by The Roman Way, a 174-mile walk on the theme of Roman roads. As a nurse she specialised in the prevention of heart disease and stroke, introducing the ‘Human MOT’ for which she was awarded an MBE. Walking is among its recommendations for benefiting physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Elaine is a member of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and the Oxfordshire Ramblers. She holds the Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation from the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education.

Why Elaine wanted to publish a book

‘I have been a volunteer leader of many walks in the Oxfordshire area, but gathering and carefully researching the walks into a published book has enabled me to share them with a larger audience. Each book is richly illustrated giving a window on the countryside to further encourage people to explore. Having the book in print records these walks for posterity. I have been retired for several years, but now feel I have started a new career.’

What Elaine says about working with SRA Books

‘The support that I received along the way and the quality of the finished product has given me a head start in selling the book.’