When Dan and I sold our home in New Jersey eight years ago, we thought we were setting out on the adventure of a lifetime. We left behind careers we loved, a horse farm that had been our home for decades, family, friends, and just about everything we owned. Our dream was simple. We wanted to sail around the world.
Since then, Equus has carried us across oceans and into more than fifty countries on five continents. We have crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, weathered storms, navigated coral reefs, celebrated unforgettable sunsets, and dropped anchor in places most people only dream of visiting. Along the way, we have met fishermen, teachers, farmers, doctors, children, monks, and fellow sailors from every corner of the globe.
Travel has a way of reminding you that no matter where people come from, we are far more alike than we are different.
Every person we met had a story. Some were filled with joy and triumph. Others carried heartbreak, loss, disappointment, or regret that was hidden behind a smile. It made me realize how little we really know about the people we pass every day. We are quick to form opinions based on appearances, occupations, wealth, or first impressions, yet every heart carries burdens that the rest of the world never sees.
Somewhere along the way, a question began to grow in my mind.
What if our lives were judged by someone who could see beyond appearances? Someone who knew every sacrifice, every failure, every act of kindness, and every hidden motive.
That simple question eventually became The Seven.
As a lifelong horsewoman, I spent more than thirty years working with horses before we began this voyage. Horses have always amazed me with their ability to sense character without prejudice. They do not care about titles, success, or possessions. They respond to honesty, trust, humility, and compassion. It seemed only fitting that in my novel, God would entrust the fate of humanity to the creatures that have faithfully served mankind since the beginning.
When The Seven was released, I never imagined how many readers would tell me it caused them to pause and reflect on their own lives. Those conversations have been among the greatest rewards of being an author.
Life aboard Equus has also opened unexpected doors. During our recent seven month stay in Nuku Hiva while we waited for a replacement engine, what first felt like an unwelcome delay became an incredible opportunity. Instead of feeling stranded, I accepted invitations to appear on podcasts around the world. More than forty conversations later, I have had the privilege of sharing our sailing adventures, my writing journey, and the stories behind my books with listeners from every continent. What seemed like lost time became one of the most rewarding seasons of my career.
Our most recent adventure has taken us through the remote Tuamotu Atolls of French Polynesia, a place unlike anywhere we have ever sailed. Entering and leaving these ancient coral lagoons meant navigating narrow passes where ripping currents, swirling eddies, and standing waves demanded our complete attention. Every arrival and departure required careful planning, precise timing, and a healthy respect for the power of the ocean.
Once inside those lagoons, we found ourselves in another world. Some of the atolls were so remote that days would pass without seeing another sailboat or even another person. The tiny village stores, if there was one at all, were little more than simple shacks with a small supply of canned goods and a few basic necessities. For months we lived almost entirely from the provisions we had brought aboard. Fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and bread became luxuries that we learned to live without. It was a reminder of how easily we take everyday conveniences for granted.
Yet what these islands lacked in modern conveniences, they more than made up for in breathtaking beauty. We drifted beside graceful manta rays, explored the famous Wall of Sharks in Fakarava, and snorkeled in water so brilliantly clear that it hardly seemed real. Every reef was alive with colorful fish, healthy coral, and marine life that reminded us how extraordinary our planet truly is.
What touched me most, however, were the people. Many of the islanders live in simple homes with few of the comforts we often consider necessities. They have no shopping centers, no endless choices, and few possessions. Their lives revolve around family, fishing, the sea, and the rhythm of nature. Yet they welcomed us with genuine smiles, generous hearts, and a kindness that expected nothing in return.
Those encounters changed me.
I realized that happiness has very little to do with what we own. It comes from gratitude, purpose, meaningful relationships, and appreciating the life we have been given. Watching these communities thrive with so little reminded me that some of the richest people in the world will never have large bank accounts.
As a writer, experiences like these become impossible to leave behind. I can already feel another story beginning to take shape. The setting, the people, and the lessons we learned among those remarkable lagoons have planted the seeds for a future novel. I don’t know exactly where the story will lead yet, but I have learned not to ignore those quiet whispers of inspiration.
Writing has continued alongside the voyage. I am excited to share that the third memoir in my sailing series, Riding the Waves of Reality III: Pacific Perils and Paradise, is now complete. This newest book follows our adventures across the vast Pacific, where breathtaking beauty often exists alongside unexpected challenges. From mechanical setbacks and remote anchorages to unforgettable encounters with people and wildlife, it captures another chapter of the incredible life Dan and I have been blessed to live aboard Equus.
Looking back, I can honestly say I never expected our decision to untie the dock lines would shape not only our lives but also the stories I would write. Every ocean crossing, every mechanical breakdown, every new culture, and every person we have met has become part of those stories.
I set sail hoping to see the world. Instead, the world changed the way I see people. Every mile has become another chapter, every culture another lesson, and every unexpected detour another story waiting to be told.
Thank you for following along on this incredible journey. Whether you have been with us from the beginning or have only recently discovered my books, I am grateful to have you aboard. I have a feeling the best stories are still waiting somewhere beyond the next horizon.
