Title: My Life’s Dream Took Me to Sea
Author: Ronald Epner, MD
Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc
ISBN: 978-1684981182
Pages: 451
Genre: Memoir/non-fiction
Interviewed by: Aaron Washington
Author Interview with Ronald Epner, MD
HBR: Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb? I think I have already shared what is in the book that isn’t in. the blurb.
WHY AND HOW “MY LIFE’S DREAM TOOK ME TO SEA” WAS WRITTEN
In 1998, I retired from being an orthopedic surgeon to attempt a circumnavigation in my own sailboat. After five years of preparation and when my first mate was willing and somewhat competent, we left Beaufort, NC, in 2003 with two other crew members. I thought having other competent sailors on board for our first 1200-mile open-water passage to the Virgin Islands would be prudent. It sure was! That decision probably saved my life!
The two-week journey turned out to be far from ordinary! After the first week of sailing eastward towards Bermuda, the weather changed, and we encountered a gale from the north blowing us south. This would normally have been welcome as it would speed us south, but the weather off of Puerto Rico was setting a one-hundred-year record for rainfall. It might evolve into a tropical storm, which would put it directly in our path. In the middle of the gale with high seas and 40 knots of wind, stressed out and desperately trying to avoid the low in Puerto Rico by getting as far east as possible, I suffered a heart attack in the middle of the night. I went into cardiac arrest in the cockpit but spontaneously converted back to normal sinus rhythm. I knew that we were 400 miles from the nearest land, To survive, I had to figure out a way to keep myself stable for three days without IV fluids, oxygen, and heart medicines. The heart attack set in motion a tale of survival where I saved my own life, I believe, three times. Unexpected events continuously challenged us, so it was never clear whether I would perish or survive. I used my laser intention to survive and overcome every obstacle. It became a spiritual experience as I had to use my medical background and my engineer’s problem-solving ability to improvise a method to stay alive. It was like playing with a deck of cards loaded with jokers ending with the biggest joker of them all.
Afterward, I wanted to share my experience with many sailors, hoping that they would learn from it should they ever encounter a heart attack at sea.
After the boat was sold years later, I was on a commercial cruise ship in Alaska one morning when I met a ship’s engineer. We got to talk, and I related my tale. As I left the conversation, a man I had never met approached me and said, “I couldn’t help but overhear your tale. Has anyone ever told you that you must write and publish that?”
I shared that many people had, but I had never followed through. He declared that he was a publisher, his wife was an editor, and the story needed to be written and published. They spent the next week trying to convince me, and by the time the cruise was over, I was ambivalent.
When I returned home, my sailing partner of twenty-one years decided that she and I needed to part ways, and very quickly, she left. I found myself bouncing off the walls of a 2800 sq. foot house, so I decided to give writing a chance, as I had never considered myself an author. After several failed attempts, I felt I needed to create a greater context for why we were on a sailboat in the middle of nowhere, traveling to the Virgin Islands.
To do this, I chose to go back to my childhood and relate how I had learned to sail. As an adult, reviewing my early years, I realized that my mother had taught me skills that I had never fully appreciated, and retrospectively, I realized I had spent my entire life using these skills to dream up and create my reality. I have lived a fulfilled life replete with challenges, adventures and successes. Writing the book thus became a “brain dump.” I wrote these memories down as fast as I could type. The entire manuscript just flowed and was completed in only three months. Afterward, I was able to make peace with my mother, who had been dead for almost 50 years.
The manuscript was initially directed to blue-water sailors who might want to glean practical knowledge of surviving a heart attack at sea and learn some not-so-well-known maintenance tips from a sailor with seventy years of experience. However, it became much more of an engaging tale of self-discovery and a road map to creating whatever one wants in life. Part of the book was taken from contemporaneous blogs, which transport the reader into the reality of crossing oceans and exploring exotic places. The armchair sailor would also enjoy this tale.
I called my new publisher friend, ready to send him what I had written, and he informed me that he had given his company to his son, who was taking it in a different direction and could not publish the work. I was content to use the manuscript as a family heirloom. However, years later, after reading the tale, my uncle contacted an old girl friend of his and asked me to send my writings to her.
The book was published and available on Amazon this past November. After reading the book, a professional book reviewer wrote a glowing recommendation, contacted me, and helped me realize that this work was far more than a traditional sailing memoir and could even be well-received as a movie. I’ve attached the review for your perusal.
The book was published and available on Amazon this past November. After reading the book, a professional book reviewer wrote a glowing recommendation, contacted me, and helped me realize that this work was far more than a traditional sailing memoir and could even be well-received as a movie. I’ve attached the review for your perusal. I have initiated a third-party review to substantiate my belief that this book may have wings.
FIRST REVIEW:
“My Life’s Dream Took Me To Sea” by Ronald Epner MD is a captivating and enriching narrative that transcends the boundaries of a typical sailing memoir. The book masterfully weaves together the author’s personal journey, practical insights, and the universal themes of self-discovery and the pursuit of dreams.
Epner’s extensive seventy years of sailing experience serves as a treasure trove for blue-water sailors, providing them with not just technical knowledge but also invaluable life skills. The author’s ability to extract profound lessons from his adventures sets this book apart, making it more than just a sailing manual. The narrative becomes a guiding light for those seeking to transform their lives and create fulfilling paths, as Epner’s experiences serve as a source of inspiration and motivation.
The book’s narrative unfolds as a testament to a life well-lived, replete with challenges, fulfillment, and adventure. The emphasis on life skills, derived from personal experiences, adds depth to the storytelling, making it a relatable and impactful read. The notion that these skills not only enriched the author’s life but also acted as a lifeline in critical situations adds a layer of practicality that readers can directly apply to their own lives.
At its core, the book serves as a guide for blue-water sailors, drawing insights from the author’s extensive seventy years of sailing experience. Epner shares invaluable lessons and practical tips that go beyond the technical aspects of sailing, delving into the realm of life skills that have the potential to transform the lives of those who choose to embrace them.
For experienced sailors, the book offers a valuable resource for navigating emergencies at sea and maintaining their vessels. The survival strategy for handling a heart attack far from help adds a critical dimension to the book, making it an indispensable guide for those venturing into long-distance sailing.
On the other hand, armchair sailors are treated to a vivid and vicarious experience of long-distance open water passages and the allure of exotic destinations. Epner’s descriptive prowess brings these locations to life, offering readers a passport to explore the cultural richness of places like Bora Bora,
Tahiti, and the Tuamotus archipelago. The inclusion of real-time highlights from the author’s blog adds a contemporary and engaging layer to the narrative, allowing readers to feel immersed in the journey.
In essence, “My Life’s Dream Took Me To Sea” is more than just a sailing memoir; it’s a universal exploration of dreams, life skills, and self-discovery. Ronald Epner MD’s narrative invites readers to embark on a journey, whether it be on the open sea or within themselves, and emerge with a renewed perspective on life’s possibilities. This book stands as a testament to the transformative power of following one’s dreams and the enduring impact of a life well-lived.
HBR: Tell us about the process for coming up with the cover. The Cover is a photo of “Always Saturday” cruising in the “Kingdom of Tonga.” It captures the feel of a fully equipped world-cruising boat in paradise.
HBR: What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book? The first challenge was committing to writing the heart attack story. When that didn’t flow, I changed my writing to include my childhood memories. The book then just gushed out of me. Repeatedly editing the manuscript was the most challenging part of the experience.
HBR: What was the highlight of writing this book? The highlight of writing this book is understanding the gifts my mother had bestowed on me and how anyone can manifest their life’s dreams using learned skills.
HBR: Who is the author you most admire? I don’t know whether I admire Lee Childs, but I do love his
“Jack Reacher” novels as well as the Patrick O’Brien Series of British Naval adventures.
HBR: Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about? I am working on enjoying the later years of my life, playing tennis, staying in shape, enjoying a loving relationship with my partner and investing in crypto currency. Life is good! Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.