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Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention for a Life-Changing Year on a Sailboat Audiobook
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Erik and Emily skillfully show it is possible to live big on a shoestring budget while giving their family an astonishing education in adventure, creativity, purpose, and grit. Linda and Richard Eyre are the bestselling authors of Teaching Your Children Values
Working the night shift as a temp in a high-rise cubicle, Erik Orton knew something had to change. He felt the responsibility of providing for his wife and their five children, the youngest with Down syndrome, but craved a life that offered more than just surviving.
Watching the sailboats on the Hudson River during his sunset dinner breaks, Erik dared to dream. What would it be like to leave the hustle of the city and instead spend a year on a sailboat, somewhere beautiful, as a family? Despite having no sailing experience, his wife Emily’s phobia of deep water, and already stretching every dollar to pay rent and buy groceries, the family of seven turned their excuses into reasons and their fears into motivation. Sure, they would miss their friends, they could go broke, they could get injured or die. Worst of all, they could humiliate themselves by trying something audacious and failing. But the little time they still had together as a family, before their oldest daughter left for college, was drifting away. The Ortons cast off the life they knew to begin an uncertain journey of 5,000 miles between New York City and the Caribbean, ultimately arriving at a new place within themselves.
A portrait of a captivating and resilient family and a celebration of the courage it takes to head for something over the horizon, this is a deeply compelling story, told alternately by Erik and Emily, for all those who dream of leaving routine in their wake.
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“The Ortons storytelling of their particular path guides all readers—not just those who dream of seafaring—through lessons on living, loving, and life. They share their hurdles with candor and warmth, and just enough discomfort to remind you they’re real: stretching beyond their comfort zone in the joyful and daunting extremes of life on an adventure. The way that Erik and Emily consider, evaluate, and take on challenges they face is instructive for all, and required reading for those who dream of adventuring as a family.”
— Behan Gifford, author of Voyaging with Kids
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“Erik and Emily skillfully show it is possible to live big on a shoestring budget while giving their family an astonishing education in adventure, creativity, purpose, and grit.”
— Linda and Richard Eyre, #1 New York Times bestselling authors -
“We don’t need more stuff to be happy…we need less. The lessons of love, determination, and dreaming big wait for you in this adventure on the sea. You will find yourself sailing through each page, lost in the beauty of this family’s voyage. It gives you the courage to do the same in your own life’s travels.”
— Chester Elton, New York Times bestselling author -
“The book is distilled from journals Erik and Emily kept during their trip, which give honest accounts of their difficulties and triumphs. Readers looking for a vicarious sailing experience should try this.”
— Booklist -
“They will persuade you that ‘unconventional’ is a synonym for ‘individual’ and have you contemplating why you would accept an off-the-rack version of your life, when you can tailor-make your one. You’ll finish Seven at Sea daring to seek a discovery-driven voyage to your dream life, or the dream-of-a-lifetime. A fun, inspiring read.”
— Whitney Johnson, author of Disrupt Yourself
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About the Authors
Erik Orton is an Emmy Award–winning writer and Broadway tour manager based in New York City. His original musical, Berlin, won the CINE Golden Eagle Award, Bronze Telly, and an Emmy Award. He has directed theater productions all around the country, including at Radio City Music Hall, and has managed Broadway shows and tours, including Wicked, Les Miserables, and The Phantom of the Opera. Erik is married to Emily Orton. They live in New York City with their five children.
Emily Orton is a former middle school teacher who now writes and blogs about living simply and the benefits of homeschooling. She is certified as a boat captain, which enabled the family to begin their journey. Emily is married to Erik Orton. They live in New York City with their five children.
About the Narrators
George Newbern is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and a television and film actor best known for his roles as Brian MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II, as well as Danny in Friends. As a voice actor, he is notable for his role as Superman on the Cartoon Newtork series Static Shock, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. He has guest starred on many television series, including Scandal, The Mentalist, Private Practice, CSI: Miami, and Numb3rs. He holds a BA in theater arts from Northwestern University.
Erica Sullivan is a professional actress of both stage and screen and holds her MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Currently a company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, she has performed in New York and regionally with such companies as the Lincoln Center, Soho Repertory Theatre, and New Dramatists. She makes her home in Ashland, Oregon, with her family.