Herb McCormick, New York Times Columnist, and Editor of Cruising World, March 3, 2002
A vivid account...Delivers a subtle but important message while sweeping up the reader for one wild ride.

George Day, Publisher, Bluewater Sailing, March 10, 2002
A gale-force page-turner...This family will open your eyes to a new way of looking at the world.

Ken Bern, New Bern Sun Journal, May 1, 2002
"The text sparkles..."

Wren Wertin, Vail Daily, April 19, 2002
For the whole family...Three parts adventure, one part pure practical advice...It all adds up to...(an) exciting read.

Greg Jones, Editor, Sailing, April 2, 2002
Three years, family of five, 610 miles from the North Pole...A rare book, a well-told story blessed by adventure.

Book Description
When Dave and Jaja Martin and their three young children abandoned the conventional lifestyle, heading off to pursue their dreams, little did they realize the discoveries and dangers that lay in wait. This book chronicles their epic adventure, as well as their growth as a family, and the development of a powerful philosophy of life. Into the Light: A Family's Epic Journey is one of those rare books possessing the power to touch your heart and soul - while it keeps you on the edge of your seat with excitement, romance, and laughter. Beautifully crafted, rich in metaphor and poetic language, laced with insight and wit, Into the Light will grip and inspire all who join in on this magical odyssey.

From the Publisher
What happens when a young family, in search of adventure, forsakes the comforts of civilization and sails away to the Far North? Into the Light tells the tale of Dave and Jaja Martin who, on a shoestring budget, with three young children in tow, embarked on an odyssey to the brink of the North Pole. Theirs is more than just a spine-tingling adventure; it's also a journey of the mind, a testament to the power of family, and an inspiration for dreamers and frustrated sojourners. Into the Light is a remarkable literary debut; the Martins weave their tale with a delicate touch, using subtle insight, humor, and lucid imagery. Steve Dashew, author of Surviving the Storm and Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia, calls it "a passionately felt, wonderfully lyrical account of a family's journey of discovery...A spine-tingling adventure classic." Molly Krill, head librarian at Cate School says, "Into the Light will be a big hit with libraries...Its gripping detail and the challenges the family faces are wonderful...It's a beautiful piece of literature." Rick Mohney, English Dept. Head of Nordhoff High School, says "I think this will find an eager audience with teachers anxious for something new, different."

From the Author
"Into the Light is the story of our experience in exploring the outer boundaries of our potential. We hope readers of the book will be encouraged to explore their own possibilities. Adventure is what you make of it, as well as what it makes of you." – Dave and Jaja Martin

About the Author
Dave Martin,raised in Seattle, Washington, has been sailing since he was seven years old. After high school graduation in 1981, he chose cruising over college and moved aboard a 25-foot sailboat.„Going places‰ (geographically) became Dave‚s number one ambition. In 1985,he completely rebuilt the boat himself, renamed it Direction, and set off alone to sail around the world. To finance his travels, Dave worked in various fields along the way, including commercial scuba diving,wooden boat construction, fiberglass boat repair, custom epoxy laminating, commercial cleaning (at one point he was cleaning 65 toilets a week), ceramic tiling, painting, public speaking, and sailing instruction. Jaja (pronounced „zsa-zsa ‰)Martin was raised in Westfield, New Jersey,and learned to sail on the Navesink River. After earning a B.S. degree at the University of Maine, she went to work as a draftsman for a log home company in 1985.After six months,she became disillusioned with the 9-to-5 routine, quit, and began a new career teaching sailing for an international hotel chain. Her job took her to many different countries,including a small island in the Caribbean where she met Dave. In 1988, Jaja joined Dave aboard Direction, and together they began a seven-year voyage around the world. They were married in Barbados, West Indies, and their three children ˆ Chris, Holly, and Teiga ˆ were born in Australia,New Zealand, and the United States, respectively. Chris and Holly came on board as one-day-old infants. Teiga was born aboard. In 1997,after a short stint living ashore in North Carolina, Dave, Jaja,and the kids ˆ all under the age of seven ˆ set sail again. This time, they moved up to the 33-foot Driver, which the Martins completely refurbished themselves. Their three-year,11,000-mile voyage (the subject of Into the Light )took them north to the pack ice above the Arctic Circle. Since 1995, Dave and Jaja have sold 30 magazine articles and over 80 photographs describing their cruising adventures. They also write a weekly online column for a SetSail.com. As well as sailing,writing,and photography,Dave has been a classical guitarist and a woodworking enthusiast for 25 years.Jaja began playing cello at age 11 and has performed in several symphony orchestras worldwide.She also likes to fly small airplanes,parachute,and scuba dive. Both Dave and Jaja are avid skiers and hikers. The Martins are currently living in Colorado.In June 2002 the family will return to Northern Norway (where they left Driver ). As their next family adventure,they plan to sail to Greenland and Nova Scotia.

FROM THE CRITICS

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