In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes Alison Gieschen, an award-winning author, lifelong sailor, and horsewoman whose life story is as sweeping and adventurous as the novels she writes.
A former schoolteacher and founder of an internationally successful equestrian program, Alison and her husband Dan sold everything they owned to pursue their dream of sailing around the world. Now having traveled to 46 countries—and recently crossing the Panama Canal toward French Polynesia—Alison draws deeply from life at sea, her connection to horses, and the cultures she encounters along the way.
The conversation explores Alison’s wide-ranging body of work, including her Rising Star Award–winning novel Blue Ridge, her children’s stories The Legend of Altor and Julia’s Vaulting Dream, her sailing memoir Riding the Waves of Reality, and her powerful latest release, The Seven—a soul-stirring novel that blends fantasy with real-world experience in a story spanning continents, cultures, and the bond between humans and horses.
Michelle and Alison also talk about her upcoming children’s fantasy Seanna: A Mermaid’s Tale, inspired by Alison’s lifelong connection to the sea and brought to life through stunning illustrations.
🎧 Join Michelle and Alison for a captivating conversation about adventure, imagination, and the stories waiting just beyond the horizon.
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more author interviews and creative journeys on Miles Beyond the Page!
ABOUT ALISON GIESCHEN:
Alison Gieschen is an award-winning author, lifelong sailor, and horsewoman whose life story is as epic as the novels she writes. A former schoolteacher and graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte, Alison spent 30 years running an internationally successful equestrian program on her family farm in New Jersey. After raising three children with her husband Dan—whom she met during a sailboat race—they sold everything they owned to pursue their shared dream of circumnavigating the globe aboard their 43-foot sailboat.
To date, Alison and Dan have traveled to 46 countries and recently crossed the Panama Canal, setting their course for the remote islands of French Polynesia. Her time at sea and her deep connection with both horses and people across cultures have inspired a powerful body of work spanning children’s literature, memoir, and adult fiction. Her books include the Rising Star Award-winning novel Blue Ridge, the magical children’s stories The Legend of Altor and Julia’s Vaulting Dream, and the nonfiction sailing memoir Riding the Waves of Reality: Tales of Turmoil and Triumph—with a sequel on the way.
Her latest release, The Seven, is a sweeping and soul-stirring novel that blends fantasy with deeply rooted real-world experience. The story follows seven humans and seven horses in a tale that spans continents and cultures, asking one pivotal question: Can the hearts of a few determine the fate of all humanity?
Alison is also preparing to release her newest children’s fantasy, Seanna: A Mermaid’s Tale—a story especially close to her heart. As someone who has always felt a magical connection to the sea and its mythical creatures, Alison brings the underwater world to life in this early reader chapter book. The story is being brought to even greater life through the artwork of seven-time international award-winning illustrator Barbara Owczarek, whose stunning illustrations add an extra layer of magic and wonder.
Through it all, Alison remains deeply connected to the world around her—from the sea life off her bow to the ancient cultures in the world’s most remote places. Her journey is far from over, and with every mile sailed, a new story is waiting to be told.
WHERE TO FIND HER:
Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook
WHERE TO FIND HER BOOKS:
Website
33 mins