One Summer Dream: More Than Miles

By Daniel K. Steelman

In the summer of 1978, two young men from the Jersey Shore decided to do something most people would only joke about: take a lifeguard boat and row from Atlantic City to Florida.

What began as a late-summer dream between friends became an unforgettable journey down the coast-through bays, backwaters, canals, storms, strangers' docks, marina towns, and moments that would shape a lifetime.

With little more than a boat, oars, cassette tapes, camping gear, and youthful determination, Daniel K. Steelman and his friend Kelly O'Neill set out on a journey that tested their endurance, deepened their friendship, and revealed something neither of them expected: the extraordinary kindness of ordinary people.

Along the way, they encountered generous strangers, unpredictable waters, local legends, dolphins, danger, humour, homesickness, and grace. What they discovered was bigger than the miles they rowed. It was a story about courage, faith, friendship, and the way one wild dream can bring out the best in everyone it touches.

One Summer Dream is a nostalgic, heartfelt true adventure memoir for readers who love stories of the open water, unforgettable friendships, 1970s Americana, and the quiet ways God shows up in the middle of the journey.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1967386587
• ISBN13: 9781967386581
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Silversmith Press
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Wife's Perspective of One Summer Dream

When my husband and I first started working on One Summer Dream, I expected a story about rowing a small boat down the Intracoastal Waterway. What I didn't expect was to discover the young man he used to be—and to understand more deeply the man I've shared my life with. On the surface, this is an incredible adventure. Two young lifeguards set out in the summer of 1978 to row from Atlantic City to Miami in a small lifeguard boat with little more than determination, youthful confidence, and a dream. Along the way, they encounter storms, setbacks, strangers who become friends, and moments that test both their endurance and their faith. But what stayed with me wasn't just the journey. It was the heart behind it. As his wife, I recognized pieces of the man I know today in the young adventurer on those pages. His curiosity about people, his appreciation for simple acts of kindness, his willingness to trust God when the path wasn't clear, and his ability to find joy in unexpected places all began on that remarkable trip. What touched me most was the reminder that our lives are often shaped less by our destinations than by the people God places in our path. Every chapter introduced someone who left a lasting impression, proving that ordinary encounters can become lifelong memories. The writing is warm, honest, and inviting. You feel as though you're sitting across the table listening to an old friend tell stories that make you laugh one moment and quietly reflect the next. The descriptions of the East Coast waterways, small coastal towns, and colorful personalities transported me back to a simpler time when adventure didn't require a GPS—only courage and an open heart. As someone who knows the author personally, I smiled at many moments because I could see the roots of the husband, father, and friend he would eventually become. Yet even if I had never met him, I believe I would have loved this book just the same. One Summer Dream isn't simply about rowing 1,300 miles. It's about growing up, discovering faith, embracing the kindness of strangers, and learning that life's greatest treasures are often the people we meet along the way. I closed the final chapter feeling grateful—not only for the remarkable adventure it recounts, but because it reminded me that every life has a story worth telling. I'm thankful my husband chose to share his. If you enjoy true stories filled with adventure, humor, heart, and hope, One Summer Dream will leave you inspired to chase your own dreams—and to appreciate the journey just as much as the destination.