Kristin (Otterson) Cronic is an artist and United States Naval Academy (USNA) graduate. She has a BS in Naval Architecture and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer in 2011. She served as a naval officer until 2017, deploying twice on ships. Kristin pursued an informal art education in her free time. She has dedicated recent years to documenting the midshipman's journey through painting under the alias "Easel on Stribling," painting over 150 pieces about USNA. She has an MFA in Visual Art from Jacksonville University. She resides in Florida with her husband, Caleb, and their three children.

"This book hits all the feels. As a Naval Academy parent, the words ring true and each image unleashes a wave of intense emotions, allowing me to relive those four years on The Yard."

--Karl Smith, USNA Parent and writer of "My Kid the Mid," "Anchored in Tradition"

"I found myself immersed in the depths of A Midshipman's Journey. The way the author coincides her journey as a both a naval officer and artist tells a beautiful story of grit, virtue, hardships, grace, strength, gusto, pain, joy, and the heroic amounts of emotions it takes to dedicate yourself to something bigger that you. These words sit deep in my soul, and the paintings that run parallel to these words have allowed my eyes to open up a bit wider than before to the journey of a midshipman. I feel like I understood years of what that experience was in these pages."

--Hope, Louisiana

"Through beautiful artwork woven into evocative narrative, Kristin Cronic provides a looking glass for fellow USNA graduates to recall and reflect upon their memories as midshipmen, and a porthole for civilians desiring a privileged glimpse inside an amazing, historic institution. Several years ago, I was introduced to artist Kristin's Cronic's talented artwork depicting the epic journey of life as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. As a parent of grads, I was instantly drawn to her authentic portrayals. In this new book her paintings provide evocative, visual waypoints, strung together by strong, delightful prose. It will be a book to savor and return to for years to come.

Kristin Cronic's book will be a beacon guiding USNA graduates back to their memories of life as midshipmen, and a navigational light for those wishing to explore the fascinating experience of life as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy.

Gritty, witty, poignant and humorous, A Midshipman's Journey provides evocative visual waypoints along the epic journey of the Naval Academy experience, strung together by Kristin Cronic's strong, delightful narrative."

--Susan Weisburg, author of Chester Midshipmouse series

Publisher: Ballast Books

Pub date: 2023-06-13

Length: 163 pages