“The Finest Hours” Movie Potential
Spoke at Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City, NC, last week and had the wonderful opportunity to meet all the guys I write about.
In addition, I just got the exciting word that The Finest Hours could be optioned by a movie producer for a mini series on HBO.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year spent with family & friends.
Check out the new article titled “The Odd Sea” — weird stuff seems to happen to me when on the ocean. Since I blew my travel spending budget in 2010 (Italy, Turks and Caicos, and St. John), I’m staying close to home for the next year. But when home is New England that’s not too bad. I’ll be on Cape Cod Bay fishing for stripers then up in Vermont kayaking the White River in search of trout. I’ve also really enjoyed giving the Overboard slide presentation — people have been saying that’s my best one, that the slides put you in the middle of the storm, wondering “what would I do in that situation.” If you would like to see the program just go on my website and click upcoming presentations. The presentation also offers some practical tips from survivors on how they view life after their rescue. They have all learned to appreciate the little things that most people take for granted, so I’ve tried to incorporate that mindset into my own life.
If you are ever in Italy, go to Cinque Terre — absolutely fantastic villages overlooking the Mediteranean on steep cliffs. The villages are connected by footpaths through the hills, and if feels like you are walking back through time to the 15th century. My daughter and I explored that region and also visited remote mountains of France where we interviewed Jean Pierre, a survivor of a 90 foot rogue wave. What a fascinating man and what a unique home in a hamlet of stone structures where only five different families lived. And on an unrelated topic look for Overboard to be featured on ABC’s Nightline in mid to late September, as part of a special on Rogue Waves. If you miss it, just watch it on their website.
I’ve had such a good time combining kayaking with fishing (down rivers in Vermont and the ocean off Cape Cod) that I’m thinking of buying a shortie river kayak that I can keep inside my Honda CRV the entire summer. That way if I’m driving by a river or bay that looks interesting I’ll be ready to go. Kayaked both the White River in Vermont and the Battenkill in Vermont and they were beautiful. Heading a lot further afield in a couple weeks — going to Italy and France and am looking forward to snorkeling in the Mediteranean! This week I’ll update my speaking schedule on my website www.michaeltougias.com. All the programs listed are slide presentations because I can’t stand author readings!
I’m posting two news articles quite different than the past nautical ones. One is about the only grave that was not moved when the four towns were flooded beneath the Quabbin Reservoir. The second article is about the strange case of Minik the Eskimo who, in a strange journey, went from the artic to Pittsburg NH. These two articles celebrate the overlooked places in New England with some forgotten stories. As for me, I’ve been busy giving slide presentations on my new book Overboard. A listing can be found below. These programs are free and open to the public. You can have me speak at your library by simply giving the library my website which shows the different programs offered (www.michaeltougias.com) With the demise of newspapers I’ve found the best way to get the word out on a new book is to give a dramatic slide presentation which people will long remember and spread the word. I haven’t even started on my next book because I want to give Overboard all of my attention. Have been talking with producers at the national morning TV shows such as Good Morning America, and hope to get booked on one of them with the Overboard survivors. Will keep you posted!
Programs Open to the Public:
| 6/10 | Thur | 7:00 | Nantasket Beach Bathouse | Overboard |
| 6/14 | Mon | 7:00 | Moultenboro NH Historical | CT River |
| 6/23 | Weds | 7:00 | Enfield CT Library | Overboard |
| 6/24 | Thur | Egan Inst. Nantucket | Overboard | |
| 6/30 | Weds | 7:00 | Westboro MA Library | Overboard |
| 7/6 | Tue | 7:00 | Truro MA Library | Overboard |
| 7/12 | Mon | 7:00 | Woodstock VT Historical | Indian Wars |
| 7/16 | Fri | 8:00 | Rey Center, Waterville NH | CT River |
| 7/22 | Thur | 3:30 | Orleans MA Library | Overboard |
| 7/26 | Mon | 6:30 | Hampton NH Library | Overboard |
| 7/28 | Wed | 7:00 | East Lyme CT Library | Overboard |
| 8/3 | Tue | 6:30 | Hennicker NH Library | Fatal Forecast |
| 8/17 | Tue | 6:30 | Chicopee MA Library | Overboard |
| 8/18 | Wed | 7:00 | Great Bay Discovery NH | Indian Wars |
| 8/20 | Fri | 7:00 | Nantucket Atheneum | Overboard |
| 8/31 | Tue | 6:30 | Gilford NH Library | Overboard |
| 9/2 | Thur | 7:00 | Franklin NH Historical | Indian Wars of New Eng. |
| 9/16 | Thur | 5:30 | Cape Cod Museum of Arts | Finest Hours |
| 9/26 | Sun | 2:00 | Harwich MA Historical | Fatal Forecast |
| 9/28 | Tue | 7:00 | Brookfield MA Library | King Philip’s War |
| 9/30 | Thur | 7:00 | Cohasset MA Library | Overboard |
My Interview on NPR on my newest release Overboard!
My new book “Overboard! is a True Blue-Water Odyssey of Disaster and Survival”. Hear my interview on NPR with Chris Ferrer, one of the survivors of the accident. Also interviewed is Loch Reidy, the first mate of the Almeisan, who found Captain Tom Tighe after they were swept overboard, and struggled to stay alive in the ocean, miles from the ship.
You can listen to the interview by clicking on the link below and then click on “listen” right underneath the headline.
Overboard Interview with Michael Tougias
Overboard Survivors speak on NPR!
Overboard Survivors speak on NPR
I was interviewed on NPR on my new release Overboard! Listen to this podcast! What a great interview! Click on the above link and scroll down to ‘Overboard!’ Recounts Being Marooned In The Middle Of The Ocean – click on the speaker icon and listen to my interview!
Check out my interview on The Finest Hours!
The Finest Hours Interview with best selling author Michael Tougias
The Finest Hours
Overboard! True Survival Story!
The latest article originates from my latest book Overboard! A True Bluewater Odyssey of Disaster and Survival which was released March 21. The first review that came out was from the Providence Journal that said ‘Tougias has done it again, this time delivering an edge-of-your-seat chronicle of what happens when a sailboat goes up against a fierce storm in the heart of the Gulf Stream.’ So for the next few months I’ll be giving slide presentations about Overboard, and you can see my schedule on my website www.michaeltougias.com However, I still find some time for fishing and my vegetable garden — just wouldn’t feel like spring without those two hobbies!
Speaking Schedule for Overboard!
Overboard! Newest book from Michael Tougias!
My newest book Overboard! has been released! This book is about a 2005 sailing disaster when a captain and first mate were swept off a sailboat, leaving three newer sailors on the sinking boat. The story follows both the two in the water and the three on the boat as they fight for survival in the Atlantic. Not everyone survives, and the Captain dies in the arms of the First Mate, who ties his body to him and vows to bring the body home if he lives. The story is quite inspirational, and the reader learns some valuable mindsets of how to make decisions under pressure.
The subsequent rescue by the Coast Guard was so dangerous it was selected as the Search and Rescue Case of the Year, from among thousands.
My speaking schedule is below – please come and join us! Thanks to all!
SPEAKING SCHEDULE (FIRST LISTING IS BUSINESS, SECOND LISTING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
Recent and Upcoming Business/Association Programs
Organization Topic
RI Dental Survival Lessons
Association of Security Int. Services Survival Lessons for Peak Performance
Massachusetts School Library Convention Survival Lessons for Peak Performance
Northern RI Chamber of Commerce Decision Making Under Pressure
Massachusetts Maritime Academy Survival Lessons
Cornerstone America Insurance Sales Survival Lessons
Estate Planning Association Survival Lessons
All Other Programs Open to the Public
3/23 Tues 7:30 Foxboro Historical Charles River
3/31 Weds 6:30 Dover MA Library Overboard
4/5 Mon 7:00 Northbridge MA Historical Finest Hours
4/9 Fri 7:00 Auburn NH Historical CT River
4/13 Tues 7:00 East Bridgewater MA Library Finest Hours
4/15 Thur 7:00 Norfolk MA Library Overboard
4/17 Sat Reservation & fee Required (see my website) Get Published
4/19 Mon RJ Julia Bookstore CT Overboard
4/27 Tue 7:30 Hamilton MA Library Overboard
4/28 Wed 7:00 Milford CT Library Overboard
5/1 Sat 12:30 Hanson MA Library Overboard
5/4 Tue 7:00 Plymouth MA Library Overboard
5/5 Wed Great Barrington Library Overboard
5/6 Thur 6:30 W. Brookfield MA Library KP War
5/9 Sun 2:00 Natick MA Library Overboard
5/10 Mon 10:30 Harwich Com Center KP War
5/10 Mon 7:00 Cornish NH Historical CT River
5/12 Wed 7:00 Wilmont NH Library Fatal Forecast
5/17 Mon 7:00 Ledyard CT Library Overboard
5/20 Thur 12:00 Springfield MA Museum Overboard
5/21 Fri 7:00 ? Sheffield VT Historical CT River
6/8 Tue 7:00 Warwick RI Library Overboard
6/14 Mon 7:00 Moultenboro NH Historical CT River
6/23 Weds 7:00 Enfield CT Library Overboard
6/24 Thur Egan Inst. Nantucket Overboard
6/30 Weds 7:00 Westboro MA Library Overboard
7/6 Tue 7:00 Truro MA Library Overboard
7/12 Mon 7:00 Woodstock VT Histirical Indian Wars
7/16 Fri 8:00 Rey Center, Waterville NH CT River
