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| CHICOPEE Author Michael Tougias will present a narratted slide presentation of his latest book Ten Hours Until Dawn: A True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do at the Chicopee Public Library on Jan. 9. During the height of the Blizzard of 1978, the pilot boat Can Do, with five men aboard, set out of Glouscester to assist a lost Coast Guard boat and an oil tanker in a Mayday situation. Ten Hours Until Dawn tells the story of what happened on that awful night when the seas were producing monstrous waves of 40 feet and the wind was screaming at 100 miles per hour. Michael Tougias is the author of 15 books. Using slides of the boats, the men involved, and photos of the storm, Tougias will take the viewers through this incredible night where many lives hung in the balance. With the aid of maps, Tougias lets the audience see the progression and location of these boats off the Massachusetts coast, and explains what happened and why. This is one of the few ocean tragedies where we know exactly what happened due to the existence of audio recordings taped the night of the storm and feature both the voices of the men of the Coast Guard and the Can Do. The tapes span a ten-hour period during the men's fight for survival. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library. The presentation will include snippets of the audio tape from the Can Do, which Tougias used to write the book. A book signing will follow the presentation. Praise for Ten Hours Until Dawn includes a Booklist review which said: "Arguably the best story of peril at sea since Sebastian Junger's Perfect Storm. Superb!" Former Governor Michael Dukakis said: "What a story! Tougias' research and writing make the reader feel as if they are onboard the Can Do during the Blizzard of '78. Ten Hours Until Dawn is a gripping book about a fascinating event of courage and tragedy." Nathaniel Philbrick, National Book Award Winner, said the book is "an incredible tale of heroism and sacrifice." More about the book at Tougias can be found at www.michaeltougias.com. For more information, contact Barbara Zawidowski at 594-1800 ext. 108. |