Michael J. Tougias
Michael J. Tougias (born 1955 in Longmeadow, Massachusetts) is an American writer who writes about maritime, travel, and adventure topics.
Michael J. Tougias | |
|---|---|
 Author Michael J. Tougias | |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Alma mater | Boston College, Saint Michael's College |
| Subject | travel, adventure, United States Coast Guard |
| Website | |
| michaeltougias | |
Career
Michael J. Tougias is a N.Y. Times Bestselling author of 25 books.
An avid fisherman, Tougias became a self-syndicated outdoors writer in 1990. At the time he was also managing a division of a major insurance company. He published the first of 25 books in 1998.
He travels to more than 100 small and large speaking engagements a year to discuss his books and other topics, including "Survival Stories," lessons learned from those who were shipwrecked. U.S. Coast Guardsmen and sailors are frequent audiences; Tougias' last six books have been accounts of historic sea rescues by the Coast Guard, often in the Gulf Stream.[1]
His book The Finest Hours: The True Story Behind the US Coast Guard's Most Daring Rescue (2009), co-authored with Casey Sherman, was adapted as a Disney film by the same name, released in 2016.[2][3]
Tougias is a frequent guest on NPR programs, The Weather Channel, Fox & Friends, 20/20, and national talk shows.
Education
He attended Boston College (1973–74) and graduated from Saint Michael's College in Vermont in 1977.
Personal life
He lives in Massachusetts and Florida.[4]
He has a daughter, Kristin, with whom he wrote a memoir entitled The Cringe Chronicles.[5]
Works
Novels
- Until I Have No Country (1996) ISBN 1888768029
Non-fiction
- Autobiographies
- Theres A Porcupine In My Outhouse: Misadventures Of A Mountain Man Wannabe (2002, with Mike Tougias), memoirs ISBN 193186862X
- The Cringe Chronicles: Mortifying Misadventures with My Dad: A Memoir (2014, with Kristin Tougias), memoirs ISBN 1612963404
- Biographies
- Derek's Gift: A True Story of Love, Courage and Lessons Learned (2014, with Buck Harris), memoirs ISBN 1940503086
- True events
- Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do (2005, with Frank Quirk Jr.) ISBN 0312334362
- Young Readers Edition: Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978 (Expected publication: 2019) ISBN 1974989100
- Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea (2006) ISBN 0743297040
- The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue (2009, with Casey Sherman) ISBN 1416567216
- Overboard!: A True Blue-Water Odyssey of Disaster and Survival (2010) ISBN 1439145741
- A Storm Too Soon: A True Story of Disaster, Survival and an Incredible Rescue (2013) ISBN 1451683332
- Rescue of the Bounty: Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy (2014, with Douglas A. Campbell) ISBN 147674663X
- So Close to Home: A True Story of an American Family's Fight for Survival During World War II (2016, with Alison O'Leary) ISBN 1681771306
- True Rescue: A Storm Too Soon: A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80-Foot Seas (2021) ISBN 125013756X
- History
- King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict (1999, with Eric B. Schultz) ISBN 0881504831
- The Blizzard of '78 (2001) ISBN 0971954755
- Above & Beyond: John F. Kennedy and America's Most Dangerous Cold War Spy Mission (2018, with Casey Sherman) ISBN 1610398041
- Travels
- The Hidden Charles: An Explorer's Guide to the Charles River (1992, with Mike Tougias) ISBN 0899093426
- Country Roads of Massachusetts (1992) ISBN 1566261252
- Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts series:
- Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts: An AMC Country Walks Book (1993) ISBN 187823921X
- More Nature Walks In Eastern Massachusetts: Discover 47 New Walks Throughout the Area Including Scenic Cape Cod (1998) ISBN 1878239678
- Nature Walks In Eastern Massachusetts, 2nd: Nature-rich Walks within an Hour of Boston, features the Bay Circuit (1999) ISBN 1878239716
- Nature Walks In Central Massachusetts: Nature-rich Walks from Worceser County through the Connecticut River Valley (1996, with René Laubach) ISBN 187823949X
- Quiet Places of Massachusetts (1996) ISBN 1556507291
- New England Wild Places: Journeys Through the Back Country (1997) ISBN 0924771887
- Cape Ann - North Shore Recreation Map & Guide (1997) ISBN 1888768010
- Hunter Travel Guides series:
- Autumn Rambles: New England : An Explorer's Guide to the Best Fall Colors (1998) ISBN 1556508107
- Nature Walks In Central & Western Massachusetts, 2nd (2000) ISBN 1878239953
- River Days: Exploring the Connecticut River and its History from Source to Sea (2001) ISBN 1929173032
- Quabbin: A History and Explorer's Guide (2002) ISBN 0971954712
- Trailguide: Outdoors in Franklin (2002) OCLC 49673887
- Nature Walks South of Boston: AMC Guide to Hiking, Birding, and Exploring Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod (2006) ISBN 1929173679
- AMC's Best Day Hikes near Boston, 2nd: Four-Season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails in Eastern Massachusetts (2006, with John S. Burk) ISBN 1934028479
- Good Night Vermont (2007) ISBN 1602190178
- Inns and Adventures: A History and Explorer's Guide to Vermont, New Hampshire, and the Berkshires (2015, with Alison O'Leary) ISBN 0991340140
- Writing
- Cape Cod: In the Words of Thoreau and Beston (2000) ISBN 158066007X
Adaptations
- The Finest Hours (2016), film directed by Craig Gillespie, based on non-fiction book The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue
References
- "'Finest Hours' co-author Michael Tougias drawn to stories of survival". The Telegram.
- Disney's The Finest Hours - Trailer 1. 8 July 2015 – via YouTube.
- Eliza Berman. ""The Finest Hours": The True Story Behind the Movie". TIME.com.
- "Michael J. Tougias". Simon & Schuster.
- "Maritime survival writer Michael Tougias plunges into something new". BostonGlobe.com.