Hello Friends and Readers,

it was a fun summer getting the word out about the latest book, In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival and Courage. One of the more interesting interviews I did was with Anthony Scaramucci on his podcast. He actually had read the book cover to cover so the 45 minute discussion was great. We also had an international feature of the book in the U.K.'s Daily Mail, and a write up in the book review magazine Kirkus that said "This is exactly how narrative non-fiction should be written. Heart-pounding."

The survivors were only given a 1% chance of being found alive by the Coast Guard, and that was before anyone on land knew about the unusual and terrifying tiger shark attack. Read how miraculous this rescue was!



A personalized book makes a great holiday gift and you can order one here Purchase Personalized Book! (During the last step of ordering you will see a place for "comments" to tell me exactly how the inscription should read.) Or if you don't want it personalized you can purchase where ever books are sold including online Amazon -- In Deep Water

I want to thank all of you who have shared my online posts, written reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, and created recommendation posts of your own. It so gratifying for me to see readers go the extra step. In fact I hope you will share this newsletter with friends or family!

We are one step closer to having In Deep Water being made into a movie. I wrote the screenplay and Academy Award-Winning Producer Lili Zanuck is presenting the project to studios.

I slowed down my speaking a bit but the ones I did do were mememorable such as the Tuftonboro Library's annual luncheon and also a business presentation titled "Leadership Lessons from The Finest Hours" which I keynoted at the Federal Probation Officers Annual Meeting. Such interesting people I met at both venues!

And of course I'll speak at my hometown library in Mendon on October 14th at 7pm. I cracked up when I first saw the sign becaue instead of In Deep Water it said "Michael Tougias: In Hot Water." I thought boy am I in trouble because of an overdue book, this could be like the Salem witch trials! (I love my library and we always have great turnouts for slide presentatons. I'll also be speaking in Harvard MA Library on October 16 at 7pm.

This is my 10th book on maritime survival and rescue and Ai now says I'm the leading author of that niche. I just hope Ai doesn't put me out of business -- but then again the technology would need to interview the 70 people who played some role in In Deep Water.

The photo on the left is not Ai, but a photo a reader sent me of their boat being in the wrong spot when a whale breached!

I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually enjoying posting 60 second clips of my travels, adventures and misadventures. See Instagram @michaeltougias. The posts include videos of activities at my cabin, on the ocean, on rivers, and in the vegetable garden that I grow on my front lawn. That is the subject of my next book coming out in March, titled I Can Eat My Yard: Turn Your Lawn into an Edible Garden. (Instead of spreading chemicals on grass I'm growing organic food and a meadow. This August and September I was able to grow about 40% of the food I eat. Hoping for 50% next year.)

I'll be posting gardening tips/stories on Substack starting in February and you can sign up to receive these posts here Tougias Substack

I loaded some different books and gift-packs onto my website at steep discounts for the holidays. The most popular gift pack has been "The 3 Favorites for $30" which includes a hardcover of So Close To Home (WWII Uboat story), There's a Porcupine In My Outhouse, and Rescue of the Bounty in Superstorm Sandy. The "Middle Reader Giftpack" has also been popular, targeted for children ages 9 to 15.

Also on the website:



• Best Day Hikes Near Boston & Exploring the Hidden Charles at 50% off (the hikes are throughout eastern MA mostly within the 495 belt, and the Hidden Charles is a travelogue and guidebook)

• The Finest Hours and Into A Raging Sea at 50% off (Finest Hours is the Cape Cod rescue and the book was made into a Disney movie with Chris Pine & Casey Affleck. Into a Raging Sea was written by the hero of the Finest Hours and includes all his rescues and even a failure!

You can order those with a click of your mouse Order here for a personalized book!

When you order any three books I'll send you a free copy of Inn's and Adventures In VT, NH, and the Berkshires.