Audio Memoir Dramatizes Personal Loss as Convicted Lockerbie Bomber Released From Scottish Prison

NEW YORK, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ — As the world reacted with disbelief and anger to Scotland’s release from prison of convicted Lockerbie bomber, Al-Megrahi, the coming release of Helen Engelhardt’s audio memoir, The Longest Night–A Personal History of Pan Am 103, is a voice of those families and friends who were personally affected by this early act of terrorism. Convicted and sentenced to life in prison by the Scottish court in 2001, the former Libyan intelligence agent, who is suffering with terminal cancer, was released on compassionate grounds.

Among the official protests lodged by governments worldwide was FBI Director Robert Mueller III’s letter stating “. . . it makes a mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own on December 21, 1988.”

The Longest Night – A Personal History of Pan Am 103 is a deeply emotional audio book that begins with the author’s learning that her husband was killed in the terrorist bombing over Lockerbie and ends after a journey of twelve seemingly endless months. Engelhardt’s husband, Tony Hawkins, was returning from a family visit when Pan Am 103 exploded, killing 270 people. More than one woman’s journey, The Longest Night weaves conversations, recorded at the time of the crash, with family and friends of the victims as well as residents of Lockerbie, as they describe the impact on their lives and on those of the people they knew.

While the heart of this memoir is the story of Engelhardt and Hawkins, it is through her recounting how she connected with these other broken families as they created a political support group that we come to realize the extent of the damage done to those left behind, and see the beginnings of the more than 12 year legal battle that ended in 2001 with Al-Megrahi’s sentencing.

Since 1989, Engelhardt, a writer, poet, storyteller, and independent audio artist, has created work that explores the loss and grief felt by herself and others who suffered from the Lockerbie bombing. In addition to The Longest Night, she has produced the public radio pieces “Yesterday and Forever… recollecting Lockerbie” and “Mothers and Sons,” both of which feature stories of women who lost loved ones on Flight 103.

The Longest Night, directed for Midsummer Sound Company by award-winning audio book producer Jeffrey Hedquist.

For information: www.midsummersoundcompany.com

Email: midsummersoundcompany@gmail.com

SOURCE Midsummer Sound Company