One Book, One County program welcomes speaker

Michigan resident Mahtob Mahmoody, the daughter in the story, “Not Without My Daughter,” will speak at 7 o’clock tonight at Sturges-Young Auditorium as part of the “One Book, One County” program.
Mahmoody will share the rest of the story beyond the dangerous escape her mother, Betty Mahmoody, made from their abusive and tyrannical Iranian husband and father, and life after fleeing Tehran.
She wrote of living in fear of re-abduction, recurring nightmares and panic attacks, attending school under a false name while battling a life-threatening illness.
“My Name Is Mahtob” was first released in Europe, according to Todd Reed, director of the Sturgis District Library.
Knowing she was a Michigan author, Reed said it has been his goal to secure Mahmoody for the county-wide event since the book was released in the U.S.
So far, 600 free tickets for tonight’s event have been distributed.
A limited number of tickets are still available from St. Joseph County libraries, including Glen Oaks Community College library.
More information is available online at: onebookonecounty.org.