It’s been a long wait, but it’s finally here — my first book, “Night Boat to New York,” a portrait of the vanished Connecticut River steamboat era. (Globe/Pequot) I know maritime enthusiasts will delight in this look back to the days of steam, but I think many others will enjoy the ride, for I tried to conjure up a world I would have enjoyed stepping into. I’ve always been interested in the history of entertainment and leisure, especially 19th century fun, and the steamboat was at the center of this revolution. Labor saving technology often strips away the poetry of life. The steamboat, however, was unique in combining up-to-date travel with a romance and glamour that has never been matched in any other form of transportation. I have to thank Globe/Pequot for doing such a fabulous job. Ready to take the show on the road!