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MICHAEL SMERCONISH'S NOVEL TALK OFFERS UP ROLLICKING TAKE DOWN OF POLARIZED MEDIA
KENNEBUNKPORT, ME —Sirius XM talk radio host,Philadelphia Inquirercolumnist, and CNN's newest Saturday morning host, Michael Smerconish (The Michael Smerconish Program, Sirius XM POTUS Channel 124, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. EST daily) is poised to set the world of politics and media on fire with his new novel,Talk.Releasing in May 2014 (Cider Mill Press), the novel follows a conservative talk-radio host as he careens toward a showdown between his personal beliefs and professional ambitions amid the backdrop of “the most important presidential election of our lifetime.”
AsTalkopens, Stan Powers finds himself at a crossroads. Thanks to the driving influence of the right-wing media guru who calls his every shot, Powers is poised to take the last step in his unlikely ascent to the top of conservative talk radio. The only obstacle is his own conscience.
As the most influential voice in Tampa’s crucial I-4 corridor that holds the key to the Oval Office, Powers is being pushed hard to play dirty, and the stakes are raised at every turn. His unscrupulous on-air attacks single-handedly destroy the Texas governor’s competitors in the Republican primary, and now he is positioned to usher her into the highest elected office in the world. But to do so, he will have to take down the Florida governor and Democratic nominee who holds a dark secret and is married to a key figure from Powers’ past. Will he continue playing the game according to his cynical advisers, or listen to his own conscience and drop an even bigger bomb than expected?
Drawing on his vast insider knowledge of both politics and the media, two-timeNew York Timesbestseller Michael Smerconish delivers the book that thoughtful and concerned Americans have been waiting for—the Primary Colors of 2014. He sheds light on the deeply flawed relationship between American public discourse and modern electioneering, and demands that a real conversation about the future of this structure be started among everyone from Main Street to K Street. Best of all, he delivers his message in the guise of a highly entertaining political thriller.
Cider Mill Press has announced a first print run of 100,000 copies distributed by Simon & Schuster. Talk will be featured in a 25-city radio satellite tour, promotion on Sirius XM, print, and broadcast outlets. Talk is $24.95 US/$28.95 CAN.
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Praise for Talkby Michael Smerconish
“Michael Smerconish has taken to heart the classic advice to first-time novelists to "write what you know": in his case, the overheated, intrigue-laden, agenda-strewn landscape where presidential politics and talk radio intersect. The resulting book is an absolute treat from first page to last. Fun and funny, raucous and razor-sharp, brimming with vitality and buzzy verisimilitude, TALK delivers truths large and small about the freak show that our ideologically polarized media environment has become. And does so with all the flair and savvy that are Smerconish's on-air trademarks.”
- Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, coauthors of GAME CHANGE and DOUBLE DOWN
“Smerconish has taken the plunge into fiction and it is a beautiful swan dive, perfectly timed and executed, as though he’s been doing it all his life...Michael Smerconish’s talk show character of Stan Powers is complex, thoughtful, and ultimately honest with his listeners and himself. You will love this guy, and this book.”
- Nelson DeMille, No. 1New York Times bestselling author (Gold Coast, The General’s Daughter, Plum Island)
"If you've ever wondered what one of those hyper-ventilating, 'look-out! The sky is falling!' radio leatherlungs is reallythinking, here is a bracing dose of candor, offered by one of the medium's most insightful figures. It's a gift to his listeners that Michael does not practice what his character screeches...and a gift to his readers that he renders this world so compellingly."
- Jeff Greenfield, Five-Time Emmy-winning TV correspondent
“What a rollicking, romping, rip-roaring, read!Seriously, I am so impressed. Smerconish managed to compress into one book all the horrors, humor, and humiliations of both modern-day politics and talk radio.Of course it's fiction, but for those of us who have lived in those worlds, "Talk" hits awfully close to the bone, anddelivers more insight into modern politics and media than any nonfiction I've read. And it's a pure hoot.”
- Mark McKinnon, Media Advisor to George W. Bush, Cofounder of No Labels
“Whether you love or hate talk radio--and no one's neutral on this one-- you will devour Talk. It's scintillating, sexy and smart. It also makes a powerful point you will love or hate but can't ignore. Read Talk and talk about it.”
- Alan Dershowitz, Author of Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law
“Wow! Strap in because this is one helluva fun ride. Talk is Michael Smerconish’s brutal and brilliant true to life story of politics, media, the games people play. I did say this wasfiction, right?”
- Michael Steele, former chairman, Republican National Committee
"In his first novel, TALK, Michael Smerconish, a guy who actually brings rational, thoughtful opinion and insight daily onto the national stage, has drawn back the curtain on two universes - politics and talk radio - that have dominated so much of the discourse around the direction of the country. Who knew? Smerconish writes as well as he talks. Buy the book. Learn a lot."
- Mike Barnicle - Columnist, Contributor to MSNBC's Morning Joe program
“You want a preview of how we will pick our next president? Read this compelling first novel by Michael Smerconish. I couldn’t put it down.Talkis the fascinating behind the scenes story of how big time politics and the big time communications are on a daily collision course. The resulting police report: careers are made, lives are destroyed and somebody ends up standing at the presidential podium.”
- Sal Paolantonio, national correspondent, ESPN
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Talk: A Novelby Michael Smerconish
ISBN: 9781604334906 | Hardcover | 6 x 9 | 272 pages | $24.95/$28.95 Can | On sale date: May 6, 2014
To request additional advance reader copies, please contact Alyssa Richard, 207-967-8235 or
Praise for Michael Smerconish’s Previous Best Sellers
Instinct: The Man Who Stopped The Twentieth Hijacker
Michael Smerconish is perhaps the most intelligent , insightful and provocative public commentator on the current scene. He also has a great narrative style and displays all these glittering talents in Instinct. The little known tale of Jose Melendez -Perez’ calm heroism has many important subtexts and vital lessons for our security. Smerconish illuminates them all. It is both important history and great motivational therapy.
- John F. Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy; Member of the 9/11 Commission
Jose Melendez-Perez is a true American hero; but for his actions in preventing the 20th hijacker, Mohamed al-Kahtani from entering the United States, the Capitol Building might have been destroyed.
- Richard Ben-Veniste, Member of the 9/11 Commission
Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking
Michael Smerconish is a feeling, thinking American. He has an open heart and an open mind. Read Morning Drive and you hear someone trying to put it together for himself…When it comes to defining the American debate in the early twenty-first century, this guy’s right where the tire hits the road.
- Chris Mathews, host of Hardball with Chris Mathews
Morning Drive is a must for Washington insiders and citizens across the country who are interested in preserving not just a healthy two-party system – but also their ability to get access to balanced, impartial news.
- United States Senator Arlen Specter, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Michael Smerconish…doesn’t part on ideology or a partisan political agenda, and he sure as heck isn’t predictable. It’s that same independence and unpredictability that make Morning Drive a great read.
- Former Governor Edward G. Rendell, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Morning Drive provides terrific insight into who Michael is, how he came to be, and how independent thinking is essential to achieving smart political results.
- Harold Ford, Jr., former United States Congressman, Chair of Democratic Leadership Council
Murdered by Mumia: A Life Sentence of Loss, Pain and Injustice
This is a harrowing book, told with uncommon grace and dignity. Maureen Faulkner is an incredible woman. The story she tells of being denied for more than a quarter century the dignity of burying her police officer husband in peace is even more incredible.
- Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights
Maureen Faulkner is a genuine American heroine. While influential people garner cheap headlines with stories of false injustice, Maureen Faulkner fights behind the scenes and in public to preserve the good name of her husband. This is a real justice story.
- John Timoney, Miami Chief of Police
About Michael Smerconish
Michael Smerconish is the host of the Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM Channel 124, and will be the host of the new show, “Smerconish,” airing on Saturday mornings on CNN. He was the first radio host to interview President Barack Obama live from the White House. With the exception of Reagan, he has interviewed every president since Jimmy Carter. He has authored fives books (two of which were New York Times' best sellers) includingFlying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Airline Safety Post 9/11, Muzzled: From T-Ball to Terrorism, Trues Stories That Should be Fiction, Murdered by Mumia: A Life Sentence of Loss, Pain and Injustice, Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking, and Instinct: The Man Who Stopped the 20th Hijacker.
He writes a column in the Sunday edition of thePhiladelphia Inquirer,has been an on-air contributor with MSNBC, and has guest hostedHardball with Chris Matthews. He has been a guest on theToday Show, the Colbert Report, the O'Reilly Factor, Larry King Live, The View and Real Time with Bill Maher.
He practiced law for ten years, and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Lehigh University. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and four children.
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