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Talk: A Novel Hardcover – May 6, 2014
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Stan Powers finds himself at a crossroads. Poised to take the last step in his unlikely ascent to the top of conservative talk radio, his conscience may not let him. Set amid the backdrop of "the most important presidential election of our lifetime," Powers - as the most influential voice in Tampa's hotly contested I-4 Corridor - holds the key to Florida, and therefore the Oval Office. His on-air attacks singlehandedly put an abrupt end to the top candidates' main competitors in the primaries, and now he is in the singular position to influence who wins the highest elected office in the world. Will he continue playing the game according to his cynical advisors, or listen to his own conscience and drop an even bigger bomb than expected? With a story that could have been ripped from the headlines, deeply developed characters and interconnected plotlines, and one of the most shocking and rewarding denouements you'll ever experience, this is the perfect political thriller for today's America.
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherCider Mill Press
- Publication dateMay 6, 2014
- Dimensions6 x 1 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101604334908
- ISBN-13978-1604334906
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Cider Mill Press is a publisher of high-quality cookbooks, elegant wine and spirits projects, humorous parodies, classic children's books, and more. We're proud to publish many celebrated titles, including the The Night Before Christmas. We combine top-notch design, unique formats, and fresh content to create truly innovative gift books.
Editorial Reviews
Review
- 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. 1 New 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 really thinking, 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
“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
“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, and delivers 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
"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. Talk is 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
Product details
- Publisher : Cider Mill Press; SOFT COVER PROMO edition (May 6, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1604334908
- ISBN-13 : 978-1604334906
- Item Weight : 1.3 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,353,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,121 in Political Fiction (Books)
- #8,008 in Political Thrillers (Books)
- #8,981 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

Michael Smerconish is the host of the Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM Channel 124 and the host of a Saturday morning talk show on CNN. He was the first radio host to interview President Barack Obama live from the White House. He has authored six books (two of which were New York Times' best sellers) including Talk: A Novel, Flying 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 the Philadelphia Inquirer, has been an on-air contributor with MSNBC, and has guest hosted Hardball with Chris Matthews. He has been a guest on the Today 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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That said - I both really enjoyed it and was somewhat disappointed all at the same time... I think Michael's views on the talk radio industry are pretty well known and this book felt more like an essay on that versus a real story... I think the ending was kind of forced as well... All the points were made, so time to wrap it up... Closing monologue; The End.
But all that said - I did enjoy it as I am interested in the topic of the essay and I am in violent agreement with the points being made (oh wait, am I self selecting material I already agree with?? The horror).
It is well written and I was able to finish it pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who has an interest in the whole polarized media situation and wants some insight as to how it works. But if you are not interested in that kind of thing, you may want to try something else...
His protagonist, Stan Powers has a knack for talk radio but his audience doesn't know he doesn't believe in everything he espouses on his right-wing radio show. When he becomes the main media force behind the Republican Presidential candidate... well I leave the rest for you to read for yourself.
You won't believe this is a first novel, the characters well formed and believable. The plot is as believable and interesting and I found it to be a page turner right to the end.
I have no idea where it would go, but Michael if you'd write a sequel, I'd read it, for sure!
I myself love listening to and reading Mr. Smerconish thoughts.



