Talk: A Novel
“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. 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