Mary Matalin to Bring Fiery Conservatism to New S&S Imprint

Political commentator and Bush administration insider Mary Matalin will head a new politics-centered, conservative-bent books imprint at Simon & Schuster, the company announced today. The former assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney plans to publish six to ten books per year, beginning in early '06.

"This combines my political work with what I like most: to advance ideas," Matalin told The Book Standard.

The books to be published by the as-yet-unnamed imprint are described as having "a topical bent that is consistent with Ms. Matalin's well-known conservative views." The imprint itself "will be open to books in categories ranging from politics, history and media to faith, values and cultural issues," according to a release that followed S&S Adult Trade Publishing president Carolyn K. Reidy's announcement.

Matalin says that Louise Burke, executive VP and publisher of Pocket Books, came up with the idea for the new imprint and that David Rosenthal, executive VP and publisher of Simon & Schuster, brought the idea to her. Rosenthal and Burke will jointly manage the imprint.

Asked what she anticipates her actual role will be in the publishing venture, Matalin said, "I'll be combining my experience with critical ways to advance ideas. I'll still be doing in whatever capacity what I'm doing with the [Bush] administration." Matalin plans to continue working from her Washington, D.C., office.

Declining to name authors or politicians currently in talks to write books for the imprint, Matalin says that "announcements are coming soon. There won't be any shortage of people to approach or who are interested [in writing books for her]. It's about finding authors for ideas, getting authors that represent the current state of conservatism, something that has not ascended; it has arrived."

The beltway insider, seen often on CNN's Crossfire and NBC's Meet the Press, is well-known in large part for her politically, publicly contentious relationship with her husband, James Carville, who presided over the "war room" for Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign. The couple co-authored 1994's All's Fair: Love, War, and Running for President.

Addressing the suggestion that she's making a transition from politics to book-publishing, Matalin says that the two are "mutually exclusive. I don't have a career track. I'm not a career politician. I just like to do what I find interesting, when it comes along. But political tactics are ephemeral. Books last."