NEW YORK, April 11, 2017 – Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, will publish STAND BY YOUR TRUTH: And Then Run for Your Life by comedian, radio personality, and television star Rickey Smiley, it was announced today by Jennifer Bergstrom, Publisher.

STAND BY YOUR TRUTH is part memoir, part testimonial, and part life guide, mixing Rickey’s down-home humor with the wholesome values that stuck with him, both from his childhood spent in the Baptist church, as well as from his professional and comedic mentors. In his book of essays, Smiley reflects on a variety of topics: the challenges of raising children, the importance of education, the need for people to get out of their comfort zones, and his strong feelings on social justice and always standing up for your own truth. His recent musings on how teenagers need to be more appreciative of their parents lit up social media.

Birmingham native Rickey Smiley jumpstarted his career opening for comic greats, including Steve Harvey and George Wallace. He is currently the host of the nationally syndicated hit radio show The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, which broadcasts to between four and six million listeners in over eighty markets every weekday. He is also the star of Rickey Smiley for Real, a TV One docu-drama television series about his life as a single dad and entertainer, which is Tuesday night’s #1 cable program among African Americans and has recently been renewed for a fourth season. He has released eight chart-topping comedy albums, including the iTunes #1 bestselling comedy album, “Rickey Smiley – Prank Calls Number 6”.

“Rickey demonstrates the height of class, humility, and work ethic when he entertains and when he gives back to the community—and that’s exactly how he conducts himself in business. We could not be prouder to be his publishing team,” said Bergstrom.

“Writing a book and putting some of my thoughts and my concerns about our modern world to paper has been a dream of mine for many years. After spending considerable time backstage with Gallery publisher, Jennifer Bergstrom, I just knew that she saw that part of me that needed to be committed to a book format. I am so thrilled she saw my vision and Gallery will be my publisher.”

Executive Editor Jeremie Ruby-Strauss acquired world and audio rights from Alan Nevins at Renaissance Literary & Talent. STAND BY YOUR TRUTH is scheduled for publication on October 24, 2017.

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GALLERY BOOKS is an imprint dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics. Launched in February 2010, Gallery is designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction genres. Some of Gallery Books’ bestselling titles include The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer, The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware, Binge by Tyler Oakley, Selp Helf by Miranda Sings, Five Presidents by Clint Hill, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and Love Anthony by Lisa Genova.

SIMON & SCHUSTER, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

Contact:
Jennifer Robinson
V.P. Director of Publicity
Gallery Books
212.698.2719
Jennifer.robinson@simonandschuster.com