{Nashville, TN, March 27, 2013} Coming off the heels of the success of the fall 2012 release of Duck Commander Family by Willie and Korie Robertson, the stars of the A&E hit series “Duck Dynasty” sign a multi-book deal with Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The deal will include new books from Phil Robertson, Si Robertson, Miss Kay, and a Duck Commander Devotional. The next book will release in early May – Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil. The remaining books will release this fall; SiCology 1 and Miss Kay’s Cookbook. The deal locks in book publishing across the board for the famous bayou family, who continue to top the ratings as A&E’s most watched series.
“We are extremely excited to continue working with the Robertson family on their books,” said Jonathan Merkh, Vice President and Publisher of Howard Books. “The popularity of the show combined with their commitment to their faith and family make this a perfect fit for Howard Books.”
Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander is the personal story of family patriarch, Phil Robertson. An NFL-bound quarterback, Phil made his mark on Louisiana Tech University in the 1960s by playing football and completing his college career with a master’s degree in English. But Phil’s eyes were not always on the books or the ball; they were usually looking to the sky.
Phil grew up with the dream of living the simple life off the land, but he soon found himself on a path to self-destruction—leasing a bar, drinking too much, fighting, and wasting his talents. He almost lost it all until he gave his life to God. And then everything changed.
Phil’s incredible story tells how he followed a calling from God and soon after invented a duck call that would begin an incredible journey to the life he had always dreamed of for himself and his family. With great love for his country, his family, and his maker, Phil has finally found the ingredients to the “good life” he always wanted.
SICOLOGY 1, set for release in early October, will include stories of how he came to use a green Tupperware cup for his ever-present tea, how his cigarette smoke made a deer cough (he’s since quit smoking) and in many of these never-before-heard tales, Si openly talks about his wife and two children—who are never seen and rarely mentioned on the show.
Si’s one-liners are presented alongside fun, expressive photographs. “These hands are so fast, I can get your wallet before you know it.” “In a minute, you’ll be standing there buck naked and won’t know what hit you!” “Look here—if it wasn’t for my tripped knee, I’d be playing in the NBA today.” “Hey, Jack!” The brother of Phil Robertson, Uncle Si has a limitless supply of stories about his childhood, duck hunting adventures, his days in Vietnam, and everything in between.
Miss Kay’s Cookbook shares family matriarch, Miss Kay’s mouth-watering meals from the Robertson’s dinner table – now featured at the end of each show. From fried chicken to fried frog legs, sausage gumbo to crawfish étouffée, and buttery biscuits to red beans and rice, Miss Kay is a master of the back-country, home-cooked meal.
Each section of Miss Kay’s Cookbook {releasing in November, 2013} is organized around different family members and special events, including insider stories and colorful dinner table conversations that will keep you laughing. Miss Kay also reveals the favorite recipes of each of the Robertson men—and their wives. True to her down-home style, Miss Kay doesn’t disappoint: “Food is the language, and I know how to speak it!”
The deal will also include a Duck Commander Devotional which shares an inspirational message, scripture, and prayer for each day of the year. Not only are the messages inspirational, but they are also laced with the wit and humor that the characters reveal on the show.
Merkh along with Philis Boultinghouse, Senior Editor at Howard Books, who will edit the books, negotiated the deal with John Howard, President of the Howard Agency and Mel Berger with William Morris Endeavor. Audio rights are included in this deal.
Howard Books is an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Based in Nashville, the imprint is home to numerous New York Times bestselling books. Simon & Schuster is a part of CBS Corporation, 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 Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information visit our website www.simonandschuster.com