Michael Sigalas
Poet. Novelist. Songwriter. Charleston History Guide.
Author of the upcoming Historical novel, The Song Poet.
Studied under James Dickey.
Most fled the banjos. I came.
The Song Poet:
A 1930's Tale of Gravity, Love,
and Other Things You Can't Stop
THE SONG POET, a Depression-era historical romance set between the streets of Hell’s Kitchen and the Appalachian mountains of South Carolina.
THE PREMISE
In Depression-weary 1937, a once-promising, now hack NYC songwriter and a tragedy-haunted, mystical Appalachian poetess cross paths through a phony Song Poet contest—meant to bilk the gullible and unsophisticated by offering false hope and praise for pitifully bad (and often humorous) attempts at poetry.But somehow, with the help of a vibrant cast of friends, family, and antagonists—and after a flurry of train wrecks, boxing scandals, altar calls, radio hootenannies, and one really godawful dirigible disaster (it’s 1937)—a partnership that starts as a scam becomes something sacred.
THE SONG POET is a novel about music, grief, spiritual longing, remembering who you were meant to be, and falling in love when you thought you were finished. It’s about the power of plain old, flat-footed Love when Faith and Hope seem to have taken sabbaticals.And yes—my Hell's Kitchen-raised grandfather shows up in the story, alongside his real-life friends from 1937, including doomed heavyweight contender Arthur Huttick—plus cameos from Shoeless Joe Jackson, Joe Louis, and even Eddie Rabbitt’s dad.A friend described it as O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? meets THE NOTEBOOK—but after I smacked him around a little, he agreed to withdraw the Notebook thing entirely and revised it to: Pat Conroy meets Damon Runyon, if GUYS AND DOLLS had a third act written by Wendell Berry.
The Press on Michael Sigalas
Moon Handbooks South Carolina is for travelers who want a complete unique experience, a new perspective - and a few new stories to tell.
trademeco.nz,
AUCKLAND, NZ
Sigalas gives fine advice on everything from sharks (lose the belly ring) to pronunciation (Sherman is "SAY-tun"). We South Carolinians, it turns out, are "a diverse and gracious people" who are "taught to say 'please' and 'thank you,'" whether we feel like it or not. Thank you, Mike. It's a terrific book--and that's gospel.
RODNEY STEVENS, CHARLESTON DAILY NEWS
A rich narrative that provides insight on each region's history, geography, people, arts, politics, and social issues; complete information on language, transportation, accommodations, restaurants, outdoor recreation, and sightseeing.
MSN.COM
BIO
Michael Sigalas is a poet, novelist, songwriter, and ten-year veteran history tour guide based in Charleston, South Carolina. Trained under James Dickey at the University of South Carolina, he has published travel writing, poetry, and performed his original songs across the South. His debut novel, The Song Poet, draws on his grandfather's 1937 New York memoirs and decades of research into Depression-era Appalachian and Hell's Kitchen culture. He is currently seeking representation for the novel.