A new book “The President’s Therapist” by Kent resident John Wareham is described as a political thriller detailing George W. Bush’s relapse and treatment for alcoholism. Interesting concept — and even more so that it comes out just as Bush finishes his final days at the White House. One publisher, who declined to take on the book, described the topic as “too combustible.”

“Truth may be stranger than fiction but the lines are blurred in The President’s Therapist,” reads the press release for this compact 231-page hardcover novel from Welcome Rain Publishers in New York, which clearly wasn’t concerned with the possibly flammable nature of the words.

Wareham has written op-eds for The New York Times and Financial Times. His books include “Secrets of a Corporate Headhunter” and “How to Break Out of Prison” as well as the novel “Chancey On Top.” In addition, he is founder and president of The Eagles Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to teach incarcerated prisons how to be leaders of their own lives.

In “The President’s Therapist”, Wareham portrays the outgoing president as the lead character and major patient of Dr. Mark Alter, a psychotherapist who also engages in marriage counseling with First Lady Laura Bush. We’ve all seen those tabloid magazines at supermarket check-outs, I assume.

Well, it sounds interesting and certainly thought-provoking. The topic and Wareham’s always clever writing suggested many questions to me and I’m pleased to say he generously responded to my inquiry. What follows is a question-and-answer interview we recently engaged in through email. If you’d like to know more about the book, go to www.washingtonwatch.com or about Wareham, check out his Web site

Q: How and when did you get the idea for this book?

A: “When W fell off his couch, blackening his eye, it seemed probable to me that he was drinking again. The National Enquirer subsequently ran a story to that effect. Then, as the Iraq situation worsened W’s only response seemed to be the signature rigidity of the on-again off-again “dry drunk.” As a lifetime advisor to corporate leaders, I remember thinking that he needed to get some serious counseling on both alcoholism and leadership — but that unless someone in the White House somehow managed secretly to slip a professional psychoanalyst onto the schedule, it ever happen. I decided to write a novel exploring how such an intervention might play out, if it ever happened. It took me about three months to finish the novel. I had an agent shop it to several big publishers, but, as one of them said, it was “too combustible.” Fortunately, it got picked up by an independent publisher of literary fiction prepared to crash it into print.”

Try saying that one three times fast. It’s not poetry, that’s for sure.

Regardless of all the P’s, Pelham Public  Library has just announced its second annual James J. Nicholson Political Poetry Prize competition and is seeking entries by Inauguration Day. The contest is open to all residents of Westchester who are 18 years and older. There is a  $500 cash prize (and a separate category for Pelham High School/Middle school students, who can win $150 and $100 respectively).

Judging the adult category this year will be Pushcart Prize-winning poet and Tarrytown resident Patricia Smith. The deadline for entries is Jan. 20.

The awards program was established in memory of James J. Nicholson, who contributed to the town library. He co-chaired the Friends of the Library fundraising campaign that culminated in the dedication of the library in 1995, and served on the Library Board of Trustees for a decade.

The prize is supported by gifts to the library from  family and friends, and a gift from Peggy Nicholson and her family.  Nicholson contributed significantly to the creation of the Town Library. Below is a photo of  Peggy Nicholson (left) with Morgan McDaniel, a junior at Pelham Memorial High School, winner of the Student Prize;  and Denise Frasca of Katonah, winner of the adult prize.

Judging the adult category is Smith, a Pushcart Prize-winning  who also was a National Book Award finalist this year for her new collection, “Blood Dazzler.” She has published five volumes of poetry, including the award-winning “Teahouse of the Almighty” and is the author of the children’s book, ” Janna and the Kings.” and the history book Africans in America.

A jury of poets and poetry readers will select the winning student poems.

To find out more and to submit an entry, go to the library’s site.