The Michael Bennit Series

Can an honest man change the course of a nation?

The award-winning Michael Bennit Series from multiple award-winning political fiction author Mikael Carlson begins with The iCandidate, winner of the National Indie Excellence Award for Political Thriller and a Silver Medal winner in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards, as well as a Global Ebook Awards Silver Medalist and multiple-award finalist.

Life sometimes comes down to a few important moments. Whether you go left or right, it’s a decision that will forever change the trajectory of your journey in this world. As Michael Bennit’s B-period honors students prepared for their final examinations, they wanted to make a bet with him that included some interesting stakes. As a matter of principle, Michael never entertained these bets with students. Until this time.

What happens from that point on becomes one of the greatest underdog stories in American politics. A U.S. Army veteran and high school history teacher would become the country’s most powerful political figure. What makes Michael’s story so compelling? He never wanted to be a politician and didn’t run for office to enrich himself. He did it for his students. He serves his constituents. His political enemies aren’t those on either side of the aisle; they are the ones who choose to grow their political power at the expense of the people.

This series is popular because it doesn’t take sides on ideological issues. In today’s hyper-politicized world, readers don’t want another series of novels to preach to them. This series is about a man against the establishment and those willing to help him take it on. In his eyes, America may be flawed, but it is still the greatest country in the world. He wants to prove that the rampant corruption in government isn’t a flaw in the system itself but in the people who run it.

He has plenty of help along the way, much of it coming from his core class of honors students. Now entering the world as high school graduates, they join him in his struggle. What once started as a civics lesson has become their life choice. While the premise of throwing young adults into the shady world of national politics may sound far-fetched, we must remember that the renowned environmentalist Greta Thunberg was only fifteen when she started her activism. Michael’s students represent an innocence and youthful vision of the world not often associated with younger generations.

The Michael Bennit Series blends political suspense, humor, idealism, rivalry, and the human drama behind public life. At its center is a man who never intended to enter politics but discovers that sometimes the most important journeys begin with the decision you almost refused to make.

The series spans four novels, following Michael and the people around him as a simple classroom challenge grows into a national political movement.

Will Michael Bennit's story end there? In politics, as in life, nothing is ever completely certain.