THE iCONGRESSMAN

Short Description

The iCongressman follows Michael Bennit after his unlikely political journey finally lands him in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bennit quickly discovers that winning an election was the easy part. As an independent unwilling to play by Washington's traditional rules, he finds himself isolated by congressional leadership and drawn into a much larger struggle over how the House operates, who controls it, and whether an outsider can actually change the institution from within.

Genre

The iCongressman is political fiction with elements of political thriller, suspense, drama, and humor. Much of the novel takes place inside the world of congressional offices, campaigns, political strategy, journalism, and the House of Representatives.]

Inspiration

The inspiration for The iCongressman came from wanting to explore how a hard-charging soldier would conduct himself in Congress when a political career had never been part of his life’s plan. Michael Bennit does not go to Washington in search of power, status, or a stepping-stone to higher office. He goes there with the same sense of duty that guided him in the military: to serve his country, complete the mission, and produce meaningful results. Instead, he finds himself surrounded by unserious people who seem more interested in partisan games, personal ambition, and protecting their positions than solving the nation’s problems. I wanted to see what would happen when someone accustomed to direct action, accountability, and sacrifice confronted a political institution built on compromise, delay, and self-preservation.

I was also interested in whether young adults fresh out of high school could thrive in that world. Michael’s former students enter Washington without political experience, powerful connections, or established careers, but they bring intelligence, loyalty, adaptability, and a willingness to challenge assumptions. Their journey allowed me to explore whether people not yet shaped by the system might recognize its absurdities more clearly, and whether youthful idealism could survive in a place where nearly everything becomes a political calculation.

Behind the Book: The iCongressman

• Michael is a true fish out of water in Washington. His military background, direct manner, and sense of duty clash with a political culture built around seniority, party loyalty, and carefully calculated compromises.

• Through Chelsea and the other young members of Michael’s staff, I wanted to explore how difficult it can be for young people to have their ideas taken seriously—even when they are intelligent, capable, and more perceptive than the people dismissing them.

• Congresswoman Marilyn Viano was patterned very loosely on Geraldine Ferraro, the former vice-presidential candidate whom I had the privilege of meeting at Marist College during my senior year.

• Congressman Cisco Reyes was inspired by a friend of mine who constantly makes jokes similar to the ones Cisco delivers in the novel.

• I wanted to examine the havoc that a viable third party, or a large bloc of independent representatives, could cause in Congress. Breaking the two-party structure might create new opportunities, but it could also make forming coalitions and passing legislation far more unpredictable.

• Michael flipping a table during his ethics hearing felt completely natural to me. It is exactly the kind of dramatic, impulsive statement he would make once pushed beyond his limit—regardless of where he was or who was watching.