ABOUT MIKAEL CARLSON

Mikael Carlson's political thrillers and dramas are a little different. All nine of his novels use multiple first-person narratives to draw the reader right into the heart of the action while expertly examining different themes as the plot unwinds. His multiple award-winning stories are true hero's journeys featuring characters that range from the lovable to the despicable!

2018 Winner badge for '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading,' presented by The Authors Show.
Two soldiers walking on grass after a parachute landing, carrying military gear, with parachutes spread on the ground, against a backdrop of trees and blue sky.
A person standing on a snowy ground next to a sign that says 'Arctic Circle' with buildings in the background, decorated for winter.

Political thriller author Mikael Carlson was named one of the ‘50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading’ in 2018 by The Authors Show.

Man in sunglasses and headscarf posing with a camel under a clear blue sky.
A person in winter clothing stands in a snowy forest with a reindeer, which is wearing a colorful harness.

Image Shot at Merzouga, Morocco

Mikael retired from the Rhode Island Army National Guard in 2015, following twenty years of service. He served in the field artillery, infantry, and in support of a special operations unit during his career.

A proud U.S. Army Paratrooper, he conducted over 50 airborne operations following the completion of jump school at Fort Benning in 1998. Stationed at Fort Bragg, he served with the 1/321 Field Artillery Regiment (ABN), part of XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery (now 18th Fires Brigade)

He has trained on several occasions with the British Airborne and was awarded the coveted British Parachutist wings. Mikael participated in several international jump competitions and also traveled to Arnhem, Netherlands, for an anniversary jump celebrating the Allied sacrifice during Operation Market Garden in World War II.

Two people parachuting in clear blue sky
A person wearing a jacket, cap, and backpack stands on a snowy mountain ridge with a range of snow-covered peaks in the background under a clear blue sky.
Silhouette of a battlefield cross with helmet, rifle, and boots, under the text 'Honor the Fallen' on a wooden background.
Person in a blue shirt posing with a cityscape and beach in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Man standing in front of ancient Greek Parthenon ruins with scaffolding and cloudy sky
Man holding a falcon on a gloved hand in a garden setting.

Image Shot at Dromoland in Ireland

Mikael Carlson is taking political novels to the next level by writing them in a style that is truly “Politics as UNusual."

Five gold stars in a row on a transparent background.

"Mikael Carlson is a force to be reckoned with in this genre." 

Mikael graduated with a Master of Arts in American History from American Military University in 2010. He also graduated with a B.S. in International Business from Marist College in 1996.

He was raised in the small town of New Milford, Connecticut, which served as the inspiration for the town of "Millfield" in the Michael Bennit Series. An avid world traveler, Mikael always likes coming home to his home in nearby Danbury.

"Author of the Day" badge with a book icon on an orange background.

Manybooks Author Interview about The iCandidate

Person in military uniform wearing a beret and sunglasses

Image Shot near SOCSOUTH, Homestead ARB, Florida

Writing

There is an old belief that authors write about what they know. I don’t think anyone will dispute the truth in that statement, and if they do, I would be happy to argue with them. Simply put, creating a story or novel is not a trivial journey, and the best place to start the adventure is with what one knows best.

However, there comes a point where writing about what you know becomes stale. If the sum of an author’s experience doesn’t extend beyond his or her hometown, there will be no growth as a writer and certainly no story worth reading about (unless you live in a very crazy town).

For anyone out there who has run into writer’s block with the size and strength of the Hoover Dam, there is one solution worth considering ― get off the couch. While an author can always explore different plots, themes, and genres from the comfort of a computer, travelling impacts the nature of what a writer creates.

A man in a teal polo shirt and white shorts stands next to a street sign for Bourbon Street in New Orleans, near Arnaud's Restaurant. He is wearing sunglasses and leaning against a lamppost. The background shows a sidewalk and a building with balconi
Three people posing at The Ridgefield Playhouse event. The person in the middle is wearing mime-like makeup and a striped shirt, with black tape over their mouth. The person on the left is in a black and white striped dress, while the person on the r
Two people posing in front of a luxury car with the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai in the background.
Three people and a dog dressed in "Game of Thrones" costumes standing outdoors with autumn trees in the background. They are in front of a table with a bottle of wine and a wine glass. The text "Halloween is Coming" and "House Carlson" is at the top.
A couple posing in front of Neuschwanstein Castle with cloudy skies and a scenic view of the surrounding valley.
Couple in sunglasses smiling outside Casino Monte Carlo entrance, with luxury cars in the background.
Two people posing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, playfully pretending to hold it up, with a blue sky in the background.
Couple taking a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower, both wearing sunglasses, woman blowing a kiss.
Two people posing beside a wooden cross on a snowy mountain peak, with scenic views of the Alps and a clear blue sky in the background.
Man wearing a Hawaiian shirt posing by a palm tree in front of overwater bungalows and a blue ocean with a clear sky background.