THE iSPEAKER

Short Description

The iSpeaker follows Congressman Michael Bennit as the political movement he helped create begins reshaping the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

After dozens of independent iCongressmen win seats, neither major party can simply assume control of the House. At the same time, Michael and the people closest to him are dealing with the aftermath of a shooting on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Genre

The iSpeaker is political fiction combining elements of political thriller, suspense, Washington intrigue, investigative drama, and character-driven political satire.

The novel blends congressional maneuvering with an investigation into political violence and the continuing personal relationships among Michael and his unconventional team.

Inspiration

The inspiration for The iSpeaker came from my desire to explore the nature of power in political circles—and the lengths to which people will go to preserve it. Washington is a place where influence can be accumulated, traded, and weaponized, and those who possess it rarely surrender it willingly. I wanted to examine what happens when outsiders challenge that entrenched authority, forcing powerful figures to choose between serving the country and protecting their own positions.

I also wanted the novel to explore the human cost of that struggle. Circumstances can strengthen relationships, strain them, or transform them completely, especially when people are placed under extraordinary pressure. Michael’s former students are no longer simply teenagers observing the adult world; they are growing into it and discovering that loyalty, love, and integrity become more complicated when the stakes are real. Through their experiences, I wanted to examine how trauma changes people, how past wounds shape their reactions, and why individuals facing the same stressful situation may respond in profoundly different ways.

Behind the Book: The iSpeaker

• I didn’t base Reed on anyone in particular. He is a caricature of the stereotypical sleazy lobbyist—someone who always seems to be working an angle and whose influence extends far beyond public view.

• Sorry, not sorry, for the cliffhanger at the end of The iCongressman. It was the natural place to end that part of the story, even if it left readers desperate to know what happened next.

• Assassination attempts can dramatically alter the trajectory of a nation. We all witnessed that reality following the 2024 attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and I wanted to explore the political and personal consequences of such a moment.

• Many Americans say they want a viable third party. I wanted to imagine what that might actually look like in Congress, even if the members of Michael’s movement are technically independents rather than representatives of an established third party.

• Chelsea’s character arc is one of my favorites across all my book series. Her experiences force her to confront her fears, reassess her relationships, and grow into a far stronger and more confident person than the young woman readers first met.

• The locations throughout the series were chosen deliberately. I wanted readers to experience Washington alongside the characters, touring its landmarks, neighborhoods, government buildings, restaurants, and hidden corners as the story unfolded.

• Washington is changing Michael, but not in the way people usually expect their leaders to change. I wanted to explore what happens when an elected official is not obsessed with gaining political power, and how someone motivated by service rather than ambition responds when greater responsibility is thrust upon him.