Michael Benedetto
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mbando18.bsky.social
Michael Benedetto
@mbando18.bsky.social
Michigan Sports Fan, occasional hiker, history lover and aspiring author
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Check out my substack, it’s totally free and I post weekly episodes of my serial fiction series and various book reviews!
Bando's Books | Michael Benedetto | Substack
I publish book reviews and weekly editions of my historical/sci-fi serial fiction, The Nether Years! Click to read Bando's Books, by Michael Benedetto, a Substack publication. Launched a month ago.
open.substack.com
I’m not sure what’s harder, grinding through book edits or watching the Detroit tigers try and win a single game of baseball. One is like punching myself in the face and the other is like getting punched in the face by strangers. The strangers are professional athletes so they probably punch harder.
September 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Late night thoughts on everything going on this past week.
Please Buy A Book
Please forgive any errors in spelling or grammar or any rambling.
open.substack.com
September 13, 2025 at 7:13 PM
There’s always a sporting event to distract from writing, and i always fall for it. Tonight’s culprit, Fritz-Djokovic. Torn between wanting a 5 setter and a full nights sleep.
September 3, 2025 at 3:19 AM
This turned from lighthearted reflection to personal therapy session as I wrote. Didn’t expect it to go where it did but that’s what I’ve grown to love about writing.
Me and Sports, A Brief History
Quick author’s note up front:
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Happy football season everyone. English or American, can’t wait to teach my daughter to yell at the tv all Saturday.
August 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Nothing blocks out reality like old sports highlights that find the deepest reserves of nostalgia you didn’t know you had.
August 27, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Quick post on rome through the eyes of a miscellaneous citizen. Half fiction, half very light research. 100% fun to write!
OSD in History
Let's start at the beginning
open.substack.com
August 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Was kind of hoping the sleep deprivation of having a kid would help the creative juices flow in a delirious, no reservations kinda way.

Turns out it just makes me fall asleep in the chair with the laptop open.
August 21, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Quick piece on why I love being outside, and why everyone should camp occasionally. Also some amateur photography!

#camping #hiking #substack
The Great Outdoors
The Common Cure for Convenience
open.substack.com
August 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Trying something new, leaning into what it means to be ‘average’. Couldn’t find a niche to write in that isn’t saturated, so let’s ditch the niche. I’m going to broaden out beyond literature and focus on my passions: history, sports, hiking and anything that comes up.

There’s magic in the mundane!
Introducing One Standard Deviation
Hello to the one hand a half dozen subscribers!
open.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Reposted by Michael Benedetto
Saline, Michigan, is turning out to support our country and oppose the creeping authoritarianism that threatens our freedom.

Several hundred people, maybe more than 1000, are lining Michigan Ave to stand up for freedom of speech, due process, and holding elected officials accountable.
June 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Michael Benedetto
Saline, Michigan kneels to #NoKings!
June 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
June newsletter is live! Finding it harder to read when I just want to get outside and hike in the warm weather. Also having a job continues to get in the way doing what I want all day every day.

open.substack.com/pub/mbenedet...
Bando's Book Report
June Newsletter
open.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The 3 books this month didn’t disappoint, though my writing did. But here’s to a productive May!

#booksky #writing
Bando's Book Report
May Newsletter
open.substack.com
May 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Who wants to buy me a cabin in the Smokey mountains and pay me 100k a year to drink coffee and hike and read and write books? I’m not picky about the cabin if that helps….
April 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Happy hump day! Here’s my favorite hiking hump. Fresh air hits different in the spring.

#hiking #nationalparks #grandtetons
April 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Writing through it all, or trying to at least!

#writing #serialfiction #booksky #fiction
The Nether Years: Episode 13
First Day in Black
open.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Just finished North Woods by Daniel Mason, my favorite book so far this year!

#booksky #bookreview
Bando's Book Review: North Woods by Daniel Mason
When judging a book by its cover is a good thing
open.substack.com
April 2, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Nothing feels as elusive as the fleeting thoughts I have about what I’m writing when I’m driving and can’t jot them down. 0% chance I ever remember what it was and it always feels like it was the missing piece.

#writing
March 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Forcing myself to take a day off from the news and thinking instead about getting to a national park while they remain untouched for now.
#hiking #nationalparks #zion
March 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This weekend I finished Varina by Charles Frazier on audiobook and added it to my reviews. Trying to review 20 books in 2025 and trying to keep pace!

#booksky #reading #review
Bando's Book Review: Varina
Varina is a historical fiction novel by Charles Frazier.
open.substack.com
March 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
It took an extra glass of wine to power through some writers block last night but we came out better on the other side. Hope everyone has a great week!
The Nether Years: Episode 12
Trivia
substack.com
March 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Coffee fueled creativity. Hope everyone has a great morning and is able to think about something other than the week ahead.

#writing #booksky #storytime
The Nether Years: Episode 11
The Chase
open.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Just finished writing some Friday fiction for fans of futuristic fun. Cheap alliteration and writing help stop me from doomscrolling and distract me from the real world. If you want some mediocre writing to block out the weekly Friday Bad News Dump….have at it.

#booksky #serialfiction
The Nether Years | Michael Benedetto | Substack
I publish weekly editions of my historical/sci-fi serial fiction, come join the story! Click to read The Nether Years, by Michael Benedetto, a Substack publication. Launched 3 months ago.
open.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Friday night fiction time. Amateur dystopian content is starting to feel the same as the real world…
#writing #booksky
The Nether Years Episode 9
The Void
open.substack.com
February 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM