Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 290 Interview with Matthew Bracken
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From Navy SEAL to Novelist and Bluewater Sailor: Meet Matthew Bracken
In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Matthew Bracken—a man whose life reads like an adventure novel. A former Navy SEAL and lifelong sailor, Bracken is best known for his action-packed political thrillers that blend real-world tensions with gripping, character-driven plots. But what truly sets him apart is his deep connection to the sea.
After serving in the Navy, Bracken didn’t just settle into civilian life—he sailed off into it. He spent years living aboard and voyaging across oceans on his own sailboat. His time at sea gave him a firsthand look at self-reliance, freedom, and the raw edge of adventure. These themes echo powerfully throughout his fiction.

Matthew Bracken’s Books
1. Enemies Foreign and Domestic (2003)The first in the Enemies trilogy. A rogue federal agent stages a mass shooting to justify draconian gun laws. A retired SEAL and a sharp-eyed journalist race to uncover the truth. It’s a chilling tale of government overreach and personal courage.
2. Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista (2006)Set in a fractured near-future America, the story imagines the Southwest under separatist control. With borders dissolving and loyalties shifting, Bracken explores nationalism, identity, and civil conflict.
3. Foreign Enemies and Traitors (2009)The trilogy concludes with the rise of a tyrannical president who invites foreign troops onto U.S. soil. Resistance forces fight back in a gripping climax of betrayal, bravery, and rebellion.
4. Castigo Cay (2011)A true sailor’s thriller. Dan Kilmer, a former Marine turned outlaw sailor, becomes involved in rescuing a kidnapped girl from a Caribbean crime cartel. This one draws heavily on Bracken’s own sailing experiences—and it shows.
5. The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun (2016)A group of Americans is kidnapped by jihadists in North Africa. With strong echoes of historical captivity narratives, this story blends action, cultural conflict, and survival.
6. The Bracken Collection: Essays and Short Fiction (2019)A mix of political essays, short stories, and thought experiments—this collection offers a look into Bracken’s worldview beyond the world of fiction.
7. Doomsday Reef (2020)Bracken returns to nautical action in this maritime adventure set in the South China Sea. With rising international tensions and a cast of rogue seafarers, it’s a modern-day pirate story laced with geopolitics.

Where to Find Him

Website: EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com

Amazon Author Page: Matthew Bracken on Amazon

Gab Profile: @Matt_Bracken

Matthew Bracken's Substack newsletter is available at https://steelcutter.substack.com/. On this platform, he shares essays, short stories, and insights drawn from his experiences as a former Navy SEAL, sailor, and author

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