Well, finally my first novel In Excess is near completion. I've been working on the book for over three and a half years. The original title was Fast and Furious, but then that movie with Vin Diesel came out with a similar title.  >:(. At any rate, here's a general synopsis of the plot line, so let me know what you guys think!



In Excess
A Novel Synopsis by Michael-Dante Craig


IN EXCESS is the ultimate tale of the decadent 80's, an era that will long be remembered for its wild excess, extravagant lifestyles, unrepentant greed and destructive hedonism.

Our story begins in June, 1982, with the graduating class of Bedford Falls High School. Seven high school friends are about to embark on a fantastic adventure that will take each one to the heights of fame and fortune and to the depths of misery and pain.

In this exciting novel you will meet:

Amanda... Born to an alcoholic mother and an abusive father, she flees the tiny hamlet of Bedford Falls for the neon lights and dangerous streets of Los Angeles. Overweight and suffering from low self-esteem, she takes the small inheritance left to her by her grandmother and transforms herself with plastic surgery, eventually becoming world famous as Elektra, the highest paid porn queen in the adult film industry. With her notoriety, however, comes a wealth of other problems, including an addiction to cocaine, alcohol and heroin, and a habit of falling for the wrong man...

Jaime... Born to poor, migrant farm workers, he dreams of proving his worth to the rest of the world. With his small frame and Hispanic good looks, he is constantly the target for the local bullies. He begins to work out and train as a boxer and is soon able to defend himself, catching the eyes of many of the local girls. A talent scout spots Jaime sparring in the ring and promises to make him a star. He becomes an Olympic hopeful and later a national hero when he wins a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Before long, he turns pro, and is earning millions of dollars and the admiration of the entire country. However, dark secrets from the past come back to haunt him and threaten to destroy his career and very life...

Sergio... Jaime's younger brother, he is extremely jealous of his brother's success in the ring and with the opposite sex. He, too, strives to be rich and famous, to escape the poverty and shame of his immigrant family. He gets into trouble with the law and lands in prison for armed robbery. In prison, his anger and resentment for his brother grows, and he vows to one day exact a terrible revenge. Upon his release from prison, he goes to Los Angeles to start his own career as a Latino "gangsta" rapper. His records sell millions in the Hispanic community, and he becomes a popular sex symbol, initiating a torrid sexual liaison with the controversial pop goddess Ave~Maria. He still harbors deep resentments against his older brother, "The Golden Child", and his hatred takes a disastrous turn....

Waverly... Crowned "The Most Beautiful Girl in Bedford Falls", her future seems bright and limitless. By far the most popular girl in her high school class, her patrician good looks and winning smile conceal the heart of a ruthless and greedy young woman who will stop at nothing to get what she wants in life. She has her heart set on becoming Miss America and a top broadcast journalist. She seduces the married town mayor and then blackmails him into giving her $10,000. She sleeps with her professors in college in exchange for passing grades. She eventually realizes her dream of being a beauty pageant winner, but soon her life begins to spiral out of control. Her marriage to an important Washington, DC, senator unravels, and a despicable act of vengeance against her estranged husband and their two, innocent young boys shocks the entire nation...

Cameron... Quiet, shy and sensitive, he dreams of a career in high fashion in the most glamorous city in the world, New York. He has always felt out of place in the small, mid-western town of his youth, and he runs away to the Big Apple the day after graduating from high school. In New York, he blossoms, embracing his sexuality and perfecting his talent as a fashion designer. He works quietly, behind the scenes, until Marissa Le Compte, one of the most respected fashion designers in the world, discovers him. Soon, he is the top designer with the House de le Compte, with a loyal clientele of Hollywood superstars and European royalty. He begins a passionate love affair with a handsome young male model, Ivan, and finally finds personal fulfilment and happiness in his life. But his happiness is short-lived when he discovers that a past lover has died of AIDS...

Shandel... Young, black, beautiful and proud, she is born into a family of wealth and prestige. Her father is an important lawyer, her mother a renowned artist. Despite her family's strong objections, she dreams of becoming a world famous supermodel, walking the fashion runways of New York, Paris and Milan. Only sixteen years old, she falls in love with an older boy from the wrong side of the tracks, a handsome athlete destined for fame named...

Jamal... Tall, strong and blessed with the grace and speed of a panther, he is a star athlete by the age of fifteen. Destined for greatness in the athletic arena, he glides through school without a care, confident he will get by on his darkly handsome looks and incredible prowess in both the bedroom and on the football field. Competition is fierce, however, and he soon discovers that steroids are an easy way to stay ahead of the game. He marries a beautiful, blonde model, Lauren, but his use of steroids begins to consume his entire life. He turns violent, beating and seriously injuring Lauren in an uncontrollable rage. He lands in jail and on the covers of the tabloids. Another scandal erupts when his abuse of steroids is exposed and his multi-million dollar contract is threatened. When he feels that all is lost, he discovers that someone has loved him unconditionally from the sidelines all along, someone with the power to heal his heart and his troubled life... Shandel...

Told against a glittering backdrop, In Excess spans sixteen years and crosses four continents, interweaving the incredible lives of seven fascinating people throughout a turbulent and memorable era in all of our lives. Not since JACQUELINE SUSANN'S unforgettable saga VALLEY OF THE DOLLS has a novel so completely captured the pulse and spirit of an entire generation of Americans. This is a novel for anyone who has ever lived ... IN EXCESS...

COPYRIGHT 2002. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sounds like A great Book.  I don't normally read fiction but this would keep my interest.  How long till the Book is For Sale?

ooooh! Sounds great!

Let us know the final title and release date.  I will buy one!

Thanks for the comments, guys!  :) As of now, the book is scheduled for publication in the Spring of next year, but that is always subject to change. I'm still working on the re-writes as we speak with my editor and it is a slow, drawn-out and painful process! I will keep everyone informed with the book's progress, of course!!!  :)