ACCOKEEK, Md., Oct. 2, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Does the youth of American society need a drug to cope with the harsh reality of life? Frank Carson believes he does until a unique friend steers him toward a better life. In the newly released book, The Cycle (now available through 1stBooks), author Barry Barnett Keith offers a compelling work, focusing on the demented world of a young, African-American man addicted to the deadly drug, crack cocaine.
Spanning 20 years of Frank's life, The Cycle is set in Washington, D.C. during the 1980s, an era in which crack cocaine became extremely popular, the author notes. In the midst of his conflicts, Frank meets and falls in love with a young woman named Ramona. He discovers his first taste of bitterness when the drug he depends on leads to the demise and death of the woman he loves.
Moving to a quiet, Virginia suburb, Frank again follows the orders of what he calls "the specter," a personification of the drug. He falls in love with a woman, but years of heavy drug use and violent drinking sour the relationship and Maria leaves him. Alone and desolate, Frank turns to the only friend he trusts, crack cocaine. He loses his home and spends years living on the street and in cheap motels, following the commands of "the specter." With nowhere left to go, Frank meets another homeless man called Cowboy. With the help of his new friend, Frank finds a bumpy road to freedom and acceptance.
An enlightening and inspirational story of love, loss and trust, The Cycle offers a groundbreaking view into the harsh world of drug addiction, a monster many youth choose to fight. Utilizing clever verbiage and untarnished clarity, Keith presents a gripping tale of the main character's slow trip towards suicide and adds that his book could potentially alter the path of American society.
Keith is a current resident of Accokeek, Md. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1983. In addition to The Cycle, Keith has written two other works. His first novel, The Waiter, was published in May 2000. Its sequel, entitled The Apocalypse, is set to come out later this year.
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