New Novel THE BEADS Unlocks the Gilded Cage of Old Money
The Floridant/10275799

NEW YORK - Floridant -- American Library Association award-winning author David McConnell returns with his most ambitious work yet, The Beads (Itna Press; Sept. 17, 2024; $24.99; 430pp), a searing exploration of wealth, sexuality, and the elusive nature of love set against the backdrop of late '90s Manhattan.

In this unflinching portrayal of a once-great family's downfall, McConnell weaves a tapestry of complex characters struggling to find meaning in a world where money has long ceased to provide answers. From the neurotic patriarch to the pleasure-seeking mother, and the neglected son Darius yearning for connection, The Beads lays bare the hollowness of inherited privilege. As the story unfolds across continents and decades, readers are taken on a journey that challenges notions of family, duty, and the true cost of wealth. McConnell's prose is at once lyrical and incisive, offering a rare glimpse into the cloistered world of Manhattan's elite while posing universal questions about human connection in an age of excess.

More on The Floridant

• Marine Officer-Turned-Filmmaker Joins Award-Winning on Groundbreaking Docuseries
• The Modern Insurance Store Expands Medicare Help Services for Seniors in Cincinnati
• Ironside HR Named Fastest-Growing Staffing Firm for Second Year
• Inframark Continues to Build Its Community Management Capabilities and Multi-Disciplinary Presence in Arizona
• ICAST 2025: The Crystal-Clear Revolution Begins at Booth #3233

Praised by Kirkus Reviews as "an entertaining, deeply imagined literary melodrama," The Beads is not just a family saga, but a mirror held up to society's obsession with status and material wealth. It asks: In a world where everything has a price, can genuine love and decency still be found?

DAVID McCONNELL is the author of American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men (Akashic, 2013), which won the 2014 American Library Association Award for Non-Fiction. His other novels include The Firebrat (Attagirl, 2003) and The Silver Hearted (Akashic, 2010). His short fiction and journalism have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, including Granta and Between Men. He lives in New York City.

David McConnell is available for interviews and appearances. Advance review copies of The Beads are now available upon request.

More on The Floridant

• Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts Showcases Local Youth with National Talent in Legally Blonde Jr
• Brindle Pet Supplies Now Carries Badlands Ranch Dog Food in Canada
• GreenPointe Holdings announces promotion of Brad Odom to Development Director, North Florida
• $10 Million Allocated to Establish Crypto Treasury Focused on High Value Ethereum (ETH) & Bitcoin (BTC) as Long-Term Holdings for Cybersecurity Leader
• Sunshine Ace Hardware opens new retail store at Winchester Center near Orangetree community

THE BEADS
By David McConnell
ISBN: 979-8-9882829-5-2 ($24.99, paperback)
ISBN: 979-8-9882829-7-6 ($14.99, e-book)
Publisher: Itna Press
Pub. Date: Sept. 17, 2024
Paperback | 5.5x8.5" | 430pp
Distribution: Ingram Wholesale

Please PRE-ORDER at Bookshop.org to show your support independent booksellers!