Book excerpt: Adam Bede has it good. Writing pop songs for teen idol Christie Squires isn’t much of a creative challenge, but it pays for his champagne lifestyle. He’s got his boyfriend Lyle, a Serious Person and regular CNN geopolitical contributor, his bestie and songwriting partner Callie, and his partners in ChrisCo, the industrial combine behind their manufactured superstar. And he’s even got his bipolar illness managed without completely dulling his creativity. Until one day, Christie decides she wants to be Taken Seriously, and sues ChrisCo for child labor violations. And just like that, Adam’s cash cow is no more. As if that wasn’t bad enough, along comes Sam Sparks, brilliant talented young songwriter and social activist, who’s got the hots for Adam’s boyfriend – and who may be the Serious Person who’s a better match for Lyle than frivolous Adam… When a cable channel creates a reality show to find the best singer/songwriter in America, Adam knows he has only one way to save his career, and his relationship. And if winning that contest involves going off his medications, going a little crazy (just a little, he swears), isn’t it worth the risk? Especially when he discovers that Christie, and Sam, are his competition… Before he was "Brad Vance," Brad published as Orland Outland. Here in a substantially revised version is one of his best comic novels, available again at last!