MANCHESTER, N.J. — Manchester Township author Nikolas Pleiadi has released his second novel, The Car in White, continuing a deeply personal literary journey inspired by his own experiences with addiction, homelessness, incarceration and recovery.
In a lengthy post shared with local residents, Pleiadi recounted a life that began with a weapons arrest at age 15 and continued through numerous run-ins with the criminal justice system, including charges involving theft, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated and a drug arrest at age 21 that he said nearly resulted in a 25-year prison sentence.
“I was told I could be looking at 25 years,” Pleiadi wrote. “By the grace of God—and a damn good lawyer—I avoided a sentence that could have swallowed the rest of my life.”
Rather than glorifying his criminal past, Pleiadi said the experiences left him struggling with addiction, anger and fear before ultimately finding sobriety and rebuilding his life.
“I got sober. I built a family. I began writing down the memories, the pain, the history, and the stories I had carried for years,” he wrote.
Fiction rooted in real-life experiences
Pleiadi’s latest novel, The Car in White, serves as a prequel to his first book, In Powder Blue, which follows fictional character Vincent through post-9/11 Long Island as addiction, grief, organized crime and family secrets collide.
The new novel shifts back to the early 1970s, tracing the events and relationships that shaped later generations. While the books are works of fiction, Pleiadi says many of the emotional experiences draw directly from his own life.
“These books aren’t about glorifying gangsters,” he wrote. “They’re about what that world does to people.”
He said several characters are inspired by relatives and people he encountered growing up around individuals associated with New York’s Gambino crime family, while emphasizing that identities and events were fictionalized.
Message of hope after recovery
Today, Pleiadi says he hopes readers see beyond his criminal history to a broader message about redemption and resilience.
“I nearly lost my life before I understood that I had a story worth telling,” he wrote. “Your worst chapter does not have to become your ending.”
His books are available through Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardcover editions, as well as directly through his author website for signed copies.
Key Points
- Manchester author Nikolas Pleiadi has released his second novel, The Car in White.
- The book follows In Powder Blue and explores organized crime, addiction and family across generations.
- Pleiadi says the novels are inspired by his own history of arrests, addiction and recovery.
- The author says the books focus on redemption and the impact crime has on families rather than glorifying organized crime.
FAQ
Who is Nikolas Pleiadi?
Nikolas Pleiadi is a Manchester Township author whose novels draw on his personal experiences with addiction, incarceration and recovery.
What is The Car in White about?
The novel is a prequel to In Powder Blue and examines the family history that shapes later generations against the backdrop of organized crime on Long Island.
Are the books autobiographical?
No. Pleiadi says the novels are works of fiction, although many characters and emotional experiences are inspired by real events from his life.
Where can readers purchase the books?
The novels are available through Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardcover formats, with signed copies available through the author’s website.
Source: Nikolas Pleiadi Facebook post, Amazon Author Page.
