The Writer's Life - Veins

RIP Mike Nichols, 83, one of the world’s great creative artists. He is among a rare club that has won an Emmy (4), Grammy, Oscar and Tony (14). His Grammy was shared with his partner, Elaine May, during their brief, meteoric run as a comedy team circa 1960. She would later write two screenplays he directed. He was a founding member of the famed Second City troupe, which has launched the careers of so many performers. He was awarded an Oscar for direction for The Graduate (1967), a landmark work that had such buzz, which I saw my freshman year. His films are mature, targeted toward adults. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff (1966) preceded The Graduate and was part of an impressive run that includes Catch 22 (1970) and Carnal Knowledge (1971). Catch 22 doesn’t approach the excellence of Joseph Heller’s madcap novel, but it was a bold, honest effort. Nichol’s last two films: Closer (2004) and Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) are under-rated, the latter, based on fact, notable because its hero is at once a liberal and staunch anti-communist. It is set in the pre-Vietnam era when Americans were a lot more united than today. Nichols was a naturalized citizen, born Mikhail Pavlovich Peschkowsky in Berlin in 1931. His family had the foresight to flee the Nazis. He was married to Diane Sawyer, his fourth wife. Here’s a quote attributed to him: “I love to take actors to a place where they open a vein. That's the job. The key is that I make it safe for them to open the vein.” I've tried to do that in every serious work I've done. (Facts culled from Wiki and IMDb)

I had a scare this morning when I clicked on a survey link and my PC malfunctioned. I immediately shut it down, waited a few minutes, and turned it on. A message came up that repair was needed. I followed the prompts and was up and running again in about ten minutes. So far everything seems okay. I had run a virus scan a couple of hours earlier, so I doubt the problem was caused by something hidden on the hard drive. I'd never had any real trouble doing surveys, which bring in money I use to buy copies of my own books. I attempted a few more and each proceeded smoothly. Whew!

My thanks to the kind folks who stopped by the floating book shop despite the icy wind, especially the elderly woman and the gentleman who purchased four paperbacks between them, and the Jewish Meals on Wheels guy, who donated a hardcover thriller.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/