The Writer's Life 2/16 - Filling Time

With temperatures keeping the floating book shop on ice for the foreseeable future, I have to find things to do to fill those hours of operation. Yesterday I went back and looked through a recent donation of books. Two hardcovers caught my attention. I’m embarrassed I’d never heard of either author. The Theater of Fernand Crommelynck is a collection of eight plays, farces, by the playwright, a Belgian, who was active in the first half of the 20th century. The name seemed so odd I first thought it a comic novel. Since the edition was published in 1998, I didn’t bother to research its monetary value, which, sans jacket, is likely far less than a different version listed for $70 at Amazon. I had higher hopes for the other book, The Adventures of Roderick Random, a novel by Thomas Smollett first published in 1748. This particular edition, again sans jacket, is from 1945. According to Wiki, Smollett had great influence on the work of Charles Dickens, which I hoped would make the book more valuable. Alas, although the editions listed at Amazon lacked specifics, the highest value was $30. A trip to an antique books website listed the same edition as worth five pounds British. I haven’t stumbled into riches. I’ll sell them for a buck a piece on the street. People sometimes ask why I don't sell the books online. It's not worth the hassle of packing and mailing. Besides, my main objective in being out there is to promote my own work.

Another way I killed time today was doing my tax return. No matter the income level, it is always a pain in the butt. This year, of course, is the first where a taxpayer without health insurance faces a fine. Since my 2014 income was so low, I was exempt. In a way I’m surprised. On the one hand, low income individuals are usually given every break. On the other, it is such a contentious issue I expected to have to cut a check for $95 to the Feds. I’m pleased that my stand against Obamacare has won out. Too bad so many Americans will be gouged unfairly until they cave or qualify for Medicare, or until the law is repealed, which is unlikely, or tweaked. Maybe I was more alert than usual, but it took me only 40 minutes to finish the state and federal returns. The fee was $72. Since I got back $63 from the city, my loss is only $9. The only worry I have is that the termites that have invaded my PC are now privy to vital information. I hope the site is as secure as alleged. 

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic'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/