The Writer's Life: The Writer's Life 9/16

Sunday, September 16, 2018

The Writer's Life 9/16 - Competitors

As Jack Benny often said when Rochester fired off a cutting quip: "Now cut that out!" The floating book shop has a new competitor, featured in an article by Raquel Laneri in today's NY Post. John Louzonis, 13, home-schooled, pint-sized, is selling copies of his book on the sidewalks of NYC. It's titled Kid Trillionaire: How a Little Kid Can Make a Big Fortune. He sells an average of 30 books a day. Like me, he is self-publishing through Create Space. He's sold 300 so far, and charges the same per book on the street as I do - $10. He also earns money building websites, doing graphic design, video editing and producing podcasts for private clients. He has $5000 in the bank, a bit short of his goal, but I wouldn't bet against him reaching it. Kudos, kid.

Here's another guy anyone would want on his team - Pittsburgh Steelers' RB James Conner. While in college at Pitt, he was stricken with cancer and underwent chemo to shrink a massive growth in his chest. That didn't stop him from returning to the playing field. He has also undergone two surgeries on his knees. That didn't stop him, either. Last week he rushed for 135 yards in the season opener vs. the Browns. Selected in the third round of the 2017 draft, he moved into a starting role when superstar Le'Veon Bell decided to hold out for more money. Doctors say the cancer has only a 10% chance of returning. Awesome, sir.

Several years ago officials at Rutgers, lured by visions of millions of dollars dancing in their heads, decided to join the Big Ten conference. Gradually, the program has sunk to a disaster. It reached a new low yesterday in a loss at Kansas, which had won only three games the past three seasons. The margin of defeat added to the demoralization - 55-14. The team surrendered more than 400 yards rushing and had six turnovers. This should not happen to an institution in a state rich in high school football talent. I wonder if the anticipated money is coming in, and if the big shots think the move was worth it.

Well, the whippersnapper probably drubbed me in sales and revenue today. My thanks to the elderly woman who bought a book in Russian, and to Bob, who purchased The Fur Person by May Sarton for his girlfriend, who loves cats. Here's one of Barbara Knox's illustrations for the fictional account of the author's feline.