Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/30 - Wingin' It

I finally found out the names of the elderly Russian hand-holding couple - Natalia and Benedict, who have donated so many books in their own language to the floating book shop, five more today, two of which were bought by Mikhail aka Mr. Almost, who always says things could be better. Spasibo, folks. The forecast in the NY Post said rain. It couldn't have been more wrong. It was gorgeous and people were in a good mood. The day got off to a flying start when I immediately sold a family Bible to a young woman, who did not haggle, which I appreciated. It was a steal as it was. Soon Tyra, a junior high teacher who lives a floor below me, approached. I immediately asked if she were playing hookey. She called it a "Mental Heath Day" and we both laughed. Alan must be finishing the books he buys from me in days. Lately, he's sworn off thrillers and asked for "real" novels. Unfortunately, his financial situation won't allow him to buy any of mine. I suggested Three Comrades by Erich Maria Remarque, who of course wrote the classic All Quiet on the Western Front. Susan stopped by and had trouble picking among four novels, all of them rather obscure. She chose one and asked me to hold the others, which I will do, as she has been one of my most faithful customers. I received two donations, one a number of best sellers, the other about 20 Harlequins, which I will keep in the trunk of my car until someone asks for them specifically. Marie dropped off the DVDs, The Cooler (2004) and You've Got Mail (1998), I'd loaned her and said how much she'd enjoyed them. They are now for sale. She chuckled about all the people who stopped to greet me. She said she will soon purchase Killing. I will be very interested in the opinion of such a nice lady of the visceral exercise the novel is. Bob Rubenstein, author of Ghost Runners and The White Bridge, pulled his car up to the bus stop and immediately began complaining about a family squabble, the exclusion of some members from a wedding. He is also very disappointed with the publishers at All Things That Matter Press, which has published my story collection, A Hitch in Twilight, as well as Bob's two books. A year or so ago he suggested that they offer audio books. They since have, but it is at the discretion of the producers of the tapes. Neither his or mine have been selected. He sent them an angry email saying he will pull his books when the contract expires, and they fired off a reply citing that his sales did not justify such pomposity. I don't imagine Hitch will be renewed when the time comes. Although it is by far the most popular of my books, its web sales are pathetic. There's no arguing with the bottom line. ATTMP has the right to do whatever it wants. I'm grateful to the publishers, Phil and Deb Harris, for having provided me an opportunity to sell 128 copies of the collection. And if they said they were discontinuing it tomorrow, I'd order another batch and thank them for having taken the chance on it. I believe in the free market, and they should not carry books out of charity.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/29 - Creativity

The creativity of human beings never ceases to amaze, and it certainly isn't restricted to the arts. Some people are skilled at making money, to the benefit of all. In today’s NY Post there is an article about a guy who runs a notary and copying business out of his car, which has logged more than 300,000 miles. He commutes two hours to a street in the Bronx. He plugs his copier into the cigarette lighter and caters mostly to people who do not speak English. He speaks several languages. There is usually a line for his services. So far authorities have left him alone, although it is illegal to conduct business from a car.
In yesterday’s Post there was a feature on a guy who attaches a glue trap to dental floss, which he lowers through gratings throughout the city, where he has picked up coins, paper money and jewelry. He got the idea when someone dropped something valuable, a set of keys, I believe, and was rewarded 50 bucks upon retrieval. Unfortunately, thieves, as they always do, have perverted this, fishing in mailboxes for checks and Netflix DVDs.

I awoke to another vivid dream. Decades younger, dressed casually, I stopped dead in my tracks upon reaching the schoolyard of St. Mary’s, where a choir was gathered in robes, apparently waiting for me. I’d completely forgotten the event, a frequent occurrence during my elementary school career. If it hadn’t been the height of the baby boom, with space scarce, I might have been left back one of those years. I’m not sure how the dream relates to my current life. The only thing I can think of is my concern that I was as thoughtless in cleaning errors from my latest novel, Exchanges, as I was about school.

The red line has been crossed in Syria, at least according to what the President said months ago. I think it would be a mistake to take sides, although Al-Assad deserves to fall and be executed. The opposition does not look like it would be any friendlier toward America. The main concern is the chemical weapons. They must be kept out of the hands of Al Qaeda, and the only way to do that is to find and seize them, which will probably cost the lives of many of our troops. Is there an alternative?

It wasn’t much rain but enough to keep the floating book shop closed today. I redeemed my empties at Stop n Shop and swung by Ali Baba’s gyro stand to see if old Simon had left books for me. Sure enough he had, bless his heart. I passed the rest of the afternoon dusting and reading. Back at ’em tomorrow.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/28 - Posts

Recently, statistics revealed that violent crime in NYC was at a historic low. An article in today's NY Post offers discouraging news. 280 murderers and rapists from the five boroughs were paroled in 2012. The creeps listed below are the worst of the lot. I understand opposition to the death penalty. I have a problem with it myself. What I don't understand is how anyone who committed such crimes can be released from prison. These five should have remained behind bars until death. It would be money well spent, government doing what it's supposed do - protect citizens.
Sherain Bryant, 57, murder, 1994, 25 to life, beat her 4 year old daughter to death for drinking from the toilet in their Bronx apartment. Bryant and her husband had burned, battered and tied up little Shayna and her siblings for years. Cops said Shayna bore the brunt of the attacks because her parents considered her ugly.
Derrick Hoover, 48, murder, 1985, 25 to life, shot and killed a beloved basketball coach after robbing him of his jewelry on a No. 3 train in Brooklyn. The victim, Alfred Riddick, 23, coached teens in Canarsie.
Calvin Kadet, 63, murder, 1975, 25 to life, killed a good Samaritan while robbing a Brooklyn candy store in Williamsburg. The victim, Cecilio Mercado, came to the aid of an off duty cop who was chasing Kadet and an accomplice. 
Paul Kennedy, 52, murder, 1981, 25 to life, strangled 16 year old Rita Heilweil with his bare hands in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn in 1981 after she rejected his sexual advances, and he raped her corpse.
Christopher “Crazy Chris” Aniades, 54, murder and rape, 1981, 25 to life, abducted, raped and strangled 19 year old Doreen Vitale as she waited for a bus in Ozone Park. Cops suspected him of several other brutal attacks on women, including one in which the victim’s throat was slashed and her eyes cut.

Also in today's Post, a number of choice tidbits:
An article by M. Andrew Holowchak criticizes what he believes is shoddy work by historians who conclude Thomas Jefferson is the father of slave Sally Hemmings last child. He claims it could have been any of 20 Jefferson males, including the founding father.
Congress is drafting a law that would exempt its members from Obama Care. Only the country's most corrupt union can come up with something like this. They are sickening.
Has Syria crossed the so-called red line, triggering American intervention, by using chemical weapons on rebel forces? Several pundits ask why that is more heinous than death by gunfire or bombs.
A recent poll reveals that the current approval ratings of both Obama and Bush are 47%. How weird is that?
There's a piece about the latest Iron Man movie, which I'd planned to skip until I read that the great Ben Kingsley is playing the villain. I am always amazed at how that little man becomes a giant on the silver screen.

My thanks to Nelly, who not only bought a copy of Killing but also one of Head over Wheels, the latest romance novel of my literary angel January Valentine. Thanks also to Bad News Billy, who purchased the Modern Country CD I burned several months ago.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/27 - Step One

There was a hop in my step today. After a long wait, my fifth book, fourth novel, Exchanges, has become available in Kindle. I bought and looked through it last night. The spacing is not consistent but it’s still eminently readable. My current budget allows for only the most primitive writing programs, which did not mesh perfectly with the publisher’s, hence the imperfect result. For some reason, perhaps because it seemed too easy, I was more skeptical of this book seeing the light of day than any of my others. I was not as diligent in the editing as I should have been. I spotted some errors. Are there more than in my previous books, which are very clean? I won’t know until I read the print version, which I hope will be out soon. The title refers not only to the physical entity of a trading floor but to the verbal exchanges people share each day. Here’s the blurb:
Charley LaRocca is ringmaster of two circuses, his family and the Silver Futures pit at his job in the wacky world of commodity trading. Witness a year in his life as he copes with a rebellious teenage daughter, the dog eat dog philosophy at his place of employment, and an obsession with the New York Mets.
The year is 1988. “Open Outcry” is the way at the Exchange. The electronic trading that would eventually supplant it is but a pipe dream at which many scoff. What is all the yelling and screaming about? Come inside and see. None of the incidents is exaggerated. Caution: aggressive men under intense pressure do and say regrettable things. Political correctness is out the window.
The trading floor was one of the last outposts of speech that was truly free. The novel concentrates on personalities, not trading technique or strategy. It is another chapter in the human comedy, the bittersweet mystery of life. This is how it was. Immature audiences only.
And here is a link to the book at Amazon: http://wlmpr.us/EXC-k

I was also very lucky on the street today. My thanks to the kind folks who patronized the floating book shop today on Bay Parkway.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/26 - #1's

Round One of 2013 NFL draft is in the books. It’s the year of the offensive linemen, many having been selected, including the first two picks. When I attended Western Michigan University, we used to look down on Central Michigan as inferior, although it certainly wasn’t the case. I’m very surprised that the number one pick overall, Eric Fisher, is a Chippewa. They must be celebrating in Mount Pleasant. Locally, I think the Jets did well, although they opted for defense with their two picks when offense is their most glaring need. One troubling aspect: CB Dee Milliner has already had five surgeries. If I were a GM, I wouldn’t use a first round pick on anyone who’d had major surgery. Football is debilitating. The body can take only so much. As for the Giants, their choice of an offensive lineman is solid but boring. The biggest surprise of the night was the Bills' selection of Florida St. QB EJ Manuel. They may have been able to get him in the second round. I think the steal of the draft will be USC QB Matt Barkley, whose stock fell after an injury to his non-throwing shoulder and a drop-off in performance in his senior year. If he lands on a team with a weak QB, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were starting by the middle of the season. I’m unsure about West Virginia’s Geno Smith. Does he have the potential to be another Robert Griffin III, or is he just another great college QB whose skills won’t translate well to pro football? Regardless, I suspect he will go early in Round Two. To no one’s surprise, Manti Te’o has not yet been selected. His weak performance in the national championship vs. Alabama and his silly Twitter scandal have hurt his reputation. Still, he will be one of the most interesting figures to watch once training camps open. I’d be very surprised if he isn’t taken in the second round. Even though I don’t follow sports as avidly as I once did, I still love the NFL draft and all the speculation that accompanies it. 

RIP country music legend George Jones, 81. He had 14 number one hits during his 50 year career, despite a long battle with alcohol and drug addictions. His work, especially his baritone voice, was respected by artists of every genre, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Costello and Keith Richards. He was married four times. His tumultuous relationship with superstar Tammy Wynette was splashed across the pages of newspapers coast to coast. He missed so many concerts due to hard living that he was dubbed "No Show Jones." No one was more surprised than he when He Stopped Loving Her Today became his biggest hit in 1981, reviving his career. It frequently appears as number one on lists of the greatest country songs. He remained a traditionalist until the end and lamented the evolution of country music to its current pop and rock-like forms.

I sold only three books today, but I have no cause to complain. First of all, it was a gorgeous day, and I was way on the plus side even before I set up shop, having received a check from Toluna Surveys. Two of my favorites, Old Simon, who has donated more than 100 books, and Marty, who purchased Adjustments a few months ago, are struggling. Simon, 86, is undergoing a combination of chemo and radiation therapy. Marty, who I'd guess is 75, went through a grueling biopsy session yesterday. He was at the clinic ten hours, strapped in at one time so that he couldn't move while tests were being done, waiting four hours between chest x-rays taken to make sure he hadn't suffered a collapsed lung. For the first time he was walking with a cane this afternoon. He seems to be wasting away. Although I'm no stranger to people passing, especially the past few years, it hasn't gotten easier to accept, no matter how many times I tell myself "It's just life."
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/25 - Night

Among the book donations I’ve received recently was a classic I’d never read: Tales From The Thousand And One Nights. From the research I’ve done on the web, there is much argument about the origin of the stories. They are said to be Indian, Persian and Arabic, the first batch composed in the late eighth century, others added along the way up to the 1700s, some possibly by Europeans. Most of the characters are Muslim. Fate and destiny are the major themes, and certainly greed. The tales are outrageous, much larger than life, and many involve "jinees," which I suppose is the origin of the word “genie,” pre-Barbara Eden. My chief interest was to see how Sinbad and Aladdin were originally portrayed, before Hollywood got to them. Unfortunately, this edition, a large Penguin paperback, did not contain Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. And I was surprised and disappointed that the stories did not have more substance or meaning. Still, many of them have lasted more than 1000 years, influencing countless writers, and that must be respected. I added a 2000 film version to my list at Netflix.

Recently, a NYC female corrections officer was impregnated by a murderer behind bars. According to an article in today’s NY Post, a gang-banger incarcerated in Maryland has done better, impregnating four, corrupting 13 overall, involving them in smuggling cell phones, drugs and other contraband into prison. I know that guarding society’s dregs is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but I would hope authorities can do better than this. I pray these cases are isolated and not widespread. Is it wise to have women guarding men, or vice versa? It's so hard to have confidence in government these days, given its profligate ways. How infuriating was it to learn that the Boston terrorists were collecting welfare and enjoying free health care, and that the wife of the oldest and his mother were guilty of shoplifting? I do not want to believe that the greatest country in the history of the world is being destroyed from within, but it sure looks that way sometimes. In '70's Marvin Gaye wrote the protest song "What's Goin' On?" With liberals in charge, I suppose it's too much to expect a current artist to compose and record a new version.

Not much action on the street despite the beautiful day. My thanks to the two people who bought books, and to old Simon for yet another donation, this time of romance novels.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/24 - Quartet

At one time I forced myself to learn about classical music. I bought records and tapes, and watched concerts and operas on PBS. I did not develop a love for it, although I deeply respect that much of it was composed more than a hundred years ago and was passed along without the aid of recording devices. I’d guess that I can identify about 20 pieces, which wouldn't get me very far on Name That Tune. I was completely unfamiliar with Beethoven’s Opus 131, the central composition in the film A Late Quartet (2012), which I watched last night courtesy of Netflix. It is the story of a four-member string quartet, together 25 years, thrown into turmoil when its cellist must consider retirement due to ill-health. The viewer gets to know the players almost as intimately as they know each other. They are revealed in both the present and in flashbacks. There is jealousy, envy and all sorts of other negatives that melt away when the group is performing. The principals are outstanding, as one would expect from the likes of Christopher Walken, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener. I was unfamiliar with the fourth, Mark Ivanir, although he has been working steadily since the turn of the century. There are two particularly great moments, both led by Walken, when he tells a class he is teaching about his encounters with Pablo Casals, and when he puts down his cello for the last time and addresses the audience. I rarely let a film run through the entire credits. Since the composition in question was playing over them, I stayed with it out of respect. Of course, such a work raises the question of commitment to art. I ask myself if I’ve done enough, if I’ve made the sacrifices the characters have. Sure, I’ve lived alone all my adult life, but I’m almost certain that is due as much if not more to factors other than the pursuit of writing. A friend, Enrique, a talented guitarist, told me he used to fall asleep with the instrument strapped to him. For the first 20 years of my literary pursuit I worked daily but rarely more than three hours a night. Was that enough? I believe I’ve maxed my potential, whatever level that may be on the totem pole. In terms of books sales I’ve been a colossal failure. That’s always easy to determine, as numbers are finite. More importantly - have I failed as an artist? I cling to the hope that I haven’t, but that is really for others to determine. And now back to the movie. Kudos to director Yaron Zilberman, who co-wrote the screenplay with Seth Grossman, a serious work destined to be ignored by all but a handful of the public. The script was so authentic, and the actors mimicked musicianship perfectly - and it didn't appear any CGI tricks had been done. The only shortcoming was the deadly serious tone and almost complete lack of joy. Granted, these are serious people going through a difficult period, but would such wonderful artists always be so cheerless? On a scale of five, 3.7. It is rated 6.9 of ten at IMDb.

I sold one short of a quartet of books today. My thanks to the ladies and gentleman who bought.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/23 - Outrage

Founder Robert DeNiro claims to invite controversy to his Tribeca Film Festival. Recent events prove it allows controversies only from leftists. In an op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, Phelim McAleer, director of the pro-fracking Frack-Nation, details the exclusionary shenanigans of committed elites. Gasland 2 is the sequel to an anti-fracking documentary by activist Josh Fox. The claims of the first of tainted water and higher incidences of breast cancer have been disproved by scientific studies, facts to which he refuses to respond. McAleer and a group of farmers from upstate New York and Pennsylvania angered by the first film were barred from the theater despite having tickets. The police were called. It gets worse. Julie Mineeva, a Russian journalist covering the festival, interviewed a number of the players. When she went to watch the film, she was asked to leave, followed, cuffed and arrested, charged with trespassing. This is a disgrace that deserves wide coverage. Fat chance, given the liberal bias of most of the media. Burying the story will only prove its truth. If the accusations aren’t true, it’s a perfect opportunity to discredit the protesters.

Have the Jets made the right move in trading All-Pro CB Darrelle Revis? I think so. He is a great talent, but he is coming off major knee surgery and the team is in the midst of a complete overhaul. For the salary he commands, several functional players might be acquired. It is doubtful, however, the 13th pick in the draft will yield a player of his caliber. And the third or fourth round pick acquired in next year’s draft will be a crap shoot. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tampa Bay makes the playoffs and the Jets finish last, although the NFL isn’t nearly as predictable as it used to be. Few franchises seem far from contention. As I’ve said before, teams should look to the Giants two recent surprising championship runs and say: “If them, why not us?”

RIP Richie Havens, 72, who succumbed to a heart attack. He was the opening act at Woodstock. His performance of Freedom is iconic, a snapshot of part of the zeitgeist of the era: “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.” He also did a terrific take of the Beatles' Here Comes the Sun. Here's a clip from the world's most famous music festival:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA51wyl-9IE

The floating book shop had good luck for the second consecutive day, given the weather conditions. It is April 23rd, and I wore six layers, including my heaviest jacket, and I again broke out my thickest socks. My thanks to Lev, who purchased a combination of six CDs and DVDs, the two women who purchased books, and to Old Simon, who left another donation at Ali Baba's gyro truck.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/22 - Points

Here’s an impressive young man. Payton Dastrup, a four-star basketball recruit who has scholarship offers from several schools, is delaying his college career, opting to first fulfill his two-year Mormon mission, which most undertake after graduation. Will this harm or benefit his basketball aspirations in the long run? Time will tell. Upon reading this I thought back to the campaign rhetoric of the most strident leftists, who excoriated Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs, despite his unbelievably generous charitable contributions. I don’t know much about Mormonism. The little I’ve heard sounds weird. Still, as a group their behavior seems exemplary. Luis, our building’s super, is Mormon, and he is a great guy, and his four sons are great kids. I visited Wiki and found a list of hundreds of successful Mormons, including ten Medal of Honor winners, author of the wildly successful Twilight series Stephanie Meyer; historical novelist Anne Perry; actors Katherine Heigl, Wilford Brimley and Rick Schroeder; singer Gladys Knight, the biggest surprise; and of course many NFL greats, headed by Hall of Famers Steve Young and Merlin Olsen; and baseball legends Harmon Killebrew and Roy Halladay. And the Mormons' contributions to art, science, medicine and business are considerable as well. I won’t mention the politicians. Here’s a pic of the lovely Miss Heigl. Does she look dangerous to you?  

I was just reading one of those emails that hit most conservative talking points. It is ascribed to an ex-Marine, Vietnam veteran, supporting player on a long-running TV series. I won't cite his name, as it may have been written by someone else. One part does make the highlight reel. He mentions the galling euphemism used by the politically correct to describe illegal aliens - "Undocumented Workers," and asks if drug dealers should be referred to as "Undocumented Pharmacists." Love it.

I just heard the disappointing news that the Boston terrorist will not be tried as an enemy combatant. I now hope he dies from his wounds after all possible information is taken from him.

I miss global warming. Everyone, especially the elderly women who pass the floating book shop each day, complained about the cold, stiff wind. I am fortunate that two gentleman stopped to purchase books, and that a middle aged woman donated four. Thanks, folks.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/21 - Meth

Just when you thought all the dirt on JFK was public, there’s more. In a fascinating article in today’s NY Post, The Kennedy Meth, Larry Getlen reveals the President's addiction to amphetamines. I took the liberty of editing and reworking most of the piece.
JFK’s association with Max Jacobson, dubbed Dr. Feelgood by his clients, began before his presidency.  Kennedy, who suffered from Addison’s disease, migraines and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as chronic debilitating back pain, was complaining of a lack of stamina on the campaign trail. He received his first shot then. By early 1962, Bobby Kennedy, then US Attorney General, grew so suspicious of Jacobson that he sent the concoction to the FBI to learn what was in it. When he found out what it was, he confronted his brother. “I don’t care if it’s horse piss,” JFK said. “It makes me feel good.” Once, the doctor gave him too high a dose, causing a psychotic break that led to the President of the United States running naked and delirious through a hotel’s halls. He was on the verge of paranoia and feeling so free of pain that he almost wanted to perform gymnastic acts in the hallway. The Secret Service detail had to restrain him. One of New York’s top psychiatrists was summoned. He saw the President in a manic condition and immediately recognized it as drug-induced mania. He administered an anti-psychotic, and the President soon returned to normal. His relationship with Jacobson continued despite the episode. Jacobson also treated Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote and Mickey Mantle. In 1961, Mantle and teammate Roger Maris were engaged in an epic battle to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record of 60. By Sept. 24, Mantle had 54, but he was exhausted and needed a boost. He was introduced to Jacobson by Yankee broadcaster and longtime Jacobson patient Mel Allen. Jacobson prepared a special mixture of steroids, placenta, bone, calcium and a very small amount of methamphetamine and injected it into Mantle’s hip. The shot left Mantle in pain, and with a massive infection that sent him to the hospital. He missed the last few days of the season, and Roger Maris became baseball’s new home run king. Despite this The Mick continued as Jacobson’s patient. I‘m glad stuff like this is not made public immediately. It’s hard enough to have confidence in politicians. We expect celebrities, even athletes, to do these sort of things, but we’d like our leaders to toe the line, although it seems a naive notion given how many of them succumb to human frailty.

I sold two books right out of the blocks today to a girl I'd guess was 13. She translated the titles in Russian to her mom, which reminded me of the hundreds of shopping trips to 86th Street where I did the same for my mother in Italian. A young gentleman purchased a CD by multilingual Israeli artist Eti Zach, who fronts the French pop band Alabina. Munsey, who has bought several books from me, donated much needed non-fiction and children's books, one of which was bought by a young mom, who also took Ann Rice's Lasher. Thanks, folks. I topped off the day by picking up a couple of squares at the Spumoni Gardens. This livin' large has got to stop.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/20 - Bella

Kudos to law enforcement for taking the creep alive, hiss to those in the media who insist on the politically correct labeling of the perpetrators as Russian or Chechen rather than Muslim. The slimes did not do it for their homeland.

I had another vivid dream last night. It had me up before five AM, jotting notes. It began as erotica. Unfortunately, I don’t remember those details, although I’m sure they were triggered by Maria Bello, William H. Macy’s co-star in The Cooler (2003), a love story at once gritty and fanciful, the protagonist’s mere presence able to terminate any gambler’s winning streak against the Vegas casino that employs him. Bello, a brilliant actress, perhaps the most under-rated in Hollywood, appears naked several times, as she has in at least one other film. I’ve said this many times - outside of porn, I’ve yet to see a nude scene I thought was necessary. I’m sure those involved believe it’s maturity. I believe it’s the opposite and a distraction. In this instance I was thinking: “She’s flat-chested,” even though I find her incredibly sexy. I know, I know - it simply reflects my own 62-year-old immaturity. Bello is a modern woman in a modern world. I hold the old-fashion belief that a woman’s charms should be reserved for her lovers. Anyway, from there the dream evolved. I was a waiter at a wedding reception. I worked a few circa 1980 during a two-year period I tended bar. I clearly remember a wise-guy-type saying: “You take care’a me, I’ll take care’a you.” All these years later I still chuckle whenever I recall it. At this particular celebration there was a section similar to a jury box but with four rows, the third empty, I don’t know why. All the occupants were grim. I suppose this has to do with the task the citizens at the Boston terror trial will face. I had a stack of fliers in hand and began flipping them toward the jurors, who ignored them. I’m going to guess that this meant something along these lines: “Didn’t you get the memo? It’s okay to be judgmental here. It’s what juries do. Drop your political correctness.” One guy was really angry but we did not come to blows. Soon someone shouted that one of them had a call from San Francisco, that bastion of PC, and everyone in the catering hall but the jurors laughed. Of course, the dream is guilty of stereotyping, accusing all the jurors of being 100% scolds. Few advocates of PC are. Most love fun as much as the rest of us do. No doubt this is the case even with a giuche like Alec Baldwin, also in the aforementioned film. His appearances on SNL certainly attest to it. From there the dream took another turn. I was confused about money, a 20 in one hand, a few bucks in the other. I’m sure this had to do with the fact that I have to visit an ATM for the first time in a month. The cash from the floating book shop and online surveys will have been exhausted after the morning’s shopping and gasoline purchase. The end.

Here's a pic of the lovely Miss Bello:

Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

My thanks to the kind folks who purchased items on Bay Parkway today.
  

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/19 - Lockdown

I turn on my radio each morning right after I wake to hear what has befallen the world, my chief concern that terrorists have pulled off a successful attack somewhere in America. This day, just after six AM, John Gambling of WOR-AM in NYC was speaking to a woman in Watertown, Massachusetts, who lived directly across the street from a house where it was believed the second terrorist had holed up. Her voice trembled as she described the scene, the dozens of law enforcement personnel in view. She said the occupants of the home in question had had a baby just two weeks ago. It was nerve-wracking. The interview was soon cut short when a knock came at the door and the woman was asked to evacuate. The suspect is still at large. If he eludes capture, will he become a mythological figure to potential terrorists who might otherwise choose to forgo the madness? Of course, the best outcome would be his being captured alive so that he can be interrogated and that anyone who aided in the bombing can be brought to justice, dead or alive. Water-boarding, anyone? Just moments ago Rita Cosby, on the same radio station, mentioned that the teen's father, who is in Chechnya, has threatened retribution if his second son is killed. Hopefully, a bullet will find daddy's brain. Of course, the immediate fear is that the slime will perpetrate more violence, wish to go out in a blaze of glory. He has managed to put the entire great city of Boston in lockdown. How long can that last? And the greater fear is that this is just the first of such attacks, that there are cells nationwide waiting to strike. That's life in the 21st century. God bless America.

It was the first quiet Friday for the floating book shop in a long time. The rain held off but so did customers. Steve purchased Jennifer Lehr's memoir, Ill-Equipped For a Life of Sex, which sounds interesting but has no sales ranking at all at Amazon. In contrast, Herbie bought Kelly Oxford's Everything Is Perfect When You're a Liar, a comic novel ranked 211th in print and 189th in Kindle - awesome, madam. It and a fantasy were donated by a Fed-Ex employee. Thanks, gentlemen, and to the woman who bought the spiritual Daily Guide Book.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/18 - Super

Happy Birthday, Superman, who turns 75 today. He was the brainchild of two kids from Cleveland, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and perhaps the best thing to have ever come out of that city. I hardly read any books as an adolescent and teen, but I was a big fan of comics, much the same as George Costanza and Jerry Seinfeld. There is an urban myth surrounding the Man of Steel and the Seinfeld TV series. It is said that there is a reference to Superman in every episode. Fans actually spend time debunking it. Although I no longer read the comic, I do view each new film on the legend. I tried to watch the Smallville TV series, but I couldn’t deal with the modern interpretation of the Kents. Anyway - “Look, up in the sky; it’s a bird; it’s a plane - it’s Superman.” And I end this segment with the phrase that has come to annoy the politically correct: “For truth, justice, and the American way.” Thank you, sirs.

I might never have gotten around to watching You’ve Got Mail (1998) had I not found it among the vast cache of DVDs and CDs someone left in a box in the trash room on my floor. Since I intend to sell it, I had to make sure it is in good condition. It is, and it’s a sweet film to boot. Directed by the late Nora Ephron, it is the story of two Manhattanites who will obviously end up together, despite severe differences. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are at their most charming. It is fairly wholesome by modern standards, although the two are living with other lovers through three-quarters of the film. I don’t recall a single cuss, refreshing for a production these days, given that westerns and gladiator works are now liable to be rife with profanity. The supporting cast features many Hollywood stalwarts: indie queen Parker Posey, Steve Zahn, Dabney Coleman, the late John Randolph, Greg Kinnear, and Jean Stapleton, who I find it impossible to separate from her role as Edith Bunker on All in the Family. On a scale of five, I rate it 3.25. It is rated 6.3 at IMDb. Fans of rom-com are sure to enjoy it. It is smooth. Nora and Delia Ephron adapted it from a play, Parfumerie, by Miklos Laszlo.

It looked like a day of no sales until a woman with a heavy Russian accent approached the floating book shop as I was packing up. She overpaid for Sue Grafton's N Is For Noose. Spasibo, madam, and thanks also to old Simon, who for the third time in the past seven days left a bag of books for me at Ali Baba's gyro truck.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/17 - Champions

Every so often a new fact becomes public about WWII, which ended in 1945, 68 years ago. We’ve all seen the name Bill Blass, the fashion designer. At the age of 22, after the D-Day invasion, he was assigned to a unit called The Ghost Army, which operated light-weight rubberized tanks designed to deceive the Nazis. The group broadcast sound effects through loudspeakers to enhance the ruse. For some reason, this information was classified for 40 years. Next month PBS will air a documentary on the subject. The unit did not see a lot of combat but several of its members were killed in action. Blass, who passed away in 2002, would read Vogue in foxholes. He carried a sketch pad, which he filled with drawings of the women in the areas the unit visited. Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be anything new about WWII, along comes something like this. I gleaned the information from an article by Michael Starr in today’s NY Post.

RIP Pat Summerall, the long time voice of the NFL on CBS. His polished, spare, no-nonsense delivery was a pleasure to listen to and a perfect complement to his broadcasting partner, the vivacious John Madden. His real name was George Allen Summerall. He was called PAT because of his prowess as a kicker, Point After Touchdown. He played nine years in the league, five with the Browns, four with the Giants. He participated in what is billed as The Greatest Game Ever Played, the Colts 23-17 overtime victory over the Giants in the 1958 NFL championship. He called 16 Super Bowls, 27 Masters, and many U.S. Tennis Opens. Well done, sir.

Margaret Thatcher was buried yesterday, and while her clueless enemies, many too young to remember the chaos that characterized the UK before her ascension, continue to rejoice at the passing of one of the giants of the 20th Century, I celebrate her accomplishments. Here is one of her most famous quotes: “Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” She joins her other ideological cohorts and champions of freedom, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, on the other side. Thank you, madam.

It was the most beautiful day of the year, plenty of sunshine and barely a breath of wind. I suppose it was too much to ask the great luck of the past two days to continue. Still, I thank the gentlemen who purchased CDs by Genesis, Tatu and Leonard Cohen. I am shocked that the three Cohens have sold before the one Bon Jovi. The hedges have begun to bloom. I suspected they'd been killed by the salt water that flooded the area during Hurricane Sandy. Unfortunately, the six-foot cylindrical-like bushes that surround our complex don't look like they're going to make it back. They remain an ugly, rusty brown.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/16 - Wheels

I must apologize for jumping the gun and assuming yesterday’s attack was perpetrated by foreign terrorists. Although it has the hallmarks of an Al Qaeda bombing, it is also possible that it was staged by one of our own mental defectives. As for the goon whose rant about his treatment at Gitmo was published in the NY Times, which conveniently omitted his crimes, hang yourself.

Although everything pales in comparison to such an event, life must go on, other issues must be addressed. Matthew Goldstein, who was appointed Chancellor of the City University of New York in 1999, is resigning. With the help of others and despite the vociferous complaints of leftists, he restored tougher academic standards that led to the system's revival. Open enrollment was ended at the four-year colleges, but remained in effect at the junior colleges. CUNY regained much of its reputation. It may no longer be the Harvard of the Poor, but it is much better than it was. A recent article in the NY Post offered a discouraging statistic, showing how much more work needs to be done. 80% of the graduates of the NYC public school system who enter community colleges are sent to remediation classes. In effect, their high school diplomas are worthless. They are totally unprepared for the work force.
Thank you, Mr. Goldstein.

Popular culture is fascinating even when it’s infuriating. Somehow things like the pet rock, chia pet and the Macarena become wildly successful. Several years ago the lovely Kristen Bell starred as a high-schooler who solved crimes in Veronica Mars, a show that attracted only so-so ratings but a solid core of devotees. Those fans have been clamoring for a movie version. 100,000 people have donated an average of $62 each, a staggering total of 5.7 million, toward the cause - all in a single month! Hollywood execs are salivating. If I set up a website to get All Hallows into production, it might raise ten bucks - maybe.

Yesterday I received a copy of the latest romance novel of my literary angel, January Valentine, publisher of Water Forest Press. Head over Wheels has a sexy cover and immediately found a buyer, a young man. My thanks to him and to all the others who purchased CDs, DVDs and books today, and special thanks to Rafiq, who bought Killing yesterday, attracted by the 18th Avenue street sign on the cover. He used to live in the area.

Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Words 4/15

Words seem inadequate in the wake of incidents such as today's in Boston. Emotions swirl and collide: Anger, disgust, resignation - this is the world we live in - revenge. I imagine a bomb going off in downtown Tehran during rush hour - let's see how you like it. Will our leaders call it what it is - Terrorism - or will they use a phony euphemism? "Workplace violence," the tag they put on the attack at Fort Hood, won't cut it for this. And if the perpetrators are captured will they be tried instead of being sent right where they belong - to Gitmo? How I hate them. We have a duty to stiffen our backbone and carry on, show the scum we cannot be defeated. But it's not easy. It's different than coping with the suffering of an unfortunate few I see on the street each day, which I shrug off fairly easily. Carrying on after a terror event seems disrespect to the dead. I feel guilty promoting my work at such times, even though it is my business and I believe that all businesses should remain open as usual. I want all stores to keep selling their wares, all financial exchanges to trade, all sports leagues to continue playing, all schools to conduct classes without more than a moment's pause. In short, I want America to give the collective finger to our enemies.

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/14 - Duels

Like Terence Malick, Paul Michael Thomas makes unconventional films that challenge viewers. Even his most commercial film, Boogie Nights (1997), resisted going low, remarkable considering it was centered on the world of porn. He focused on the delusion of the characters: the director who hoped to create a masterpiece of the genre; the star who believed she was fit to be a mother; the male performers who hoped to be successful in other endeavors. Thomas helmed Adam Sandler’s only serious work, Punch-Drunk Love (2002). There Will Be Blood (2007) is his most successful film among critics. I respected more than liked it. Magnolia (1999) also received many award nominations. I don’t remember much about it other than liking it. Hard 8 (1996), a gritty piece centered on gamblers, features Gwyneth Paltrow at her finest. What is unusual about all of the above is that they are largely character-driven, although interesting events do take place in them occasionally. Thomas wrote the screenplay for each. Last night I watched The Master (2012), courtesy of Netflix, another of the director’s challenges. It is the story of two strong-willed men, an unstable Navy WWII veteran and the founder of a sect similar to Scientology. Joaquin Phoenix is fantastic as the former, Phillip Seymour Hoffman displays his usual brilliance as the latter. Again the focus is primarily on individuals, on the duel between them. It is not an expose` of the controversial philosophy embraced by Tom Cruise and John Travolta. My ignorance of it has not changed after viewing the film. I don’t know whether Hoffman’s character is a visionary, deluded, a guy just trying to impress women, or a fraud who is, as his own son states: “…making it up as he goes along.”  It doesn’t matter. The characters are the story. The film runs 144 minutes. During the second half I periodically peered at the clock, eager for the end. It is not for the average movie-goer. Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar as Best Actor, Hoffman and Amy Adams, who plays his true-believer wife, were nominated for supporting roles. On a scale of five, I rate it three. It is rated 7.2 at IMDB. One of its best features is Jonny Greenwood’s score.

Once again The Masters provided high drama, sport at its finest. It was the gritty, grinding style of Argentina's Angel Cabrera vs. the classic fluidity of Australia's Adam Scott. Each man made incredible shots and putts down the stretch and in the two sudden death holes. Cabrera lost, literally, by a fraction, his putt an eighth of an inch from falling into the hole. Scott is the first Aussie to win the coveted green jacket. For so many years Greg Norman tantalized his fellow countrymen down under, and legions of fans around the world, by coming up just short. Given the controversy about whether Tiger Woods should or shouldn't have been disqualified due to a rule violation during Friday's round, I'm glad he didn't win. For the first time, I was rooting against him. I try to remain neutral and hope for fantastic play from all, but I was pulling for Scott this time, as Cabrera had already won the tournament in 2009. Scott uses the long putter, which is scheduled to be outlawed in the near future. I've never believed it provides an unfair advantage. Great show, gentlemen.

My thanks to the ladies and gentleman who purchased CDs today, Best-ofs by George Michael, Sting, Leonard Cohen and Madonna.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/13 - Nostalgia

Many moons ago on the first floor of a house rented by four college friends at 524 Oak Street in Kalamazoo, my buddy Jim and I were watching The Tonight Show. Jonathan Winters, 87, who just passed away, was a guest, seated to the right of Johnny Carson. He did a simple bit about two typically (stereotypically?) laconic farmers having a discussion, which had us laughing out loud, and which we cited for years, trying our best to imitate the drawl the comedian adopted. It went something like this:
"Had a heifer - died."
"Dead?"
"Dead now, Sunday a week."
RIP, sir. Thanks for the laughs during a time when I was so blue about life.

Suddenly nostalgic, which is not often the case, I remember watching a Dick Van Dyke rerun with another of our roommates, Rick, a goombah from Detroit, who was a DJ at both the local radio station, WKZO, and at our university’s, WIDR, where Jim had his own show too. When Rob Petrie complained to his wife that he wasn’t feeling well, and Laura asked what she could do for him, Rick quietly made a lewd suggestion that struck me as so funny that I rolled off my chair and laughed for several minutes. I haven’t seen Rick in decades. If I ever do see him again, I will zing him as I so often did, recalling the loud intro to his show, the shouting of his stage name: Dick Murray! Ah, youth. Both men are a lot more successful than I’ve been, in their careers as well as in family life. Jim and Judy have two beautiful daughters with whom I’ve shared quality time, and who are now busy raising their own beautiful kids, whose pictures are posted on Facebook by their proud grandma. And Rick and Suzi, a local TV news legend, have four kids. I envy and love them for having gotten life right.

Pro golf has another whippersnapper to envy: 14-year-old Tianlang Guan of China, who made the cut at The Masters despite being assessed a one-stroke penalty for slow play at the 17th hole. Damn snot-nosed kids.



My thanks to the folks who purchased books CDs and DVDs today on Bay Parkway.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/12 - Theater

   Rain-out Theater Presents: an excerpt from Vic Fortezza’s as yet to be published near 200,000 word rock n roll epic, Rising Star. The band has just completed shooting a video and is off to a Hollywood party:

   They completed shooting by early evening. Richardson charted a limousine to take Richie to the airport. Everyone else was invited to his home.
   "I have a feeling you're going to regret missing this," said Mitchell.
   Richie returned a sour look. "You tryin' to make me stay so ya won't look bad? I could give a rat's ass about the party. I miss my wife an' kid. Want me to call Bonnie?"
   "I talk to her enough."
   "I'll do it anyway, moron."
   Richardson lived alone in a mansion in Beverly Hills. He led his guests inside. Everyone was awed.
   "Not bad for a kid from the Bronx, huh? My exes let me keep it. They only want my money."
   "This's like the houses ya see in the movies," said Mike, transfixed by the elegant chandelier hanging in the spacious living room.
   The furniture was chic, spare, seemingly for display rather than comfort. The walls were white and bare.
   "My last wife got the art work," said Richardson.
   The floor was hard and cold. Paul conjured images of Hollywood's depiction of ancient Rome.
   "What's your real name?" he said -- "if you don't mind my askin'. It can't be Richardson. It's gotta end in a vowel or a 'witz' or a 'berg.'"
   Richardson smiled. "I can't remember that far back."
   The others laughed. Someone asked about Michaels.
   "One of the few dedicated family men left in this town," said Richardson, “a real mensch."
   None of the crew was present, either.
   "All weirdos or fags, but great at what they do."
   In the evening he dismissed his servants.
   John had an arm around two of the women who'd participated in the video. Mitchell was flirting with others. Paul stood by nervously. Richardson encouraged everyone to sample his wide range of liqueurs and poured a mound of cocaine onto a coffee table. There was also hashish, stuffed into an elaborate pipe and passed about.
   Although Paul had fantasized about such parties, he found himself appalled at the willingness of the others to debauch themselves. He wondered if Susan's presence was oppressing him. He kept an eye on her, afraid she might participate. She was huddled in a corner with Richardson, who had to contend with the doting of Mike. Paul was certain Mike would relapse tonight. He was tempted to tell Susan to monitor him just to keep her out of Richardson's grasp.
   "You seem bored," said Richardson, moving closer to Susan.
   "I'm impressed as hell," said Mike. "That's dynamite coke."
   Susan coiled in anger. "You didn't do it in front of Paul, did you?"
   "Are you crazy?"
   Richardson put down his drink. "I'm insulted that my party's boring you."
   "I'm sorry," said Susan. "I'm too worn out to appreciate anything right now. I shouldn't've come. I'll call a cab."
   "Wait. I have just the thing for you. Come upstairs."
   "Please, Howard, you're a nice guy, but I'm not up to it tonight."
   "My dear," said Richardson condescendingly, "I'm not talking about anything so mundane as sex. That's for mere mortals. I've got something that'll make you feel like a goddess."
   Her eyes brightened. "You've got my attention."
   To her chagrin, Mike followed. His appetite for drugs now surpassed his appetite for sex. He rarely brought a woman to the room any more. He'd shown no more than a token interest in the beauties of the video. She considered having Paul order him to remain downstairs, but decided Paul would be less suspicious should the three of them go upstairs together.
   The upper level was plush and infinitely more comfortable. Susan loved the feel of the soft red rugs under her feet. The curtains were of the finest fabric. The artwork was first rate. She felt her temperature rise as she followed Richardson into a bedroom, where he unlocked a wall safe hidden behind a painting.
   He beamed, shaking a clear plastic bag he'd withdrawn. "Know what this is?"
   "H?" said Susan, tense.
   "That's right, doll. The major leagues, Broadway, Hollywood, prime time. Hero, heroic, heroism, heroin. Are you up to it?"
   "Are you addicted?"
   He shrugged. "Probably, but I can afford it."
   She was torn. She'd experimented with every drug she'd ever fantasized about except heroin. She was afraid she would become addicted or die of an overdose. After all, she loved cocaine -- heroin was supposed to be the ultimate high. She might never let it go. Then again, she feared the opportunity to try it might never present itself again or that her courage would fail her next time. She longed to know the high and regretted that her body was polluted with cocaine, that the effect of the drug would not be pure. She even hoped the drug would flush the craving for cocaine from her system.  She thought it would be foolish to bypass this chance to journey to the edges of life. She had only one reservation -- Mike, who seemed eager to fill his veins. She doubted he was strong enough to resist addiction, especially as she wasn't sure she was herself.   
   "Go downstairs," she told him. "This isn't for you."
   "Oh, yeah? I'll tell Paulie."
   She stared, wishing he were dead. There was no recourse.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/11 - Found

I recently found a box chock full of CDs and DVDs in the trash room on the second floor of our building. I’ve already sold several geared to Russian-Americans. I’ve begun watching the films to make sure they aren’t damaged. The first two, Octopussy (1983) and Moonraker (1979), from the Roger Moore as James Bond era, are in perfect condition. Unfortunately, the content is dreadfully dull, despite the presence of the requisite beauties, and the gadgetry and explosions. I was never able to warm up to Moore in the role of 007, perhaps because he immediately followed Sean Connery, my favorite. I enjoyed all the other screen Bonds, even Timothy Dalton, who played it so close to the vest. Anyway, back to the tale of the found treasure: Last night I watched Finder’s Fee (2001), an independent film completely foreign to me, a wonderful surprise. It begins when a young man finds a wallet that has a winning lottery ticket inside. Most of the scenario takes place inside the guy’s apartment, where four friends share a poker night, which is crashed by James Earl Jones. Although I knew the name of only one of the four principals, Ryan Reynolds, one of the hottest actors at present, all were familiar through numerous appearances on TV shows and in other films: Erik Palladino, Matthew Lillard, and Dash Mihok. Each did great work, aided by a script that had in-depth characterization. It was written and directed by Jeff Probst, who spends most of his time producing Survivor, in which I've never been interested. It’s not reality when the participants know cameras are filming. Anyway, I’m disappointed Probst hasn’t done more screenplays. This is good work, done tightly in 100 minutes, and pretty much free of the profanity usually found in modern buddy movies. Is it flawless? No, but it is entertaining and thought-provoking. It proves once again that a good story doesn’t require length, action every few minutes, and a big budget. On a scale of five, I rate it 3.5. It is rated 6.4 of ten at IMDb. 

I expected the floating book shop to be rained-out today. I was very lucky that a lengthy rainless window opened between storms. Although business was sparse, there were a couple of special moments. An elderly gentleman pulled up on a bike and bought a biography on General Stormin' Norman Schwartzkopf, architect of Desert Storm, the first Iraq incursion. Later, another senior citizen handed me a wad of singles and said: "Thanks, that was a great book I bought the other day." I scoured my memory and realized he was referring to the one on the Chicago Cubs of the Jazz Age. I told him to take something else, but, speaking on a cell phone, he was too busy to stop. My thanks to those old boys and to the Russian woman who has bought so many novels in her own tongue, another today. I also had a visit from legendary retired salesman Morty, 78, who recently underwent cancer treatment. He's doing so well his doctor told him not to come back for another year. He was all smiles. Yes!
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/10 - Lucky

Sign of the times: In an op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, Thomas Sowell divulges the entry examination results for NYC’s elite Stuyvesant High School. Here’s the breakdown of those who passed: 9 blacks, 24 Latinos, 177 whites, 620 Asians. This does not surprise me. When I used to set up the floating book shop in front of libraries, I'd marvel at how excited Asian children were to enter, many running to the entrance, many accompanied by grandparents. Family and education seem to have been ingrained in them. A couple of years ago Amy Chua caught a lot of guff for her hard-nosed approach to parenting, chronicled in her book Tiger Moms. It seems a lot of Asian parents take her approach. More power to them. Sowell relates his disappointment when he was teaching college classes and seeing mostly Asians and no fellow blacks studying in the library. Even in the simple endeavor of recycling, Asian immigrants out-work everyone. Most of the people I see performing this monotonous task are Asian. They are relentless in creating a better life for themselves. I respect them so much.

It was a perfect day to sell books -- pleasant temperature, benign breeze and plenty of sunshine. Although business was slack, I had ample evidence of how lucky I am. All one has to do is note the physical state of some passersby. Ol' Smokey has been taking an item or two on credit from the floating book shop every time I see him. I can't say no, even though I expect he will never pay. After expenses, any money he has will likely go to tobacco and booze. That's all he has. And Marty has been walking on egg shells lately. A month ago, concerned about a cough he'd developed, he quit smoking. He's been losing weight. He just went through all the tests and is obviously worried. I don't know what to say to him and keep it to a simple: "Hang in there." Later, while I was sitting on the ledge of the garden before the building where I set up shop, an SUV pulled up to the end of the bus stop. Soon a man was wheeling an emaciated woman toward the passenger door. He helped her to her feet. She was so weak she couldn't lift a leg to climb inside. She groaned in agony when the man lifted and placed her in the seat. There was a lump in my throat. A few minutes later a miserable old woman using a walker excoriated me for not having flagged down the bus for her. She has purchased several large print books from me. The last one I had was the Bible. "I don't believe in God," she snapped. When she reached the point where three local Latino porters were yukking it up, she excoriated them for not speaking English. What she says about Russians is unbelievable. She is some piece of work. Fortunately, Marie, who I hadn't seen in weeks and was worried about, had a much simpler problem. She was on her way to dental surgery.

My thanks to the Russian woman who bought two CDs in her native tongue, to the black woman who purchased a book on skin color improvement, and to the three people who donated books. My selection of former best sellers has improved dramatically the past two days.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/9 - Champs

Many leftists are gleeful about the passing of Margaret Thatcher, one of the giants of the 20th century. They’ve launched personal attacks. The Iron Lady once answered critics in this way: “I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.” Not only did her policies save the UK economy, she warned about the potential perils of the European Union, which have come true.

Our personalities, once set, do not change much even over the course of a lifetime. The biggest change in me, perhaps the only one, is my diminished interest in sports. During the first 40 years of my life, I devoted many hours to the viewing of the big four and golf. Last night I completely forgot about the NCAA Basketball Championship, and when I heard the result on the radio this morning, I just shrugged, although I’d missed a good game. I’m not denigrating it. It’s just not important to me any more. Still, congratulations to the Louisville Cardinals on the school's third basketball title, and to Rick Pitino, who became the first coach to win a championship at two schools. He entered the Hall of Fame Monday morning, won it all on Monday night. He has 664 victories and a .735 winning percentage. It's always nice to see a fellow goombah do well.

It was warm enough today that not even the stiff wind annoyed me. My thanks to Mrs. Eclectic, who bought in bulk for the third time in two weeks, and to the other folks who made book and music purchases, and to Madeline, who traded nine paperbacks, most of them well known, for two novels by Kristin Hannah, her favorite author. All three Russian books I had on display were snapped up, as well as five CDs. Spasibo.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/8 - Golem

A couple of weeks ago a gentleman bought a couple of books from me and handed me one he’d just read, Pete Hamill’s Snow in August. Hamill is a legendary figure in NYC, both as a journalist and man about town. He also wrote fiction. Although the main character of the novel is Irish and 13 years older than me, I related to him very well. He is a lot wiser and more scholarly than I was as a pre-teen. We both are baffled by the bittersweet mystery of life. The novel is set in post-war Brooklyn, the bulk of it during 1947, the year Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball. I am a proud Brooklyn boy, and Hamill captures our beloved borough perfectly, although his neighborhood, near Prospect Park, was completely foreign to me, despite the fact that it was only a few miles away. By the time I was the character’s age, the Brooklyn I knew was more peaceful and less impoverished than the one he’d known. We had our bigots and thugs, but they weren’t the danger to us that they are to Michael Devlin and Rabbi Hirsch. My eyes glazed a couple of times during the course of the book. It is beautiful even in its telling of grief. It is written in a clear, clean style one would expect from a journalist, untainted by pseudo-literary excess. Although I found the climax problematic, it does not come out of leftfield. I wonder how many readers reacted or will react skeptically to Hamill's use of the supernatural. I would have preferred a solution grounded in human ingenuity. Perhaps this simply reflects the lack of faith of an agnostic such as I. Rabbi Hirsch believes he failed to set the force on the Nazis’ evil because he had lost faith, doubted God, which is understandable given what he witnessed. Yet an adolescent Irish-American succeeds in conjuring the Golem. In the Afterword, Hamill says the theme of the novel is: “first we imagine, then we live.” I wished I believed that God cares, that He sends the Golem to protect the faithful. I would love to be wrong about life’s greatest mystery. Then again, maybe we have Golem in the form of drones. Maybe he lives in the hearts of those who served and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in those of the agents worldwide who stand guard against the scourge of Islamic fanatics. I hope so. On a scale of five, I rate Snow in August four.  

It was quite a day for the floating book shop. Since I had a dentist appointment in Bay Ridge, I chose to set up on the busy strip at 86th Street between 4th & 5th Avenue. I was already ahead of game. Dr K purchased Killing and now owns all four of my books. His wife Ann, his assistant, said she hoped it wasn't as scary as A Hitch in Twilight. Their son David recently turned 17 and has begun scouting colleges that specialize in science. He is a member of the Robotics team at his high school, and it created a robot that can throw a Frisbee, which they will enter into a contest. I remember him seated on the floor of the office, playing with his magic set, performing tricks for me. Good luck, David.

No sooner had I reached the now closed HSBC Bank on the sunny side of 86th Street, and displayed my books, when a young woman asked what they were about. When she heard that Killing was about three generations of combat veterans, she jumped on it. She is an Air Force veteran herself and comes from a family in which generations have served. Thank you, Sunny. Given her beautiful smile, she was named perfectly. My thanks also to the young Asian gentleman who purchased Mary Carter's The Pub Across the Pond, a novel about a 30-year-old American woman who wins an Irish bar in a raffle.

Of course, life being a bittersweet journey, our joys are often balanced by sorrow. Two great women passed away today: Margaret Thatcher, 87, the Iron Lady, daughter of a grocer, a Golem in her own right who stood up to the unions and saved England's economy; and Annette Funicello, 70, everyone's favorite Mouseketeer, who succumbed to a 25-year battle with MS. Rest in peace, ladies, and thank you.

Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/7 - Hunger

Sign of the times: the World Health Organization reports that for the first time in history there are more deaths from obesity than hunger or starvation. Ironically, this is proof that life has improved greatly, at least in terms of the eradication of poverty. Of course, politicians everywhere threaten this. Leftists would insist government’s redistribution of wealth has engendered the improvement. I’d argue it was the product of the free markets that created abundance, especially the technological advances of the past 20 years. The internet and cell phones have been great positives for humanity. I have to remind myself of that whenever I encounter the abuses people perpetrate with them. The pluses outweigh the minuses by a huge margin.

I expected a pleasant day operating the floating book shop, given the forecast. At 11:30 it seemed as if Spring were in the air, by 1PM winter-like conditions emerged. For the umpteenth time in the past six weeks a stiff, cold wind made things difficult. I know it's futile to let weather upset one, but I was pissed. Enough already. I had to stand guard over my own books, which I lay flat to attract attention, and which nearly blew away a few times. My thanks to the two people who made purchases. The forecast is for temperatures near or in the 70's the next few days. Yeah, right.

I finally have some Russian wares for the first time in more than a month. In a box on the floor of the trash room, there were about 50 CDs, DVDs, and books. Someone must be cleaning house. More than half the stuff is in English: Streisand, Billy Joel, Genesis, Bieber, James Bond films. I'll sell them for a buck a piece, just in case any are damaged. No sense making potential enemies when my real goal is to sell my own books. I'd refund the money of anyone who wasn't satisfied.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 4/6 - Controversy

I was hangin' with my homey, Bags, after lunch. We watched about an hour of the classic western High Noon (1952), which was controversial in its day. Legendary Hollywood figures John Wayne and Howard Hawks both detested the film. Wayne believed it was a veiled condemnation of the black-listing of the McCarthy era. Hawks did not like that the character goes about town pleading for help in opposing the four gunmen out to get him. Ironically, the Soviets condemned the film as "a glorification of the individual." Conservatives Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower respected it. It is Bill Clinton's favorite movie. He screened it 17 times at the White House during his presidency. The American left loved it as a condemnation of those who did not stand up to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Wayne helped get the screenwriter, Carl Foreman, blacklisted. Gary Cooper, the star of the film and a conservative, appeared before the committee but did not name names. In a great irony, Wayne accepted the Best Actor Academy Award for Cooper, who was unable to attend the ceremony. The film won three other Oscars: Editing, Scoring, and Song, Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin', written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington, performed by Tex Ritter. As the opening strands played, Bags and I noted a similarity to the scratchy opening of Voodoo Chile. I couldn't help but picture Jimi Hendrix watching the flick, hearing the music, saying: "Wait a minute," and picking up his guitar. Anyway, time has proven Wayne and Hawks wrong. The McCarthy era controversy is remembered only by partisans, and the film endures. It is rated 8.2 of ten at IMDb, where many of the facts were culled, as well as at Wiki. The mere fact that Lee Van Cleef and Robert J. Wilkie are two of the gunmen makes it a winner in my book, especially when Van Cleef plays the harmonica!

The floating book shop had a nice session at its usual Saturday location in front of the Chase at Bay Parkway & 85th Street. Sue purchased a couple of DVDs and two employees of the bank bought books. But the highlight of the day was a visit from a burly neighborhood guy who always stops to chat after conducting business inside. Today his younger son accompanied him. He picked out a couple of fantasy novels and his dad had him read the first page of one to make sure he could handle them. Only seven, Mark did fine. The little guy writes a page each night in his diary. One subject was his fear of the dark and how he counted on his parents to protect him. Another was devoted to the teachers he hated. The kid has a future. I resisted spouting the song parody of Willie Nelson's Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys my mind conjures whenever I meet a young writer, wherein I substitute Writers for the last word.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3