Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/31 - Shootouts

Hong Kong auteur Johnnie To has directed 57 films, many in the action genre. Avid fans of cinema are familiar with his work. I had my fourth taste last night, courtesy of Netflix. Drug War (2012) is the type of crime drama Asians do very well. It is lively, amusing and violent. It’s rare to find a new wrinkle in such fare, but darn if To didn’t come up with one -- deaf mutes running a drug warehouse. While watching the scene, I was conflicted, trying not to laugh as the crooks grunted at each other as authorities closed in. The humor in these flicks is often bizarre. I had trouble following the storyline, as the subtitles were frequently obscured and I was confused by who was who. One of the things I like best about foreign films is the fresh faces. One can watch without preconceived notions or prejudice toward the players. In this case, the cast was so large I wasn’t sure in some instances who were the good and bad guys, especially since many of the detectives were in plain clothes. The main plot is interesting: is the captured criminal, who faces the death penalty for drug pushing, helping the police in order to get a lesser sentence or up to no good? Of course, the climax features a mad shootout in which almost everyone is killed -- with elementary school kids around, no less, reminiscent of 20-minute gunfight at the end of John Woo's Hardboiled (1992) that took place in a hospital, some of it in the maternity ward. The closing scene had me chuckling too, as it reminded me a little of the unforgettable climax in Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), only in this case the character was scheming until the very end. On a scale of five, I rate Drug War 3.5. It is rated 7.1 of ten at IMDb. Anyone who loves action movies and doesn’t mind reading subtitles should check out the Asian market. There are many good flicks available. Anyone turned off by depictions of violence should pass. Sociologists and psychologists must have a tough time understanding how societies that produce such violent fare suffer so much less gun play in real life than Americans do.

Abdul the Friendly Porter's massive donation paid immediate dividends. Kinesha, aka Mrs. Eclectic, and her hubby bought eight works of fiction. A woman whose ancestors were groomers at the Sheepshead Bay Stables at the turn of the 20th century purchased three pictorials on the history of Coney Island, which is a mere mile-and-a-half away, if that, from where I set up shop. My thanks, folks, and also to the young woman who bought Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code, at least the fifth copy I've sold, and the Russian woman who purchased three thrillers in her native tongue. This is more like it.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/30 - Wins

About a month ago I put in an order to sell my 100 shares of Facebook at $60. It cracked $59, then fell back to below $54 a few days ago. Fearful it was headed for a big slide, I considered cancelling the order and submitting a new one at $55. I'm glad I didn't. Its earnings exceeded expectations and the stock zoomed overnight, finishing above $60. I'm not sure the firm I'm using trades overnight, so I was certain the stock would open lower on profit taking and probably not reach my limit. I was ecstatic to find that it continued its rise. My shares were sold at $62, for a profit of just under two grand. Yay! Of course, given my mediocre investment results, the stock will now no doubt vault into the hundreds, and this nice win may turn into a big what might have been dumbbell what did you do loss. A broker using my trading history as a yardstick would be giving a strong buy recommendation right now, but remember -- stocks can and do lose money, as the disclaimers always state. And bet with your head, not over it.

It was probably crazy to set up shop today, since it was 20 degrees when I left the house at eleven, but there wasn't much wind and the sun was unblocked, and I was getting stir crazy spending so much time at home. I figured I'd be able to stand the cold until one. Only my toes froze. I sold only one book, but because I made the effort to be out there, I was rewarded in another way. Abdul the Friendly Porter asked if I wanted to take a look through two shopping carts full of books he had in the basement of the building he works. I took half of them with me, rolling one of the carts to my car, where I piled them onto my back seat and into whatever space was left in the trunk. If I were more ambitious, I would've taken 95% of them. There were only a few unmarketable ones in the bunch. There were a lot of intriguing science titles. Of those, I took only the authors I recognized: Stephen Hawking and Neil DeGrasse. There were a lot of books on Egyptian art. As luck would have it, Ol' Smokey showed up as I was filling the car. He wanted the books on art and I wouldn't refuse him, as he has made a lot of donations to the floating book shop. I was happy to hear that he is not being evicted from his apartment, and that his disability payments and meds are to be restored. He's been yelling uncontrollably lately. One day I heard him screaming from the bus stop on the other side of Avenue Z, about 75 yards away from where I usually set up. Hopefully, the drugs will cure that. Anyway, among this huge batch were a number of popular novels, classics, and modern award winners. There were also two pictorials on Coney Island, which I'm sure will sell quickly. The forecast for the next few days is favorable for outdoor business. It's not Charlie Sheen winning, but it's nice to be on the plus side again.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/29 - Fun facts

While channel surfing last night, I came upon an interesting, surprising fun fact. This-TV, 111 on Cablevision in NYC, was running Army of One (1993), starring Dolph Lundgren, who was born and raised in Sweden. Upon returning from commercial, a blurb was flashed at the bottom of the screen. Fortunately, there was no dialogue at that point, so the closed-captioning didn’t block it. Lundgren was a Fulbright scholar (1983) and was offered a place at MIT after earning a Master’s in Chemical Engineering, his father’s vocation, at the University of Sydney in Australia. Now in his mid 50’s, he was the European Heavyweight Karate Champion in 1980-81. He was Grace Jones’ bodyguard and boyfriend for four years, the survival of which may be his most impressive accomplishment. At IMDb, he has 58 credits as an actor, six as a director and five as a writer. He is a renaissance man - who knew? There are several quotes attributed to him. I found the following two the most interesting:
From Vanity Fair, 1995: “I was a movie star before having the chance to become an actor, so now I'm trying to backtrack.”
“Action films are an extension of Greek myths which have been around since Homer's The Iliad. Everybody's life has some mythical quality. You struggle against obstacles, you fight to get to a higher level and there are great loves. With an action film it's just more apparent. That's why people will always love action movies.”
Well done, sir.

I did not watch the State of the Union Address. Political speeches are a waste of time, not worth the paper on which they're written. I read only one op-ed piece on it, in the NY Post, by Jonathan Podhoretz, a conservative. It didn't say anything new. However, I was just listening to a bit of the Sean Hannity Show on WOR-AM, and he pointed out an amusing fact regarding Obama's comment of being embarrassed about how much less American women are paid than men. According to 2011 stats, female White House staffers are paid on average 18% less than their male peers, a median of $60,000 vs. $71,000. I just researched it  on the web to make sure I had the numbers right, and an article at Townhall.com also took the President to task on his promise to spur job growth, citing the thousands that would be created upon approval of the Keystone Pipeline bill, which has been sitting on his desk for months. The piece also mentioned hypocritical positions on healthcare, the wars, and veteran benefits.

I was tempted to open up the book shop today -- until I got to the corner of E. 13th & Avenue Z and felt the icy wind. I'm getting stir crazy. The temperature is supposed to be in the 30's tomorrow. If the wind is calmer...
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/28 - Finals

Here are the last three quotes that precede the chapters, and the one that closes my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. Degree of difficulty, geared toward the average fan, in parenthesis. Answers below. I have less than 50 pages left to proof. I'll probably go through it again, as I added lines here and there. The hard part will be, as always, finding a publisher. And will that publisher let the quotes stand? Although it's free publicity for the music, permission is supposed to be sought, and it would be a monumental pain in the butt to get it. I think the novel works better with them and I'd hate to see them go.
61. “…I’m not alone, then I am/Some people seem to think I’m Superman….” (9)
62, “…Turn and face the strain….” (7)
63. “…The ending is just a beginner….” (10)
End Quote: “…La, la, la, la, life goes on….”

I value paypal, which helps my literary efforts enormously by allowing me to stockpile what I earn doing surveys and using it to buy copies of my own books, but I’m clueless about how bitcoins work. All I know is a couple of wheeler-dealers have been busted using it in fraudulent ways, the value in mega-millions. The creativity of humans, the law-abiding and the criminal, is always impressive. Speaking of criminals, I don’t understand the ridiculous ways of government, either. For some reason, residents of Atlantic Towers and, I assume, other co-ops, receive a tax abatement each year on maintenance fees. It used to cover the entire amount of a single month. It’s down to about half, still a nice dividend, in my case a little more than $200. Why it’s done or why the hacks don’t get the numbers right the first time, I have no idea. At least the windfall alleviates the sting of a month of paltry business selling books.

Good news: the forecast says the arctic blast will depart a day early, which means the floating book shop will return Thursday if the sun is out and it's not too windy.

Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

61. Day of the Eagle – Robin Trower
62. Changes – David Bowie
63. Heaven and Hell – Black Sabbath (Ronnie James Dio)
End Quote: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – the Beatles (Lennon/McCartney) I wasn’t sure about the final one, wondering if it’s too light, if it's dismissive of all the pain that goes on before it. I decided to stick with it because the Beatles are the most famous rock n roll band of all time. Only Elvis is on a par with them in popularity, and even the King will take a back seat in this the 50th anniversary year of the remarkable lads from Liverpool.

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/27 - Frozen Ground

I broke from a current trend, the swearing off of vampire, gangster and serial killer fare. Last night, courtesy of Netflix, I watched The Frozen Ground (2013), based on a psychopath who killed at least 17 young women in Alaska. What prompted me to add it to my list was curiosity about Vanessa Hudgens, now 24, who rose to fame in the High School Musical series, one of which I watched years ago with my great niece. Playing the antithesis of that role, she is excellent in TGF. She will not be a flash in the pan. As for the movie itself, it is well done but does not offer anything new to the genre. I was reminded of episodes of Criminal Minds -- without an offbeat character such as the kooky techie to alleviate the gloom. Nicolas Cage, jowly and showing his age, is solid as the dedicated cop, and John Cusack is appropriately creepy as the fiend. Familiar faces Dean Norris and Kevin Dunn bring their expertise to supporting roles. The best scene has Hudgen’s character, on the run, come face to face with a moose in a dark alley. Although this is not a rare occurrence in Alaska, the creators were obviously making a point. A young male contributor to the commentary about the film at IMDb explained it best, I think, saying they were misfits, out of place, sharing a moment in time. This was director Scott Walker’s first full length feature. He also wrote the screenplay. I’m interested in what he does next. The film is rated 6.3 of ten at IMDb. On a scale of five, I rate it three. There are simply too many works like it. 

As soon as I stepped out of the door for my morning walk at six-AM, I noticed the change in temperature. It was quite a relief. Unfortunately, I spoiled it all by somehow losing ten bucks in Stop n Shop. Oh, well -- easy come, easy go. It was a pleasure to see the melting snow vigorously cascading into sewers. There's still a loft left and it won't melt quickly, as the extreme cold is returning for a few more days. Of course, this being an unforgiving winter, this afternoon I had to contend with a nasty wind that threatened to send my wares flying, so I was unable to display them properly. I doubt it made a difference in sales, though. There will be no book shop Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday's session will depend on the wind. I learned yesterday that 20 degrees is tolerable as long as the sun is out and the breeze is minimal. I thank the four kind souls who purchased books today, and the two who donated.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/26 - The Living End

Last night Antenna-TV, channel 114 on Cablevision in NYC, ran four straight rock n roll movies. I watched the first, Rock Around the Clock (1956), which I hadn’t seen since the ‘60’s. It was made to capitalize on the burgeoning genre, and to promote it. What is good clean fun by today’s standards was scandalous to many back then. Although the story is thin, the terminology archaic and the humor corny, it has a lot of charm and energy. To my surprise, all but one of the faces of the main cast, John Archer, were unfamiliar. Johnny Johnston, the star, playing a manager, does not have many film credits. He was a singer during the Big Band era. Archer, Henry Slate and the two females leads, Alix Talton and Lisa Gaye, a terrific dancer, all have an impressive number of credits listed at IMDb, where the film is rated 6.1 of ten. Legendary DJ Alan Freed, who did a lot to popularize rock n roll, is also on hand. Only two years after the release of the film, he was cited in the infamous payola scandal, as was Dick Clark, accused of taking money to play and promote the records of certain artists. Freed died of the effects of alcoholism in 1965 at the age of 43. The real stars of Rock Around the Clock are the bands, particularly Bill Haley and the Comets, whose antics during Rudy’s Rock are a trip. The Platters, not one of my favorite groups, also do several numbers. Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, of whom I had no recollection whatsoever, did two songs. Their bass player used an electric model, which surprised me, as I doubt many were used at that time. The most unusual act, doing several numbers, was fronted by Tony Martinez, and I’d label the music as salsa. I’d guess all four acts were represented by the same manager. If Martinez’s name rings a bell, it may be because he played Pepino in 141 episodes of The Real McCoys, which starred Walter Brennan and Richard Crenna. I believe all the numbers were lip-synched and pantomimed. There is also great interest to film buffs regarding the men behind the scenes. Fred F. Sears, has 44 credits as a director and 75 as an actor. Scanning the lists, it appears all his work was in B films. He was at the helm of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956). Tragically, he was felled by a heart attack at 44. He was doing five films a year. I wonder if overwork killed him. Producer Sam Katzman has 241 credits going all the way back to 1933 and until 1972. Many were exploitation flicks similar to the one in question. In fact, in the few minutes I viewed of Don’t Knock the Twist (1962), it seemed to be following the script of Rock Around the Clock to a T. As Rock... wound down, the words “The Living End” appeared on the screen. Nostalgia is nice sometimes.

In Kyle Smith’s op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, he cites a new term British conservative writer Peter Hitchens has invented: “Coincidence Theorists,” ascribed those who deny chicanery, a lack of connection about events that appear to have something in common, such as IRS targeting and the harassment of filmmakers critical of the President.

I spotted an interesting headline at google news and followed it to this life-affirming article that brought tears to my eyes: http://www.ydr.com/nation-world/ci_24995685/california-familys-promise-gave-life-man-31-year

It was only 20 degrees, but the sun was shining and the wind was blocked by the Chase bank, so I decided to set up the floating book shop. 30 minutes later the clouds moved in and the warmth the sun provided was eventually obliterated. Fortunately, my car was in the perfect spot, so I was able to put in a couple of hours. My thanks to the two gentlemen who bought.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/25 - Proverbs

Nigerian proverb: “However long the moon disappears, it must shine again.”
In 1958 vast fields of oil were discovered in Nigeria, changing the country dramatically. Tribes feuded. Villagers were forced from their land and, in some cases, massacred. This is the background of a powerful novel by Chris Creave: The Other Hand, published in 2008. It has sold more than two million copies worldwide. It is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of two women of completely different backgrounds: a refugee from a humble African village and a successful London working mom/wife. They meet on a beach in Nigeria and suffer and witness horror. I’m always impressed when a male writer convincingly imparts the lives of females. Creave has created characters of great depth. While reading, I was unable to pinpoint the gender of the author, which I didn't learn until I researched the name after I'd finished the book. Perhaps women would do so easily. I suppose it is politically incorrect to believe as I do that there are significant differences, sensibilities between genders, but I don’t care, and it has nothing to do with this wonderful novel, which is often riveting, especially the climactic passages. It is a bleak depiction of life, the world, but it ends in hope, perhaps one that is forlorn. Creave implies that the oil companies sanctioned the killings, encouraged groups to attack one another. I researched it on the web and there is certainly evidence of it. I didn’t want to believe it. I had to remind myself what American Indians, Jews and others have suffered in the ongoing battle of civilization, modernization, globalization. Mankind does not lack dark moments. Cleave’s prose and dialogue are exemplary. The 351 pages of the large Sceptre paperback flew by. I’ve been blessed with a lot of positive windfall running the floating book shop, not only in sales but donations of books I would never have heard of much less read. This particular one has been re-titled on Amazon to the far better Little Bee, the adopted name of refugee. On a scale of five, 4.25. My only quibble is the suspicion that the author believes the sins of those of us privileged to live in western society, where relatively few encounter the most heinous acts, are meaningless compared to the brutality third world peoples suffer. Less significant they certainly are -- meaningless, no. I’ve argued that the worldview of many screenwriters is that man is given to sin and it must be accepted, which I believe is simply a rationale, a shrug of the shoulders that attempts to relieve one of the responsibility of striving for decency. Another proverb appears on the last page of this particular edition, not part of the book: “If your face is swollen from the severe beatings of life, smile and pretend to be a fat man.”

The floating book shop was sidelined by the weather for the fifth straight day. I hope the old proverb, "Good things come to those who wait," still applies.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/24 - Numbers

While NYC continues to thrive and attract new residents, the rest of the state is hemorrhaging. Statistics recently released reveal a net loss of 328,538 people since 2010. I wonder what the figure would have been had fracking been approved. Maybe those who have fled are the conservatives Governor Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio ridicule. Hopefully the numbers have bottomed out. How many newcomers can Florida and Texas absorb?

On his radio program this morning on WOR-AM, Mark Simone segued from talk of the Grammys to music royalties. He said that at the height of his popularity Billy Joel, whose work was played across several formats, was earning $14 million a year. He cited an obvious fact I hadn't realized previously. When a song is played on the radio, the writer/composer receives the royalty, not the artist. Performers make money from recording contracts and concerts. Recently, Bert Bachrach was complaining about the drying up of royalties. According to Simone, sites like Pandora pay far less than the record companies once did. 

I woke up to a nasty dream just after four AM. I was being excoriated for trades I'd missed by brokers on the NYMEX floor. I haven't worked there since October 2007. How amazing that the place still has a significant hold on my subconscious. Since I'm not employed there I suspect the dream had something to do with my frustration over the mediocre of sales of my latest novel, Exchanges, and my frustration at the floating book shop being sidelined by the cold and snow. The temperature is supposed to moderate tomorrow, but I'll be in Jersey celebrating my great nephew's birthday. And the forecast for Sunday and Monday is not promising. I miss my regular customers and acquaintances.
My thanks to Ipsos surveys for the deposit into my Paypal account.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/23 - Secrets

While channeling surfing last night, I caught an interesting program on PBS: Secrets of Scotland Yard. A 50-minute history of the renowned institution, it was both fun and informative. I'd previously been unaware that the first crime scene photographs in forensic history were taken at the site of Jack the Ripper’s last murder. The gang that pulled off The Great Train Robbery in 1963 was nailed largely due to fingerprints on a game of Monopoly. One of The Yard's early detectives, Dick Tanner, was said to be the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. He solved The Railway Murder in 1864, which occurred in a compartment. He took a faster boat across the ocean and was waiting for the perpetrator at the dock in New York. The show’s best segment profiled master criminal Adam Worth, 1844-1902, a Yank, a Civil War vet wounded at the second battle of Bull Run, who perfected his larceny in London. Early in his career, he was in the first year of a three-year stint at Sing Sing when he escaped. He is believed to be the inspiration for Doyle’s Professor Moriarty. Only five-four, he organized gangs of thieves, and was not averse to getting his own hands dirty. He and two accomplices stole Thomas Gainsborough’s painting, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, from a museum. He kept it under his mattress for 20 years. Late in his life, while serving a seven-year sentence in the states, he befriended William Pinkerton, of the famous agency. His son became one of their detectives. He was paroled for good behavior. (Facts also culled from Wiki).
Here’s the painting in question:

Yahoo Sports reports the stunning feats of an amateur golfer. In a span of four days, Bob Hullender, 76, made two holes-in-one and a double eagle. The aces were from 158 and 138 yards, and the albatross was from 215 yards, made with a hybrid. Granted, the guy was a four-time amateur champion in Texas, but this is unbelievable even for one so accomplished. The odds on the trifecta have to be at least a billion to one. He has had more than 20 aces through the years. My buddy Cuz had one, at our home course in Queens, Forest Park. I made an eagle from about 140 yards at Milham Park in Kalamazoo my first full year of golf way back in 1973, I believe. Dumb luck, it was.

My thanks to Zoom Panel Surveys, which sent me an Amazon gift certificate for $25, which boosted my total to just under $100, with which I ordered five copies of Close to the Edge -- just in case the weather ever gets better and I can sell books on the streets again.
I finished the cleaning of my wood floor. Its now in acceptable condition. The only real drawback to having taken up the rug is that it is not nearly as comfortable lying in front of the TV. I've put down an old comforter and will try it for the first time tonight. I'll clean the bathroom and kitchen, and redeem recyclables to fill time tomorrow. I'm booked Saturday, and the forecast for Sunday has turned negative, so I now hope to get back to work Monday. 
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/22 - Ol' Sport

The Great Gatsby is one of those renowned works of art that have made me feel dumb. I like it, but don’t see what’s great about it. When I heard Baz Luhrmann was directing a new cinema adaptation, I was pleased, as he has made two films I’ve thoroughly enjoyed: Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Moulin Rouge (2001), both collaborations with screenwriter Craig Pearce. When it received good reviews, I really looked forward to it. Well, I finally had the chance to see it, courtesy of Netflix, and I’m ambivalent. I did not like the first half, despite the spectacular sets and high energy, roaring 20's partying. There was too much narration, hip-hop on the sound track, and funky story-telling, and Leonardo DiCaprio, whose work I really admire, seemed stiff in the lead, Ol' Sport. All that changed in the second half, as the scenario followed a more conventional line and the actors stepped up emotionally. I thought Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan outshone everyone. Tobey Maguire, who always comes across on the screen as genuine, seemed out of his element in jazz age garb as Nick Carraway, the novel’s and film's narrator. The script has him telling the tale from a rest home, at first to a shrink, who encourages him to write it. This was odd, as it makes seem the character and not F. Scott Fitzgerald created the work. The film was shot in Luhrmann’s homeland, Australia, standing in for Long Island. I suspect the shots of old New York were CGI creations. None of that detracted from the piece. It was produced on a modest budget of $105 million and earned almost $145 million in the U.S. alone, so it was a hit financially. Since the second half is superior to the first, its 2:23 running time didn’t not seem long. On a scale of five, I rate it 3. It is rated 7.4 of ten at IMDb. It is much better than the 1974 Robert Redford/Mia Farrow/Sam Waterston version directed by Jack Clayton, screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola. All great works have wonderful nuggets. The one I remember most from Gatsby is “…the unreality of reality…” Many times in my life I’ve asked myself: Is this real?

Given that it snowed practically all yesterday and into the morning, I was surprised the accumulation was not a lot more. Here in Sheepshead Bay I’d say it was definitely less than a foot, powdery, light. It took me only 15 minutes to clean off the car and dig out a trench around it. On the way, I noted the spot I was parked in during the last storm was again completely clear of snow. The aprtment building must do something to the wind pattern. The bitter cold is forecast to remain through Saturday, so the earliest possible return of the floating book shop is Sunday. I should be done working on my wood floor tomorrow. I’ll have to find busy work to get me through Friday. I haven't had a single sale of one of my own books this month, but I found good news in my bank statement -- royalties from sales of three Kindle versions. I'd been wondering when I'd hear from Amazon. I was expecting a check, forgetting that I'd selected electronic transfer, for which there is no payout threshold required. This prompted me to look through previous statements and I found payment for eight more sales, a much needed boost to morale.  
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/21 - Rock Quiz 6

I’m now more than 300 pages into the latest proofing of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. Here’s the next to last quiz, #6. Guess the artist and song title. Degree of difficulty, geared to the average fan, in parenthesis. Answers below:
51 "...a lucky man who made the grade...." (4)
52 "...Out of the blue and into the black...." (4)
53 "...I'll just eat my breakfast/Try to keep my questions starving all night...." (10)
54 "...She's not a bad girl just ambitious...." (9)
55 "...Just a little pinprick...." (6)
56 "...To be a rock and not to roll...." (1)
57 "... You better watch out. There may be dogs about...." (5)
58 "...I cut myself, but I don't bleed 'cause I don't get what I need...." (10)
59 “…That stone keeps on rollin’….” (7)
60 “The world is near/But it’s out of reach/Some people touch it…/But they can’t hold on….” (10)

Last night I watched the season premiere of season three of Sherlock on PBS. The resolution of the cliffhanger was too outlandish for my taste, and it was annoying that the terrorist turned out to be a white Englishman. There was, however, an excellent exchange between Watson and Mrs. Hudson, as he tried to convince her he’s not gay. There was another gender confusion moment when in flashback Holmes and Moriarty, seated on a rooftop, are about to kiss and the action cuts to the next scene. This did not actually occur in the final episode of season two, so I’m going to assume it’s one of those flashes some insist we all, like Homes, experience. I hope the creators are simply playing the audience, having wicked fun, and not adhering to political correctness. One of the maddening aspects of modern life is speculation about sexual preference: "Oh, he must be..." I do it in Rising Star, so I can’t condemn the writers of Sherlock for doing it, but speculation and flashes are a giant leap from the actual act. If Holmes and Watson become lovers, I bail on the series.


NYC and the rest of the northeast is in the midst of a snowstorm and cold snap, so the floating book shop is on indefinite hiatus. Today I filled the extra hours by scrubbing the most awkward ares of my wood floor. Tomorrow I will mop. After that, heaven only knows -- a lot of reading and web browsing, I suppose. Since Governor Cuomo believes conservatives should leave the state, I'll have plenty of time to contemplate where I'd like to live. One thing is certain, it will be a much warmer climate.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx



And the answers are:
51. A Day in the Life – the Beatles (Lennon/McCartney)
52. Neil Young
53. Winner and Losers – Iggy Pop (Pop/S. Jones)
54. Ambitious – Jeff Beck (Nile Rodgers)
55. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd (R. Waters)
56. Stairway to Heaven -- Led Zeppelin (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham)
57. Dogs – Pink Floyd (R. Waters)
58. Birth, School, Work, Death – The Godfathers
59. Too Rolling Stoned – Robin Trower
60. The Great Curve – Talking Heads. (D. Byrne/B. Eno)
This was a tough batch. I'll grade it on a great curve.

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/20 - Dollars & Rubles

I swept my NFL selections this weekend at crowd picks.com - the wrong way. I did not hit in any category of the two games: winner, spread, over/under -- 0 for six. And people say perfection is impossible. I had no clue this year. I will not finish higher than 40th, after finishing tenth last year and qualifying for an Amazon gift certificate. I picked up the Seattle-San Francisco game about halfway through the third quarter. I was surprised at the poor play. There were so many unforced errors, bobbled exchanges, wildly errant passes, stupid penalties and typically bizarre clock management. And, of course, there was the thuggish idiocy of that DB who touts himself as the best in the game. At least it was exciting. I’m pleased in that this is the Super match-up I prefer. I don’t see how the Seahawks can win with that bumbling offense. Then again, I didn’t think they would prevail yesterday. I suppose I’ll be rooting for Seattle, as I always like to see the team which hasn’t won a championship win, but it’s hard to pull for a creep like the aforementioned player, although I’m sure the Broncos have a few too. I’ve always enjoyed Pete Carroll’s positive approach to coaching, although I was dismayed at the cheating he did at USC and the condition in which he left the program, which went on probation. It seems Orange Crush will be playing the role of the good guys Super Bowl Sunday.
Also in football: I just perused the Top 100 5-Star recruits at Yahoo Sports. Two Brooklyn boys made the list: WR Curtis Samuel of Erasmus Hall, who has signed with Ohio St., and DT Thomas Holley, who signed originally with Penn St. and changed his mind when head coach Bill O'Brien left the Nittany Lions for the Houston Texans. Holley will attend Florida. I wonder if the list had ever before had two NYC players, let alone Brooklyn boys. Kudos, guys.


I feel as if the stock market is mocking me. Only one of my 16 holdings was up on the day, Dupont, three cents to the good. Meanwhile, Twitter, which I refused to pay $40 for, was up another $1.63 to $62.20.

I was visited separately by the triumvirate today: Political Man, Mountain Man and Occupy Jack. The first, thankfully, commented only on the weather, the coming cold snap; the second went into his typical negative rant on the universal corruption that exists in government and society; and the third provided an antidote to that with his happy dissent. In fact, Jack dropped a nugget I hadn’t heard before. When communism collapsed, he wrote a six page letter to Mikhail Gorbachev, instructing on the transformation to capitalism, warning not to follow the American model, and he got a response - delivered by the FBI! He was interrogated and he convinced them he was a simple, independent dissident. Anyone who took the time to talk with him would see he’s harmless, non-violent. He is, above all, a character, an original, a nut. When a gentleman in security garb stopped and checked out the Russian books I had on display, Jack engaged him in conversation in that foreign tongue. The only word I understood was “rubles.” I chuckled and told the guy I accepted only dollars, and he said: “I pay him rubles, not you.” He wound up buying three thrillers. Spasibo, sir, and thanks also to the other kind folks who bought books. 
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/19 - Asylum

Things worked out well for the floating book shop today. I managed to land the ideal parking spot, which allowed me to sit in the car periodically to warm up. There was even an hour of sunshine to thaw the old bones. And people bought books. My thanks, especially to the young man who purchased Sweet Dreams by January Valentine, my literary angel, whose birthday was yesterday. Happy Birthday, V.

Here's an excerpt from All Hallows, my horror screenplay, available at Amazon, Kindle only, $1, link below. In it, five nuts escape an asylum and wreak havoc on a small town. Along the way it pays tribute, sometimes subtly, to all such entertainment the public has been blessed with by warped imaginations. The excerpt is a read of only two minutes or so:

   Part 24: Lover's lane. Richards is seated at the wheel of the car. Rob is taped into incapacity in the rear. There is an ugly welt on his forehead. Laura is taped and handcuffed in the front seat. All are still fully clothed. Richards swigs from the bottle of champagne.
   Richards: Don't you love threesomes?
   He looks at Laura, who's terrified.
   Richards: I can see you do. Ménage a trois. The French have such classy names for perversion. How do people ever settle for the conventional?
   He takes another swig, looks into the back seat, squirts champagne through his teeth at Rob, whose neck bulges in revulsion.
   Richards: Whatta you think, er ... ? What'd you say your name was?
   Rob murmurs beneath the tape. Richards nods.
   Richards: Right, right. Sorry. Bet you never dreamed your little angel was such a demon, huh? I can see how disappointed she is that I can't make anything happen right now. Don't you dare laugh, lover boy.
   Richards raises the bottle as if to strike. Rob shakes his head frantically. Richards takes another swig, wipes his mouth with his sleeve.
   Richards: I'd like to see what you could do with all the junk they pumped into me. That damn doctor. I didn't wanna be cured. I was havin' the time of my life before they put me away. You know, he looked a little bit like you, lover boy.
   Rob's head rears back.
   Richards: Well, he only succeeded in creating a different kind of monster. He's the real Frankenstein, not me. Murder's not very satisfying, though. I don't know how many people I killed at the sanitarium - and I still have that empty feeling. In my glory days,
sometimes one rape'd hold me for a month, maybe two. Even killing Brooks wasn't
satisfying. Maybe a coupla hours of torture'll do the trick. I never did like foreplay, though. The Marquis de Sade was a wimp.
   Bob and Laura scream beneath the tape, stamp their feet.
   Richards: C'mon, people - you're overreacting.
   A car pulls into the lot.  Richards' eyes spread.
   Richards: Company, kids. What's the French term for fivesome?
   The car is parked near the other, a considerable distance away. There is only one passenger. Richards notes the shapeliness of the silhouette, raises an eyebrow.
   Richards: All alone, poor thing?
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx


  

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/18 - Sour & Sweet

R.L. Stone has hundreds of books in print in the children’s and young adult categories. He is the creative force behind the Goosebumps TV series, based on his own works. He has written humor under the moniker Jovial Bob Stine. He has nine other film titles listed at IMDb, two of which are currently in production. His labor has earned him more than $400 million. He has been dubbed the Stephen King of children’s literature. Given this impressive pedigree, I was eager to read The Snowman, which was among a recent batch of donations to the floating book shop. I doubt it is considered one of his best efforts. I was surprised at the darkness of this novel listed as young adult, published by Scholastic Inc., although it is by no means graphic. And the sex never goes beyond necking. Of course, there have been many works of dark content geared to the young that have become classics, such as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. But those have themes educators love. I doubt The Snowman, strictly a thriller, is taught in any high school. I was also surprised by the unfinished prose. Perhaps Stine rushed through this book. There are many sentences where nouns or adjectives are used twice, for example: “…Ben’s house was five houses away…” I would have written it as “five doors down.“ I suppose it may have been intentional, a bid at being unpretentious. It bothered me, but non-writers, especially the target audience of teenagers, might not notice and likely would not care. The thing that held my interest most was wondering if there would be a supernatural element involved. The story is only okay. There were no real surprises and the outcome is never really in doubt. In length it is a bit more than a novella. On a scale of five, two.

I woke at three AM to another of my vivid dreams. I was back on the trading floor, and Crude Oil and Palladium, which doesn’t do much volume, were both limit up. A scantily clad dark-haired beauty said: “Glad I don’t work here any more.” Oddly, she wasn’t former staff but a classmate of mine, Jean, in a Spanish course at WMU. The dream is not hard to analyze -- although I greatly appreciate my near 25-year tenure at the Exchange, I'm glad I don't work there anymore. And, I suppose, even decades later I regret having never summoned the nerve to ask Jean out. I wonder how her life turned out. During one session, Mr. Semelroth, our instructor, called on her and they shared a brief, simple conversation. When he asked why she phrased something the way she had, she said: “Porque soy estupido.” Mr. Semelroth shook his head forgivingly and said: “No, senorita -- se estupida!” Everyone laughed, including the lovely Jean. If you’ve never studied the language, the error involves the adoption of the masculine rather than the feminine form required from a female. Having grown up speaking Italian, I saw right where Mr. Semelroth, a great guy, was going, and couldn’t wait for the bombshell. I bet it's been done thousands of times through the ages.

I thought I was lucky when the rain ceased and I had an opportunity to set up shop, but I just missed out on a parking spot and waited, in vain, 40 minutes for another to open. Muttering profanities, I headed home. As I approached 23rd Avenue, I noticed the lead spot was vacant. I set up shop in front of HSBC, near 86th Street. I hadn't tried doing business there in more than a year. Even though I sold only one book, I consider it a victory, as it was an Adobe Photo Shop manual in Russian, which I'd been carrying for months and thought I'd never unload. My thanks to the woman who bought it, even though she tortured me by looking through it for five minutes.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/17 - Scenic

I don’t recall what prompted me to add the ironically titled Scenic Route (2013) to my list at Netflix, but I’m glad I did. It is the story of two 30-something lifelong friends traveling across a desert in an old truck. One is a handsome former musician, now successful businessman, married father of one. The other is a single, overweight struggling writer living out of the truck. They’ve grown in opposite directions and resentment comes to the surface and eventually to a boil. Verbal jabs lead to physical altercation. Some of the points the pair make are mundane, as is so much of life. There is a bias toward the artist as real and the businessman as sell-out, which I shared for many years until I realized job-creators are every bit as, if not more important, than artists. In a weird coincidence, in the chapter I proofed this morning in my rock n roll epic, Rising Star, a musician visits the trading floor where the band's financial backer works, and demonstrates the same prejudice. Josh Duhamel and Dan Fogler are excellent in their roles. Screenwriter Kyle Killen’s dialogue frequently crackles. The situation eventually turns to one of survival and is largely plausible, but the most interesting aspect remains the intense characterizations. Killen has written for the TV series Awake and Lone Star. I’ve not seen either. He also wrote the Mel Gibson vehicle The Beaver (2011), directed by Jodie Foster. My resistance to viewing it has lessened now that I’ve seen this other film. It is the story of a troubled soul who begins communicating exclusively through a sock puppet. It garnered good reviews and I suppose I should be more open-minded about what seems a silly premise. Anyway, Scenic Route is the first full length feature of directors Kevin and Michael Goetz. Kudos, gentlemen. I hope they will become as successful creatively as the Coen brothers. I was not happy with what appeared to be the ending, but it changed in the last moment and provided food for thought. On a scale of five, I rate Scenic Route 3.25.

For the first two hours it seemed like it would be a disappointing day for the floating book shop, as I sold only two books. Fortunately, the weather was gorgeous and I was able to stay open an extra hour, and I sold ten more. My thanks to the buyers and the woman who donated four books in Russian.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/16 - Moolah

France’s debt is 90% of GDP, not surprising for a socialist paradise. Citizens are beginning to grumble about its tax policies, despite their penchant for government largesse. President Francois Hollande, who raised rates considerably upon his entry into office, is the country's least popular leader since polls were instituted. He has made headlines the past week by carrying on an affair with an actress behind the back of his live-in lover, who upon hearing about the hanky panky suffered a breakdown and had to be hospitalized. Thus far, his approval rating has inched up. How very French.

Good news for customers of Amazon: Techs at its center in Delaware have voted, 21-6, against unionization, which will help this great company keep costs reasonable. I don’t know if the Los Angeles Dodgers will be able to do that, as they just signed superstar pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a seven year $215 million contract, which averages out to more than $30 million per. He is a phenomenal talent and deserves to be among the highest-paid players, but it looks like only the rich will be able to afford to attend games at Chavez Ravine. As long as the franchise finds enough fans willing to pay the ticket and cable prices, more power to them and him. I decided it wasn’t worth the cost decades ago.

For anyone who may not know, Mallard Fillmore is a comic strip by Bruce Tinsley, syndicated in newspapers coast to coast. It is written from the viewpoint of a conservative duck. Some days it is more inspired than others. I particularly got a kick out of today’s:

RIP Russell Johnson, 89, aka The Professor on Gilligan's Island, father to the many children of Ginger and Maryann, which were never shown on the show because of the censorship practices of the era.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books today. Question: what happened to the sun?
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/15 - Watching

According to a Wall Street Journal article by Terry Miller, for the first time the U.S. has dropped out of the top ten of the Index of Economic Freedom, which has been kept for 20 years. It is America's seventh straight year of decline. The good news is that the global economy has expanded 70% in that time, lifting millions out of poverty. Most of the gains have come from eastern Europe, former communist countries that have embraced free market principles. The top twelve are: Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Chile, Mauritius, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia, U.S.. The bottom four are not surprising: Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Cuba, North Korea. Mauritius is a small island nation off the coast of Africa, considered part of the continent. I didn't know that, either.
 
Here's another of those outrageous mall stunts, this one pulled to attract people to a Dutch museum. It drew its inspiration from the painting below, Night Watch by Rembrandt:

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/embed/a6W2ZMpsxhg?feature=player_embedded

My thanks to the kind folks who bought, donated and exchanged books today.

Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
 

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/4 - Rock Quiz 5

I'm about halfway through the latest proofing of my near 200,000 word rock n roll epic, Rising Star. I'm not finding many errors, but I'd hoped there would be none so that it would be ready for submission. I've made minor changes, mostly to clarify who is speaking. Nut that I am, I'll probably go over the whole thing once more.
Each chapter begins with a quote from a song. Here are the next ten. Name the song and artist. Degree of difficulty in parenthesis. Answers at the end of the blog.
41 "...Of course I've had it in my ear before...." (8)
42 "...This is the mystery of the quotient/Upon us all a little rain must fall...." (7)
43 "...Rape, murder, it's just a shot away...." (5)
44 "...And though the course may change sometimes/Rivers always reach the sea...." (9)
45 "...True love ....Is the devil's bombshell...." (10)
46  "...And you may ask yourself/ Am I right? Am I wrong?" (8)
47. “What’s your Name? Who’s your Daddy?” (2)
48 "...Everybody must get stoned...." (2)
49 "...Now you don't seem so proud...." (3)
50 "...All my crimes are self defense...." (10)
 
It rained today, putting the kibosh on the floating book shop, which has been in operation only three of the first 14 days of 2014. I filled the hours by working on my wood floor, on my knees scrubbing out the paint spots and grime with an SOS pad. I'm almost done with this phase. There remains the corner where I have four large boxes of books, then I will mop with bleach, and see how it looks before deciding what to do next. It's no easy task but it's been worth it. It already looks infinitely better than it did when I first pulled up the rug. Unfortunately, it doesn't stand up to close inspection.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
And the answers are:
 41. Lust for Life – Iggy Pop (Pop/D. Bowie)
 42. The Rain Song – Led Zeppelin (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham)
 43. Gimme Shelter -- The Rolling Stones (Jagger/Richard)
 44. Ten Years Gone – Led Zeppelin (Page/Plant)
 45. True Love Part II – X (John X. Doe/Exene Cervenka)
 46. Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads (David Byrne/Brian Eno)
 47. Time of the Season – The Zombies (Rod Argent)
 48. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – B. Dylan
 49. Like A Rolling Stone - B. Dylan
 50. Mirror in the Bathroom -- The English Beat
If you knew all those, you are a rock n roll maven.

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/13 - Speculation

Phil Mushnick raised an interesting point in his column today in the NY Post. He wonders if sports franchises and university teams in Colorado will use marijuana suppliers as advertisers, a fresh revenue stream. Imagine the brand names: Broncos Mile High Rush or Rockies Grand Slam or Avalanche Tokin' Express  or Nuggets Reefer Madness or the University of Colorado Buffalo Chips. I got to wondering if players who enjoy pot will sign there. And, if they do, how will the leagues respond if a player tests positive for a drug that is now a legal product? Will teams ban the use of it and, if so, will it result in lawsuits? These are unintended consequences of legalization I hadn’t considered. It will be interesting to see how many more arise. I believe it will be a plus financially for the economy and government coffers, but I’m concerned that this pushing of the envelope further left might result in more social blight. If use increases with legitimization, will those who operate machinery find it easier to rationalize a few hits before going to work or after lunch? And will it really eliminate the illegal trade? Once taxes are instituted and when/if unions become involved in its distribution, which would raise costs, won't a black market similar to what is occurring with cigarettes come into effect? It wouldn’t be hard to put in place. It's been there for decades. Will there will be government supplements for those at or below the poverty level? One thing is certain, there will be a lot to study.

Here are my selections for Sunday's games. Caution: I'm currently ranked 40th at crowdpicks.com. Football is supposed to be my area of expertise. I did finish 10th in NCAA picking. I'm currently second in NBA picking, which is a fluke that is likely to change dramatically by season's end.
49ers 20, Seahawks 9 -- hope I'm wrong, but Seattle's offense has been dormant for weeks.
Patriots 41, Broncos 34 -- again, hope I'm wrong, but time and again Brady has proven far superior to Manning in the post season. Will another late interception seal the deal?

My thanks to the folks who bought and swapped books on a second straight day of reprieve from winter weather.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/12 - Numbers

From the Weird But True section of today’s NY Post, re-worded by yours truly: Regina Hill, 48, of Orlando, Fla., believes she is the perfect candidate for the city council, one with whom voters will easily relate. She’s been arrested 21 times. Her crimes include possession of cocaine, DWI, passing bad checks and fraud. The cynic in me aches to make a remark, but I’ll let the prospect stand on its own.

Also in the Post: Gary Krist reviews Vanished by Wil S. Hylton, non-fiction that points out a startling fact: there are 73,000 servicemen still MIA from WWII, most of them lost in the vast jungles and seas in the Pacific. In contrast, according to miafacts.org, there are 1643 Americans missing in Southeast Asia as a result of the Vietnam War. The MIA number for the Korean War is 8000. Many are buried in the North and their graves will not be disturbed unless relations improve between the countries. 800 of the unidentified are interred at the Punchbowl National Cemetery in Hawaii. This is curious, given DNA science. Is it possible that all have no surviving family members seeking closure? Sadly, for many these wars have yet to end.

An article on the Google News page touts the dramatic drop in smoking rates, claiming it has been more than halved since 1964. I certainly believe it is down, even significantly, but more than 50%? I wonder how the figures are calculated. Is it by polls or sales or some other method? If by sales, I suspect it's way off, as people are probably using alternative purchasing arrangements. In observing passersby while operating the floating book shop, I'm always surprised at how many people smoke. Of course, this may be due to the heavy presence of Russian and Asian immigrants in the areas I work.

My thanks to the folks who purchased books today on Bay Parkway, my first full session of 2014. Even my toes didn't get cold. Thanks also to our stellar super Luis, who saved a bag of books for me left behind in an apartment of someone who has moved. Half are very marketable children's material. Among the others are novels by popular authors Danielle Steel and Mary Higgins Clarke.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/11 - Potpourri

There's an insightful op-ed piece in today's NY Post by Jonah Goldberg. The 50th anniversary of LBJ's War on Poverty is approaching and, as the joke goes: "Poverty Won." In that span 20 trillion has been spent and the needle has barely moved on the percentage of poor Americans, whose biggest problem these days seems to be obesity. The astronomical sum does not even include Medicare and Social Security. Of course, liberals want more spending and usually get it, and conservatives get agita. I believe the number remains fixed because that percentage will not do what is necessary to lift itself out of poverty or because it makes poor lifestyle choices. I've said it many times: Poverty in America is attributable to poverty of the soul, not a lack of resources or opportunity.

Yankees fans are cheering wildly, as an arbitrator has suspended Alex Rodriguez for the entire 2014 season, including the playoffs. This saves the team 27.5 million, which it will be able to invest elsewhere, especially in the pursuit of Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka. Damn Yankees.

RIP Ariel Sharon, 85, one of Israel's heroes, who passed away after spending eight years in a coma brought on by a stroke. He was there from the state's inception, playing key military roles, winning battles against long odds and superior numbers, instrumental in the Six-Day and Yom Kippur Wars. Of course, Palestinians disagree on his legacy, calling him "The Butcher." In 1982, while Defense Minister, he did not heed warnings about the danger to those in refugee camps, where 800-3500 were massacred by Lebanese Christian militia -- mind you, not by Jews. Did he allow it to occur, or was the accusation of guilt simply a political attack by Israel's enemies? He acknowledged responsibility and resigned. In 2005, with suicide bombings occurring with great frequency in Israel, he initiated the building of the wall that now protects the country. Since then, such attacks have been rare.

The floating book shop was rained-out.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/10 - Sun

Since the weather has been so bad the past two weeks, reading has been another means of filling the hours. With my supply of donated books diminishing, I found it difficult to choose one that interested me. Opening a box that contained those I deem difficult to sell, I found The Son Is God (1971) by the late Michael Noonan, a novelization of a large part of the life of one of the world’s great painters, J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen one of his works in person. Although I have profound respect for artists, I’ve been to museums less than ten times and have never really done the homework necessary to be able to speak about art confidently. Noonan’s book had me researching Turner’s paintings on the web. Wonderfully written, it portrays the artist as obsessive, a good soul but one who uses the three women in his adult life, and his father, who was in his corner from the moment the young man demonstrated uncanny talent. It is by no means a great novel, but it is good. It is listed at Amazon, but only used copies are available, so I assume it's out of print. Noonan was born in New Zealand and lived for a time in London, where I suppose his interest in Turner developed. He served in New Guinea during WWII. Another of his novels, The December Boys, written in 1963, set in an Australian orphanage. was adapted into a film in 2007, starring Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame. On a scale of five, I rate The Sun Is God three. The title refers to what are believed to be Turner’s last words. Noonan depicts him as being fascinated with light, which seems perfectly natural for an artist. Turner traveled throughout Europe seeking it. Curiously, the novel never leaves England. It is only 217 pages and is a fast read because of its masterful prose and solid dialogue. Even the Cockney and Scots dialects barely slow pace. Turner was not the starving artist often shown in films. He was successful early and made a lot of money. Considered to be of the school of Romanticism, he is cited as a huge influence on Impressionism and, to a lesser extent, on Abstract Art. Critics often excoriated those of his works that varied from traditional parameters. Time has proven them wrong. Here are two of Turner’s gifts to civilization, a self portrait and Dutch Boats in a Gale:

Unfortunately, the sun wasn't shining in Brooklyn. The floating book shop was sidelined yet another day and prospects don't bode well for tomorrow.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/9 - Bling

Sofia Coppola, Francis Ford’s daughter, is a maker of serious films. I’ve now seen three of her eight works. I wasn’t crazy about her debut effort, The Virgin Suicides (1999), which seemed lacking, unsatisfying, although it was critically acclaimed. I have the utmost respect for Lost in Translation (2003), for which she won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. I would not have added The Bling Ring (2013) to my list at Netflix had she not been the director. I didn’t think I’d relate to it at all, and that turned out to be the case. I probably am in the bottom one-percent of jewelry owners and my wardrobe is picayune and inexpensive. The flick is the story of a group of upper middle class teens who rob the houses of celebrities they ascertain, through web research, aren’t home. I suppose the point is to highlight the shallow obsession many have with pop stars. That is achieved almost immediately, and there isn’t much else of interest afterward. There are clues as to what might have caused the group’s descent into grand larceny: prescription drugs, dingbat parenting, broken homes, media glamorization of the rich and famous. The young cast is fine, although they aren't asked to do much more than portray "cool" teens. Unfortunately, the characters are so superficial as to be uninteresting. The film runs through the events in 90 minutes, which rescues it from ever becoming boring. It is shot in an appropriately glitzy manner and has a hip hop soundtrack. I believe it is the first time I did not recognize a single song used in a movie. I didn't even recognize any of the artists doing them. It made me feel completely out of touch with the happenings. I believe a documentary of less than an hour is better suited for such a subject. Coppola also wrote the screenplay, as she frequently does to her films. She based it on an article, The Suspect Wore Louboutins, in Vanity Fair by Nancy Jo Sales. None of the miscreants served more than two years in prison. The film is rated 5.7 of ten at IMBd. It did not fare well at the box office, at least in the U.S., where it earned eight million against an estimated budget of 15. A previous production, same title, which I haven't seen, was issued in 2011. It is rated 5.0. On a scale of five, I rate Coppola’s version two.



There's a fun article by Shane Bacon at Yahoo Sports today. It has a snapshot of the first check Jack Nicklaus earned as a pro golfer in January 1962. He finished tied for 50th place and received $33.33. In contrast, Tiger Woods debuted in 1997 and made $2544 for a tie for 60th. This past November, Len Mattiace, who's been on the tour since 1990, took in $14,660 for a tie for 49th. Nice work if you can get it.


I have mixed feelings about New Jersey governor Chris Christie. I'm not sure he's a true conservative. Then again, he may do some of the things he does simply to hold on to power in a liberal state. Anyway -- he has denied knowledge of the scandal that had authorities blocking traffic on the George Washington Bridge in retaliation for the refusal of the Mayor of Fort Lee, a Democrat, to endorse the governor in the last election. If it is found he is lying, he should be removed from office immediately. I'm sure the liberal media will be investigating and eager to nail him, to eliminate the potential presidential candidate they most fear.

My most loyal customer, Marie, has rated Close to the Edge five stars at Amazon. Here’s what she had to say: “This is a brilliant depiction of some of the Italian families and relationships in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. This was real life as we knew it in the 70s. Colorful characters, powerful and vital emotions. This book is thoroughly enjoyable with never a dull moment! It was very hard to put this book down, but when I did, I couldn't wait to get back to it.” The novel has now attracted comments from ten customers, not all of them friends and relatives. Clink on the link to my first novel to read more.

I got to thank Marie personally today with a hug and kiss, as the floating book shop returned, despite a temperature of 25 degrees. The wind was negligible and the sun strong, so it didn't feel that cold in any part of my bundled body but my toes. I thank the young man who purchased a book on cloning and the middle aged gentleman who bought the novel in Russian.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/8 - Universally Acknowledged

My arms are aching from scrubbing the grime and paint stains off of my wood floor. It still needs more cleanings. One strange aspect of having taken out the rug -- the apartment seems bigger.

I found nothing interesting in the newspaper or online today, so I will post an excerpt from my romcom screenplay, A Truth Universally Acknowledged, available in Kindle only, $1, link below. It is influenced by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and the films of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. The clip is about a five-minue read:
The Gold pit. The day before the wedding. As the closing bell sounds and Joe turns to leave the pit, he is hit by pie after pie. He laughs, goes to the floor, spread eagles across the steps. A clerk pours confetti over him. Another blows taps on a bugle. At the finish everyone applauds. Joe rises and waves. Bob, now wearing a trading badge, waits with a large towel.
Joe's car, double-parked outside the Barski's residence. He still has traces of shaving cream and confetti in his hair. He and Kate kiss and lean against each other. The leaves again have begun to turn.
Kate:
I'm exhausted.
Joe:
Me too. It's almost over, thank God. Before you know it we'll be in Hawaii.
Kate:
Before you know it we'll be grandparents.
Joe:
Yeah, time flies. Whattaya gonna do? That's the way it is. Why not make the best of it?
Kate:
I didn't think we'd make it this far.
Joe:
I had my doubts, too.
She is surprised.
Joe:
But not anymore.
They kiss. Kate breaks away, concern sweeping over her face.
Kate:
Is your grandmother wearing black tomorrow?
Joe:
What d'you think? Don't worry, we'll hide her in a corner some place.
Kate:
She'll still find a way to humiliate me.
Joe:
Will you let that go already? It doesn't mean anything.
Kate:
Easy for you to say. You're not the one being mocked.
He kisses her forehead.
Joe:
Go upstairs and relax, and get it through your head that things're not gonna be perfect tomorrow.
Kate:
They'd better be.
Joe:
That doesn't mean it still can't be great. It's not like writin' a book, where everybody sees it only after all the mistakes are out.
She reflects.
Kate:
For once I agree with you. We needed another draft. We rushed.
Joe:
It's still gonna be great. You'll see.
As they are about to kiss, Kate pulls back. Joe looks into her eyes.
Kate:
You're not marrying me for my father's money?
He fights anger.
Joe:
I signed the pre-nup'. What more d'you want?
Kate:
What's that mean with the way lawyers are these days?
He throws his hands up, doesn't know what else to say.
Kate:
Alright, alright, I'm sorry.
Joe:
It's okay. We're both stressed out.
As they are about to kiss, a horn sounds. A police car has pulled beside them.
Officer:
Move it, pal -- now.
Joe:
Hey, cut me some slack -- I'm gettin' married tomorrow.
Officer:
Then kiss your girlfriend goodbye and go home to your fiancé -- now.
Joe laughs. Kate, irate, pushes past him to berate the officer. Joe covers her mouth.
Joe:
Have a nice night, officer.
Kate fights to push away. Joe lets go when the police car has gone.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 1/7 - Chop-Socky

RIP Run Run Shaw, 106, billionaire movie and TV mogul, credited with the invention of Kung Fu films. He and his brother, Run Me, left China in 1927 to get away from the political unrest. These were not their birth names, of course. They were a family joke. In Singapore they began their entertainment careers in theater, producing plays on a rickety stage on which the lead actor in the first fell through the boards. When the audience laughed, they wrote the fall into the script. When the Japanese invaded, the brothers buried their gold, jewelry and currency in their backyard. They dug it up after WWII ended and financed their incredible run in world cinema. Five Fingers of Death (1972), their most famous production, is considered a classic of the genre, dubbed Chop-Socky by certain writers. It is rated 7.3 of ten at IMDb. I haven't seen it. I prefer the more polished work of Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and especially Zhang Yimou, Hero (2002) and The House of Flying Daggers (2004), two of world's great film-makers. I suspect both men were influenced by the films the brothers financed. The pair distributed approximately 800. Fans flocked to them, frequently to lampoon the content. Run Me died in 1985. Run Run continued the business. Even in his 90s he would attend premieres with a young actress on each arm. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for philanthropy and even hailed for it by the communist regime in China. When asked which was his favorite film, he said: “I particularly like movies that make money.” (I believe this is the first time I’ve adapted from the NY Times, article by Jonathan Kandell.)

I went out into the sub-zero polar vortex for my regular constitutional at 6AM. The last five blocks were brutal, directly into the wind. I put my gloved hand in front of my face. Man! I spent the time I normally would at the book shop pulling up the last bit of the rug that covered most of my large studio, dislodging the thin strips of wood that held it in place at the walls, sweeping, then vacuuming the dust, then washing the area, then moving the furniture back into place. What fun! I made a Lone Ranger-type mask out of an old T-shirt. I thought I was eliminating dust by getting rid of the carpet. Now I wonder if I've only created more. Am I feeling it in my throat or is it my imagination? The next step is removing the stains with paint thinner, then I'll clean the floor with bleach. After that I'll see how it looks before I do anything else. What do I do if the winter remains harsh and I'm stuck indoors? I don't want to rush the proofing of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. There is one thing my life certainly does not lack - eye strain.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: 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 Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx