Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 2/28 - Good Riddance

February has only a few hours left. Only mental defectives will miss it. I went outside three times today and didn't think it was unusually cold, despite the temperature. The sky was a brilliant blue, and walking on the sunny side of the street was actually quite pleasant. At noon I attended to three chores and, when done, resisted the temptation to open up the book shop for an hour or so. The idleness is worse than not making the extra dollars. I tallied the month's earnings. I made more than I did in January, but I'm way off last year's pace. Fortunately, there's good news. I just received an email informing me I've won an auction at RewardTV. I've been trying for the last three months and was outbid about seven times, including once this month. I wanted the box set of season one of Elementary, which might have brought a good return on the street, but I settled for the DVD of latest adaptation of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I would've held out for something more marketable next month, but a big chunk of my points were about to expire. Now I'm back to almost zero. I enjoy the site, though, which features quizzes on last night's TV shows. I find it a good test of memory.
I vacuumed my wooden floor. For weeks I've been stepping on little bits of salt that wedge between the grooves on the soles of my sneakers. I was hoping we'd seen the last of it, but the forecast calls for a major storm Sunday night into Monday, and the way this winter has been going it won't be the typical March slush that melts the next day. There are still ugly masses of blackened snow and ice in spots. This winter reminds me of those of my youth -- long and frigid, mounds of snow at the edge of the curb until April. I hope that old saw of March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb applies. At least it will be in the mid 30's the next two days, which will allow me to set up shop, provided the snow flurries predicted for Sunday don't show up until after three. I don't expect it to be easy, but this is ridiculous.
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 2/27 - Shout

In an op-ed piece in today’s NY Post Charles Gasparino focused on Republicans for Cuomo, a group of businessmen who support the ultra-liberal because he isn’t quite as out there as Bill de Blasio and other state politicians. They are not Republicans. They are phonies, opportunists, crony capitalists. As a conservative, I accept that public policy in NYC will never conform to my beliefs, but I would never endorse someone who supports measures I believe are harmful and/or deplorable.

The underground economy has scored again. There is an app, Shout, people are using to sell a restaurant reservation or a place in line. Someone recently purchased a reservation at Greenwich Village’s The Spotted Pig for $30. Someone else paid $20 for a place on the line for the bakery that sells those Cronuts. The transactions are done through the phones credit card system. I love the creativity of people. I hope the government doesn’t find a way to get its hands on this money.

Last night ThisTV, 111 on Cablevision in NYC, ran The Kentuckian (1955), based on the novel The Gabriel Horn by Felix Holt, starring and directed by Burt Lancaster, his only solo work at the helm. It’s so-so. It’s best scene is a brutal brawl between Lancaster and Walter Matthau, rivals for the affections of the local school marm. Through most of the fight, Matthau has the upper hand, as he uses a whip. Of course, the tide turns. I was irked at being unable to come up with the name of the two female leads, whose faces were vaguely familiar. Both had significant careers. Dianna Lynn, the teacher, was a prodigy pianist, who has 68 titles listed at IMDb. Tragically, she succumbed to a stroke at the age of 45. Dianne Foster has 65 credits, many on TV shows baby boomers watched growing up. Lancaster has two other directing credits: His Majesty O’Keefe (1954), originally credited solely to Hollywood veteran Byron Haskin (cinematography, special effects), and The Midnight Man (1974), in which he shares credit with Roland Kibbee, his only time in the director's chair, although he worked on many screenplays and TV scripts. The Kentuckian is rated 6.3 of ten at IMDb. I rate it 2.5 of five. 

Mother Nature showed a little mercy today. It was 32 degrees when I left the house at 10:30 for the post Alternate Side scramble. That's significantly warmer than its been at that time all week. Even better, the wind was benign. Still, it was cold, as the sunshine was sporadic. Fortunately, it appeared at 12:20, which allowed me to keep the floating book shop open until one. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased two James Patterson thrillers, co-written with other authors, and to Jen, who bought Homer's The Iliad. It was snowing intensely as I was packing up. I headed for the porters' room in our building, where Frankie and Pedro had stored more books in Russian for me. I now have about 150 in stock, most in excellent condition. Gracias, caballeros. By the time I dragged the Hefty bags up to the apartment, the sun was shining through the blinds.
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 2/26 - Tidbits

There are a lot of juicy morsels in today’s NY Post. In an op-ed piece Jonah Goldberg points out that of the Fortune 500 companies that existed in 1955, only 13% are still around. He used that fact to illustrate how capitalism is constantly, vigorously changing and extremely productive, while government is stagnant and unproductive.
In another piece William Tucker cites an oddity. Facebook paid 19 billion for the What’sup app. The acquired firm had only 55 employees. Conagra, which employs 26,000, is valued one-third less. He uses this contrasting example to show how the tech firms, despite their value to the economy, are not as vital as manufacturing companies, as they largely benefit only an elite few.
Consumer Reports has rated the Tesla Model S electric car number one overall. It scored 99 out of 100 in its categories, tied for the highest rating ever. Its price? Almost $90,000.
Everyone is familiar with the Hair Club for Men and similar businesses. Now there is a new trend adopted by hipsters in Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Park Slope and Williamsburg. Men have paid up to $8500 to have hair weaved into their beards to give them a rugged look. Hasidic males and female-male transgenders are also using it. Popular culture never ceases to fascinate.
Jim Dale has been performing, often working 52 weeks a year, since he was nine. He is about to open in a one-man 90 minute Broadway show, Just Jim Dale. He is the voice of the Harry Potter audio books, doing an astonishing 240 characters.

During my daily walk the past two mornings at 6AM the wind has been benign, only to turn nasty in the afternoon. This often seems the case. Am I mistaken, or is it a common phenomenon? I don’t recall having learned anything about it in Earth Science. I went out again about noon to move the car for the alternate side regulation. There was about an inch of snow covering all surfaces. After I'd found a spot a block and a half away, the sun came out. It didn't feel any colder than the last two days, so I decided to try a plan B for the floating book shop -- Russian books only. I went up to the apartment and hauled out a box of about 30. Alas, no one was interested. Still, it was preferable to an additional hour and a half indoors.
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 2/25 - Joke

Since I received that huge batch of Russian books yesterday, it was easy to talk myself into opening the floating book shop today, despite the cold. There was only occasional sunshine. The snow flurries didn't amount to anything. The wind again was a killer. Still, I managed to put in an hour-and-a-half. It looked like the joke was on me until Kinesha, aka Mrs. Eclectic, and a Russian gentleman approached from opposite directions and made my madness worthwhile. My thanks.

Here's an excerpt from a short story published a long time ago. It is basically a political argument between a married couple. The full story is available here: http://fictionaut.com/stories/vic-fortezza/just-a-joke The excerpt is a two-minute read, the full story a 15-minute read:
   He grasped Jean's hand as they exited the theater.
   "Want to stop off for a drink?" she said, yawning. "We have the sitter until midnight."
   He shrugged.
   "What's wrong? You've hardly said a word all night. Are you coming down with something?"
   He related the incident, without repeating the joke.
   "You're supposed to be on a diet." She looked away, muttering angrily, letting go of his hand. "And I let you talk me into buying that popcorn."
   He'd hoped her sense of priorities would have had her ignore his dietary lapse.
   "Why'd you laugh?"
   "To be polite, to be sociable. His jokes are usually crude but harmless. I wasn't expecting an ethnic slur."
   She smirked. "Only a sexist one, which's okay, of course. These foul-mouthed comedians should all die."
   "Don't bring them into it. The only thing they're ever guilty of is not being funny, I tell you. Nobody forces you to listen. As long as it's behind closed doors it's okay."
   "Okay to perpetuate stereotypes and despicable behavior?"
   "People often conform to a stereotype. That's why the word exists. Without them there'd be even more chaos. Besides, how do you know the laughs comedians generate don't diminish the hostility of guys in the crowd, and that that in turn doesn't prevent rather than encourage abuse?"
   "Yeah, right."
   "You don't know that it doesn't."
   "You don't know that it does."
   "Exactly. Feminists say pornos lead to abuse and rape. How do we know that they don't prevent a hundred times as many by letting guys get off and shed some of their frustrations? Guns are used to kill thousands of people, but nobody can estimate how many shootings the possession of them prevent. It might be twice as many. Way more people are killed with bats and knives. The nuts even want to ban toy guns."
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 2/24 - Gracias

How have the NY Knicks gone from a team that finished 25 games over .500 last year to one that is 14 games under at present? The roster isn’t much different. I thought there would be a turnaround when Tyson Chandler returned from injury, but the situation has gotten worse, and it doesn’t seem to a be a matter of age. Two years ago Jeremy Lin took the city by storm with his infectious play. I thought management made a big mistake when they did not outbid the Houston Rockets for his services. When Raymond Felton was signed the consensus among sportswriters was that Felton was better. He proved them right during the 2012-13 season, besting Lin in the major categories: scoring, assists, rebounding & steals. This year the numbers have reversed, although the margin in either case wasn't that significant. According to the stats, they are very comparable players. Pundits cite that Felton is overweight and having marital problems. These days my interest in sports is restricted largely to scanning the newspaper. When Lin was a Knick I looked forward to reading about how he’d performed. Now there’s no one of interest to me on the roster, not even the two Italians.

I try not to get discouraged when I hit a slump in sales of my own books. One of the ways I've tried to turn that negative into a positive is by refocusing on short story submission, which I‘d neglected for several years as I concentrated on promoting my books. The Poets & Writers website has an amazing list of literary magazines. I look for those which accept online submission. I will never again submit by snail mail unless someone specifically solicits one of my works. I’ve recently made nine submissions, and that has only taken me through C on the list. Two stories have already been rejected. I immediately sent them elsewhere. I inadvertently sent one to two different publications. I don’t like to do that, even though the odds of being accepted by both are astronomical. It actually happened to me once, and it was embarrassing, although I’m sure publishers know it is a common practice.

RIP Harold Ramis, 69, writer, actor, director, producer, who has had a hand in many iconic comedic works on film and TV. Play a round of golf, and someone in your group will likely mention Caddyshack (1980). His Groundhog Day (1993), co-written with Danny Rubin, is one of the all-time best comedies, rated 8.1 of ten at IMDb. Well done, sir. 

Except for the biting wind, it was a good day at the floating book shop. I sold all but three of the Russian books I found yesterday. Given the diminishing stock and the forecast for the rest of the week, I was a bit melancholy as I returned home. Fortunately, I met Pedro, one of our stellar porters, at the entrance to the building. He'd saved about 75 books in Russian for me. He had even more DVDs, but I passed on them, which was probably a mistake. Gracias, amigo. And thanks to the kind folks who made purchases. 
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 2/23 - Party of 8

I had a great time in south Jersey yesterday, celebrating the 50th birthday of my youngest niece, Sandra, and her son’s 18th, which came three weeks late due to all the snow we’ve had. Ronnie is doing very well, preparing for college, where he will major in pharmaceuticals. He was named student of the month for February. He is working part time five days a week at Walmart, which leaves him little time for extracurricular activities. Although the golf coach wants him to play for the team, he thinks it wouldn’t be fair, as he wouldn’t be at any of the practices. When it was time for the party, he drove one of the cars. I rode shotgun. He had a Don Reno bluegrass CD playing. He’s becoming an accomplished guitarist, following in the footsteps of his dad, Ron Sr., a talented banjo player. Their band, Pastimes, had a gig at a local hall last night at nine. Meanwhile, Danielle, a sophomore, is preparing for her sweet 16 party. She is a member of the track team. Her event is the shot put, for which she is built perfectly. She is thinking of a career in law and, if that doesn’t work out, she’ll just "head to Hollywood and become an actress." This raised the hackles of her aunts Luci and Marie. Marie, Sandra’s sister in law, works in the federal court system in downtown Brooklyn, where she has met influential people. When Sammy “The Bull” Gravano was in the headlines, he brought her donuts every day for the two weeks he was in the building. She describes Mary Jo White, at the time the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as down to earth, insistent on being addressed by her first name. Recently, Marie's mom, 96, fell moving garbage cans, and sustained a nasty bump and cut to the head. The emergency room doctor noticed in a report that she'd been admitted for a similar injury seven years ago. He asked if anyone had hit her. Hard of hearing, she doesn't understand much besides what her other daughter says. The doctor warned that they not communicate in Italian. When she finally understood what was being asked she pointed to her chest and said: "Hit me? Hit me? They hit me I give 'em this!" And she waved the edge of her right hand at the doctor. Two officers nearby, who had cuffed a young perp to a gurney, laughed out loud.
The eight of us, my sister included, headed to The Crystal Diner in Tom’s River. Although the place was hoppin’, we were seated quickly. The portions were enormous. I’m glad I ordered a bun-less turkey burger. Marie had a Jewish Sloppy Joe, corn beef and pastrami smothered in melted Swiss cheese. My sister, Carmela, had eggplant Parmesan and a side order of pasta. 83, thin as a rail, she still has a robust appetite, bless her heart. Ron Jr. had chicken francese. The others all had cheeseburgers. Marie, Carmela and Jr. left with doggie bags. Instead of having a single cake, everyone one but Ron Sr. and me ordered a slice of whatever they preferred and brought it to the big house on Penny Lane, where Happy Birthday was sung. The food was delicious, the service relaxed and friendly. It was a great day. Even the drive to and fro was fine, about an hour-and-a-half each way. Of course, I filled up with that Jersey gas, forty cents cheaper than what I paid recently in Brooklyn.

It was a glorious spring-like day in Brooklyn. I peeled off the top two layers I was wearing. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases. I sold the last of my stock of Russian books, so I was anticipating tepid sales when I return to my usual nook tomorrow. Then the unusual occurred. A friend called as soon as I'd returned to the apartment and said there was a box of books amongst the huge pile of recycles in front of the building. There were about 20, in excellent condition. I brought them right to the trunk of my car. Spooky.
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 2/21 - Framed

Like so many successful novelists before and after him, Frederick Forsyth began as a journalist. He has won several awards in the thriller genre. His first novel, The Day of the Jackal, was a best seller, as were many of his subsequent efforts. Seven have been adapted to the big or small screen. The Afghan, published in 2005, was his 18th book. He has written two more since then. I just finished it. The plot is basic -- the foiling of a terrorist attack. The devil’s in the details. The author obviously did painstaking research on the agencies and hardware that counter the fiends bent on mass destruction and homicide. He applies them in the narrative, almost too much so. Although the outcome is never really in doubt, it is still a good read, viscerally satisfying. The events are entirely plausible except for one, and that incident has no real bearing other than to bring more tension to the story. The novel is grounded in a realism that makes it effective. Osama Bin Laden and other historical figures have cameos. Was this an actual event that never made it to the press? I doubt it, but the fact that the thought occurs is testament to the work’s convincing thoroughness. The prose is okay, the dialogue fine. It is 343 pages, minus several for chapter breaks. I believe this is the right length for such fare. On a scale of five, I rate The Afghan 3.25.
While channel surfing last night, I ran into a delightful BBC TV movie, Framed (2009), and was hooked immediately. I've always regretted not having devoted more time to art appreciation, so the story was a natural draw for me. When the National Gallery in London floods, its paintings are brought to the same Welsh cave in which they were housed during WWII. The man in charge must deal with the locals in the nearby small town. Several are quirky. The scenario maintains a positive, amusing tone throughout, despite the financial problems of one family of six. It features a cast of familiar faces from British TV. The children are charming. It is a refreshing change of pace from the usual UK shows that cross the sea, entertaining though they are. It is rated 6.8 of ten at IMDb. On a scale of five, I rate it 3.5. Anyone tired of the downbeat, and aching for  a work with a pronounced sentimental feel will enjoy it. Such fare is always in danger of becoming cloying, but this one never does. Kudos to screenwriter Frank Cotrell Boyce and director Andy De Emmony.

The floating book shop was rained out today. To fill time, I did my taxes, and I’m not pleased about having to fork over money to the state of New York. It’s only $17, but, given my paltry income, it’s tantamount to taking blood from a stone. I did the right thing and reported what I earned on the street. I’m not sure it was the smart thing, especially when the Turbotax fee was $60. Last year the state return was free, and I came out ahead about $40. It is a convenient way to do an uncomplicated return, though. I was done in an hour. I was asked if I had health insurance, but I don’t know if I was fined for not having it. Maybe the levies begin on 2014 returns. 
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 2/20 - Adaptation

There are four novels by William Faulkner in one of my books cases. All were read decades ago. I retain a general sense of The Sound and the Fury. I recall that there is a murder in Light in August. I don’t remember anything about Sanctuary. I think I will always get the creeps when I think of As I Lay Dying, published in 1930, his seventh, a grim, uncompromising, intimate portrait of a poor Mississippi family fulfilling the wish of the mother to be buried in the town where she grew up. Although the location is less than a day’s ride, the clan encounters setbacks that turn the trek into a mad odyssey. The novel is done in stream of conscious and has 15 points of view. I was riveted, especially by the image of the rotting, stinking corpse being carted from point A to B. Novels set in the south are often rich in symbolism. I was never good at the interpretation of it. I don’t care whether As I Lay Dying is symbolic of something else or not. The surface of the story is more than enough for me. On one list, it is ranked the 35th most significant novel of the 20th century. Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1949. Last night I watched James Franco’s 2013 adaptation, courtesy of Netflix. Tim Blake Nelson is outstanding as the patriarch, whose determination is frightening, painful to watch. The rest of the cast, including Franco, are fine as well. These people are dirt poor, aged well beyond their years. They endure through the belief that “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” The work in not political, an indictment of conditions or a system, as many happy, prosperous folks are passed along the way. The focus is the unhappy family bewildered by a hard life. Franco co-wrote the screenplay with Matt Rager. The pair are working on an adaptation of The Sound and the Fury, which has been filmed before with mediocre results. It is refreshing to see young men tackle serious work, especially when the chances of earning a profit are almost nil. My only criticism of the film is the frequent use of split screen, although I realize it was designed for celluloid and not a 25 inch TV set. I was also disappointed there wasn't any closed captioning, which would have helped decipher the thick drawls. Franco gets a lot of guff in the press. Maybe he isn’t a nice guy. He certainly comes off as aloof. Maybe there is resentment of his apparent aim to be a renaissance man. He has 23 directing credits at IMDb, many of them shorts, and 16 for writing. He has written five books: a novel, two story collections, a memoir and a poetry collection. I haven’t read any, but if I come across one I will. The film is rated only 5.5 of ten at IMDb. I’d guess contributors were rating the unpleasant content rather than the quality. I rate it 3.75 of five. The title comes from Homer's The Odyssey, wherein Agamemnon, in the underworld, speaks to the visiting Odysseus: "As I lay dying, the woman with the dog's eyes would not close my eyes as I descended into Hades." (Facts also culled from Wiki)

It was spring-like in Brooklyn today, and business was good. My thanks to the gentleman who called to tell his wife, Kinesha, aka Mrs. Eclectic, I was out there. She bought six books: Hawthorne's The House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Baum's The Wizard of Oz, Irving's The Cider House Rules, and Waller's Slow Waltz in Cedar Rapids. My thanks also to the woman who purchased two large pictorials on the Pyramids and Jewish history, to those who bought books in Russian, and to all the folks who stopped to chat.  
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 2/19 - Unrest

An article in today’s NY Post details the recent demise of five males, 33-58, who have either leaped or fallen to their deaths from tall buildings. A Facebook friend wonders if this presages a coming financial meltdown. Three of the deceased were employees of JP Morgan/Chase. The article cites stress as the probable factor, and does not speculate on whether this is a sign of things to come.


There have been deaths due to unrest in Venezuela, Ukraine, Thailand and, of course, the Middle East the past few days. God bless America.

It’s now at the point that whenever I encounter someone who is smoking tobacco I have to repress the urge to say: Go electronic, for cricesake. As a non-smoker, it seems insane for a smoker not to make the change, given what is common knowledge about the harmful effects of the foul practice. I guess some people just don’t get the same kick from the vapor. My oldest niece claims it hurts her throat. Of course, there are zealots who are against this new delivery system. I think they’re nuts. Some people love to smoke. Why not endorse a product that is less harmful? Then again, not enough time has passed since its introduction. I’m sure studies will find some toxins in the system. Still, I'll bet there will be far less than there are in tobacco products. And the stink would be eliminated!

Yesterday I mentioned that employees of a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee voted against unionizing. In today’s Post Michael Goodwin pointed out a stunning fact why this is a good thing. Since 1979, membership has lost 75% of its employees in Detroit. Modern unions don’t preserve jobs. They inflate costs and the salaries of a fortunate few. In the 1950's unions were 35% of the American work force. Today they are 11.9%, a 70-year low. In part, their own greed has hurt them. The most significant  factor is that, for the most, part employers can no longer get away with abuses. Practically everyone lives under a microscope these days.

At least it wasn't snow. The weather continues to be maddening. I went out at eleven, hoping to get in a couple hours of book selling. As I was hauling the last of my crates to my usual nook, one of my regular customers was waiting for me. She'd just cashed a winning $40 lotto ticket. She bought six romance novels. As soon as she left, it began drizzling. I carried the stuff right back to the car. The sun was shining most of the morning and again when I went out at four PM. It's almost as if Mother Nature has it out for me.
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 2/18 - Evolving

I am fascinated by how language continually evolves. I came across a new term in an article in today’s NY Post about a real estate agent soliciting business from DINK - Dual Income No Kids. He was fined 20 grand by the Human Rights Commission. Having seen what my parents went through with some tenants, I side with landlords having the right to say no to whomever they please. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee things will go smoothly. Fortunately, my sister's current tenants at the old house are a dream.

On my 21st birthday in 1971, Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a Harlem housing project. They were shot multiples times by members of the Black Liberation Army, an offshoot of the Black Panthers. One of them, Herman Bell, was the QB of our team at Lafayette High School. I liked him. He had a great smile and a cannon arm. Despite not showing up for his finals in June, our coach pleaded that Herm be given passing grades so he could go to college. The last I heard before the news of the murders was that Herm was doing very well, setting records at his school. I don’t recall the name or whether it was a JC or four-year institution. It wasn't a football factory, of that I'm sure. I don’t know what happened in the time between his success and the killings, and I don’t care. He has been eligible for parole for several years and will face the board again soon. I hope he is denied. Murder is something only God, if He exists, should forgive. Behind bars, Herm has earned a Bachelor’s and  Master’s, has learned to play the flute, and corresponds with homeless children. I am not moved. Five years ago he accepted a plea deal for his role in the murder of a Police Sergeant in a San Francisco station house. He should spend the rest of his days in prison, paying his debt to society, particularly to the families of the slain. Since 2012 the PBA has maintained a website that has received 850,000 letters urging commissioners not to release Bell, his cohorts, one of whom died in jail, or others responsible for the killing of 66 policeman nationwide. Liberals refer to them as political prisoners. I call them murderers.

There is good news out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where employees of a Volkswagen factory voted against unionizing, 712 to 626. This happened despite the fact that management allowed UAW reps to freely roam the place. Such establishments are unionized in Germany. A group of workers formed a counterinsurgency and won the day. Obviously, the bailout of GM loomed large in their thinking. Kudos, gentlemen.

The forecast was for rain this afternoon, so I didn't bother setting up the book shop. It was a mistake. Although it was very wet in the area of my usual nook, I could have improvised. Instead I shoveled away the snow and ice blocking access to the sidewalk, and I tried to dig a canal along the curb on E. 13th to allow the water to get to the sewer. I got within two feet. The ice was too thick and hard for my plastic shovel, and I was concerned that I'd slip and whack the sporty BMW that has been wedged in at the corner for the past two weeks. With nowhere for the water to go, it might flood the sidewalk, and I'd have to go to the dreaded viaduct to sell books. It was so beautiful outside I hung out until one.
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 2/17 - Olympians

I’m not a fan of the Olympics. I haven’t watched a minute of it. But I was pleased that the U.S. hockey team defeated the host Russians, which must have stuck a needle in the odious Vladimir Putin, current leader of that unfortunate land, former KGB agent. In a recent op-ed piece, Jonah Goldberg took the NBC announcers to task for not making a single critical comment when, during the opening ceremonies, the hammer and sickle were displayed proudly. No one really knows how many people were slain by the red menace. Some speculate that it was triple those slain during the Holocaust. Apparently, the party still has many sympathizers. If the games were held in Germany, Goldberg proposed, would there be such silence if a swastika were displayed? And, I add, how would it go over in America if a tribute to the Klan were included? Russian and Chinese Marxists were monsters. Communism can exist only through oppression. Unfortunately, many still refuse to accept this fact.

Ryan Dempster had the great fortune of being on the Red Sox last season. His record was only 8-9, and he did not appear in a single post season game, but still had the privilege of being part of a championship. Due to neck problems, he has chosen to sit out the 2014 season and forgo his 13+ million dollar salary. When questioned, he said: “I have enough money.” How refreshing. Kudos, sir.

Sad news out of Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters golf tournament. An ice storm so damaged Ike's Tree that it had to be uprooted. Standing on the left side of the fairway, 210 yards from the tee, the beloved General and leader of the free world hit it so many times he lobbied to have it removed. How great is it that even the most powerful man on the planet could not get his way? Only in America. Cuz and I have our own Ike, a tree that stands on the left side of the 17th fairway about 250 yards out at our home course, Forest Park in Queens. I have no fear of hitting it on a fly, although I've often had to hit underneath, right or left of it. When Cuz is goin' good he can hit with ease. 

The newsman said the winds would be strong today. Given that it was only about 20 degrees, I doubted I'd be selling books. Fortunately, I decided to see about conditions for myself. The winds weren't strong at all, and the floating book shop opened at its regular nook for the first time in two weeks, and three of my regulars came through. I was on the lookout for Herbie, as I had a bunch of novels of interest too him. Finally I decided he had too much sense to venture out into the cold, and I began packing up. Suddenly he showed and bought a couple of paperbacks. He was late because his favorite soap opera is airing at a different time due to coverage of the Olympics. Thanks, folks.

And now the latest snowfall estimate has risen from one-three inches to two-five. Let's hope the forecast for temperatures above 40 the rest of the week holds true.
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 2/16 - MacGuffin

Recognize that unforgettable mug? It belongs to one of Hollywood's all-time great character actors, Jack Elam, who has 206 credits listed under his name at IMDb. He made a career, says his bio, (edited a bit by me) "...with his eerie, immobile eye, which was caused by a fight with another kid at the age of 12. It happened during a Scouts meeting when a boy threw a pencil that jabbed Elam's eyeball. After WWII, he worked as a bookkeeper for Samuel Goldwyn Studios and then as controller for William Boyd's Hopalong Cassidy production company. Staring at small figures on ledger sheets for hours on end strained his good eye and doctors told him he risked losing his sight if he continued his lucrative accounting business. When a movie director friend was having trouble getting financing for three western scripts, Elam told him he would arrange the financing in exchange for roles as a heavy in all of them. The first was The Sundowners (1950), starring Robert Preston, which helped launch his long career." There is a discrepancy here, as the list cites three roles before this, one going back to 1944. There may be a blend of truth and Hollywood legend in the bio. Regardless, he made his mark, equally adept as a villain or sidekick, drama or comedy. He is a member of the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. He popped up in Kiss Me Deadly (1955), which PBS in NYC ran last night, and I recalled one of my customers mentioning his unique history. The film was not appreciated in its time. It is now hailed as innovative. IMDb ranks it #15 on its list of the top film noir titles. Although I enjoy it, I wouldn't rate it nearly as high, chiefly because of the revelation of what inspires all the killing, "the MacGuffin," as Alfred Hitchcock called it.  It's just too goofy for my tastes. The movie is an adaptation of Mickey Spillane's novel. According to Neil Gabler, host of Cinema 13, the final celluloid product bears little resemblance to the book. Ralph Meeker is fine as Mike Hammer, who has been described by literary critics as a "troglodyte." I chuckle at the scenes where he is smiling as he perpetrates physical cruelty. The film was directed by Robert Aldrich, who was at the helm of many notable features, including one of my favorites, The Dirty Dozen (1967). It opens with a shot of Cloris Leachman running barefoot along a highway. Strother Martin also has a small part -- and actually appears normal!

I rolled up to Bay Parkway not knowing what to expect. The area directly in front of the Chase bank was clear of snow and ice, and the sun was shining, so I waited for a parking space to clear. Ten minutes later I was setting up shop. Before I exited the car, Pat St. John, a djay on CBS-FM, said it was 23 degrees. It felt more like the 40's. Alas, although conditions were good, business was not. My thanks to the woman who bought a horror novel in Russian, to the gentleman who donated five paperbacks, and to those who stopped to chat.
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 2/15 - Clips

Note to pro wrestling fans nostalgic for mid to late 70's clips. An amazing amount is being posted daily at youtube by both individuals and the WWE. Just type in WWWF in the search box there. Warning: it may keep you at your PC for hours.

The weatherman says two to three inches. If the forecast is correct, the end is in sight, as it's supposed to be in the 40's from Tuesday onward. Let it be so. I would like to go back to work.

Here's an excerpt from my horror screenplay, All Hallows. In it, five nuts escape an asylum and wreak havoc in a small town. It is available at Amazon for $1, and can be read in two sittings. This particular snippet is about a two-minute read:
   Rick: What about the firebug, Sheriff?
   Sheriff: That's my job now, men. He may be armed, and I don't hafta tell you he's dangerous.
   Rick: I wanna help.
   The others all volunteer. The Sheriff looks at their charred faces and clothing.
   Sheriff: Lord strike me down if I ever say anything bad about the younger generation again. Nelson, that you underneath that get-up?                                                                   
   Rick: Yes, sir.
   Sheriff: I owe you an apology. Watchin' you from the stands, I didn't think you had what it takes to be a leader. I was wrong. Maybe I should stop judgin' young men by the way they play football.
   Rick simply stares, stunned, uncomfortable.
   Sheriff: Anybody here know how to use a shotgun?
   A young man dressed as a cowboy raises his hand.
   Cowboy: I do, sir.
   The Sheriff tosses him the gun.
   Sheriff: I hope you shoot it better'n you do free throws.
   The others laugh. The Cowboy pumps the shotgun smartly.
   Sheriff:
   That's what I like to see. You stay with the lady. If that bugger circles back, shoot 'im.
   He steps into the wrecked police car, rubbing at his chest, and picks up the radio microphone. To his surprise, it's working.
   Sheriff: Beautiful?
   Doris: How's Angel?
   Sheriff: Fine, we're all fine. Send the FBI ....
   Doris: Where are they?
   Sheriff: You...? Never mind. You think Harry can lend us a hand?
   Doris: I'll get him atta bed.
   Sheriff: Thanks, Beautiful. Have him bring the van out to the old offshoot. Tell him not to stop for anybody but me, you hear?
   Doris: Gotcha.
   Sheriff: And if any ambulances are free, send 'em out here too.
   He steps out of the car.
   Sheriff:
   Okay, boys, fan out. Keep a lotta space between you. We don't wanna give him any easy targets.
   As they enter the woods, a shot is fired behind them. They run back toward the road.
They see Cowboy raise the shotgun, fire. Rick reaches him first.
   Rick: D'you get him?
   Cowboy: I dunno. I don't think so.
   Ahead, as Castle veers into the woods and reaches a wide tree, a branch is swung into his face, leveling him. Jason, recovered, steps over him.
   Jason: We're even.
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 2/14 - Dig

There is a function lacking on my new DVD player that I’m going to miss. My old one had European Vista, which enlarged letter box by about two inches at the top and bottom without much loss of the action on the sides. The new one has other ratios, but involve several more moves with the remote. Fortunately, the picture is crystal clear, and that’s what really counts. Last night I watched the last 20 minutes of The East (2013), which was interrupted by the breakdown of my previous machine. It is the story of a radical underground group infiltrated by a young corporate spy, played by Brit Marling, who co-wrote the screenplay with director Zal Batmanglij. According to his bio at IMDb, in 2009 the penniless pair, hopped trains and hung out with anarchists. Some of their experiences were adapted into the film. The major flaw is that the companies attacked are egregiously guilty of crimes. Because of that, the issue is already decided. The only dramatic conflict rests with the heroine, who begins to sympathize with the ideas, and Marling acquits herself well. Since the group does not resort to killing, it places them on the moral high ground, which again diminishes the conflict that distinguishes outstanding drama from visceral entertainment. The issue was covered much more effectively in an episode of Law & Order. The opening shot is of animals struggling in an oil spill. This, of course, is tragic, but accidents happen and oil companies pay through the nose in reparations. There are certain drugs that adversely affect a handful but help thousands. I guess admiration of the movie will depend on where one stands on such issues. I believe the pluses of fossil fuels outweigh the minuses by a landslide, not by so much in the case of pharmaceuticals. I also believe that executives who knowingly poison people should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. There is no mention in the film of anger at the government for allowing obvious atrocities to take place. Nevertheless, it has many admirers at IMDb, where it is rated 6.9 of ten. On a scale of five, I rate it 2.5. Its strength is the acting by its young cast, and veterans Julia Ormond and Patricia Clarkson.

I received an email from All Things That Matter Press. A royalty for three electronic sales is on the way. It’s only pocket change, but a morale booster.

Comcast has purchased Time Warner’s cable action. I own stock in both companies. The former had been rallying lately on the rumor. It was down two after the acquisition, which is usually the case when the big fish absorbs the littler. I can’t help but be optimistic about its future, though. Then again, as long as I own it its results will be mediocre. That has been my investing history. 

Thinking ahead to next week, I removed the large frozen mass that was sitting in my usual nook at the corner of E. 13th. I also pried up about ten yards of the sheet of ice along Avenue Z so that passersby wouldn't be blocked by anyone stopping at the book shop. The plastic shovel was a hell of a lot more effective than I'd expected. I hope it wasn't a fool's errand, as the forecast calls for one to three more inches of snow tomorrow. The streets are fine, as the day was bright and beautiful and there was a lot of melt. There's still a long way to go. Cars parked on the right hand side of the street are plowed in, which will make parking even more scarce than usual. We need about of week of above freezing temperatures.
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 2/13 - Nor'easter

Although I have enjoyed many of his films, Woody Allen gives me the creeps. His cynicism is not as virulent as Martin Scorsese's, but it is profound and he seems to live down to it in his personal life. That said, I don't believe he's a child molester. Only one woman has made this claim. As far as I know, deviates do not stop after a single instance. They cannot control themselves. I suspect Mia Farrow, the woman scorned who seems a little weird herself, is behind this attack. Until other victims accuse Allen, I will believe he is innocent of the charge.

What to do to fill the hours on a stormy day: I set up my new DVD player. It was easy. It is far sleeker than the one I had. I wonder if that is one of the reasons they're so much cheaper than they were a decade or so ago. I will play with it later to familiarize myself with its features. The last film I was viewing had about 20 minutes left when the machine conked out. I haven't returned it to Netflix. Although I'm not crazy about it, I want to see how it evolves.
After lunch I headed to the recycling center, which is always better to use in foul weather. I was the only one there, not an Asian in sight. From there I headed up East 13th, into the teeth of the wind and rain. It was five long blocks to the HSBC at Avenue U. Fortunately, there weren't many vehicles on the road, so I was able to walk in the slushy streets. I was soaked and my sunglasses were dotted with raindrops. Since the weather has been so bad this winter, I've had to hit the ATM more than usual. At one point last summer things were going so good for the floating book shop I didn't have to make a withdrawal for three months. Then again, it's not that I made a lot of money. I just don't spend much. While at the machine in the lobby, I peered into the bank and didn't spot a single customer.
The walk home was a snap except for the fact that my pants and gloves were sopping. I stopped at my car. I was glad I'd moved it to the left hand side of the street. The vehicles on the right were plowed in. Still, I had to shovel away the wet snow that had accumulated around the old Hyundai, which should make tomorrow's dig easier. I didn't bother cleaning it off, hoping the rain would do it. I rewarded myself with a hot chocolate when I got back to the apartment. The brunt of the storm is on the way. The forecast is for two to four more inches. I feel sorry for the folks who are getting all snow, and for the elderly confined to their homes. My sister hasn't been out in more than a week. She must be reading even more than usual, and doing more puzzles. The temperatures have been revised down the next few days, but at least they will be above freezing in the day time. I will check my regular nook tomorrow and, if the rock-like mound that covered it has softened, will shovel it away and clear the ledge that spans the area of the building on Avenue Z. Unfortunately, that will not address the problem of parking. It will likely be a limited edition of the floating book shop for the foreseeable future, there or at the viaduct at E. 15th.
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 2/12 - Booker

Among the vast donations of books I’ve recently received was Elizabeth Costello by J. M. Coetzee. The cover caught my attention, as it cited the author as both a Nobel laureate (2003) and winner of the Booker Prize for two other novels. Although wonderfully written, I was disappointed. The story follows an aging female writer who speaks at various conferences. I found only two of her speeches interesting. A vegetarian and animal rights activist, she dares to compare what animals face to the Holocaust, intimating that they suffer similar slaughter every day. She receives rather mild rebuke for it, and moves on. A second presentation really engaged me. She has been deeply affected by a novel about the horrific fate suffered by the plotters of Hitler’s assassination, and wonders what damage probing the dark side of humanity does to writers. I identify with this profoundly. This may sound like bunk, but I had occasional nightmares about my first novel, Close to the Edge. I’d awaken panting, thinking I’d killed. It went on for at least a decade. Fortunately, the dreams did not occur regularly. I felt like a monster in hiding. I have had maybe one in the past 20 years, so perhaps, if a writer is young enough, the damage heals. Anyway, unbeknownst to Costello, the author of the book she that has affected her so deeply is participating at the very same conference. She approaches and warns him before she takes the stage. To my frustration, the guy is never heard from verbally or in written form. A confrontation that readers and writers salivate about, that makes drama compelling, does not occur. Also never heard from is the father of her two children, who does not enter her thoughts even once during the entire 230 pages. Her son, an academic, is at her side on two occasions. Her daughter is mentioned in passing. No doubt these minimalist portraits were intentional, showing how selfish a writer can be, but I was curious about these people and the lack of information about them contributed greatly to my dissatisfaction. I give Coetzee credit for producing a novel of interest only to a small audience. It is the ninth of his twelve in print. He was born in South Africa and spent considerable time in the U.S. and U.K. He was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Texas at Austin. While on the faculty at the State University at Buffalo N.Y., he was arrested at a protest against the Vietnam War. It cost him any chance at citizenship. He eventually found his way back to his homeland. In 2002 he retired to Australia, where he became a citizen. He was the first author to win the Booker Prize twice. Three of his novels have been adapted to the screen. I’ve seen Disgrace (2008), starring John Malkovich, but have only a vague recollection of it. There are 73 reviews of Elizabeth Costello at Amazon, averaging 3.4 of five. I suppose this will appear silly coming from a writer who has such paltry sales and has never been nominated for an award, but I rate it two, although I did relate to her confusion about life. She is approaching the end, has no idea what it’s about, and wonders if she would have been happier had she done something else. I don’t share that last part. At times I feel writing is the only thing I have gotten right, not in sales, perhaps not in literary value, but in terms of approaching full potential. (Facts culled from Wiki)

RIP Sid Caesar, 91, a pioneer of live television comedy, whose Show of Shows entertained millions. My parents didn't speak much English, but they understood and laughed at his work. Thank you, sir.



My thanks to the two Russian gentlemen who bought a total of six books in their first language. And now the area battens down the hatches for another storm. It's going to be the same wet, heavy stuff as last time, a lot of which is still around in mounds of ice and rock-like snow. The prediction is in the range of four to ten inches. If it's closer to the higher end, the floating book shop will be on indefinite hiatus. Parking will be the biggest problem. I'm fighting not to be depressed about 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 2/11 - Forecast

RIP Shirley Temple Black, 85, Hollywood child star of the 1930’s who charmed the world. She appeared in 14 shorts and 45 features, and retired from films at 22. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Well done, Madam. Here’s a picture of her at the height of her fame:

The news out of Iraq has been terrible for months. Without U.S. troops to serve as a deterrent, Al Qaeda is again on the rise, killing gleefully. Yesterday there was an unexpected victory for government forces. An instructor blew up himself and 20 terrorists wannabes as he was demonstrating the proper way to detonate a bomb. 22 others, many wounded, were arrested as authorities rushed to the scene. Weapons, including cars equipped with explosives, were confiscated. If only this would happen every day. This particular camp was only 60 miles from Baghdad. It will be a miracle if Iraqi forces win this war. For some reason, the Obama administration is willing to allow Iraq to fail, while keeping an open-ended force in Afghanistan. We’ve had troops in Germany, Japan and Korea since the end of hostilities with those countries. Then again, they’re not in danger there, at least not yet in the case of the latter. If Iraq falls, all the Americans who gave their lives there will have died in vain and the region will be even more of a mess -- and Al Qaeda will have won a belated victory. Let’s pray Iraqi forces are up to the task. I wonder how the Kurdish region is faring. There hasn’t been much news on that. I know the Kurds will fight hard to remain antonymous. Will the country be partitioned? I doubt the enemy would allow that.

No luck at the dreaded viaduct. Few people are giving the books even a glance. Despite brilliant sunshine, it was really cold. Hardly any ice was melting. Since the forecast calls for snow late tomorrow night, I felt compelled to set up shop. The predicted accumulation has fallen to two to four inches in the city. Man, I hope that's right.
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 2/10 - Energy

In an op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, Arthur Herman relates an interesting development in the Middle East. Israelis have found two vast offshore reserves of natural gas. Will the discovery promote peace? Will Israel’s hostile neighbors make nice to get a much needed resource? The country has already struck a deal with Palestinians. It would export the product in liquid form. Herman also speculates on how this will affect Russia, which has a near monopoly on the distribution of energy to Europe, where environmental laws prohibit exploration. Fortunately, greenies will not prevent this precious resource from being extracted in the Middle East. Russia lost out to an Australian firm on a contract to develop these new reserves. How will Putin react? Although Herman didn’t mention this, I wonder if the Russian leader will encourage Iran to attack Israel, eliminate a competitor. Modern technology has revived traditional energy forms. They remain the most feasible and cost-effective measures. Of course, this does not mean that alternatives shouldn’t be researched and tested. Although I got a fiendish delight out of the recent colossal failures in green initiatives, I realize that improvements and innovation should always be pursued. It’s just that the smug self-righteousness of strict environmentalists is so annoying. Al Gore predicted that that polar ice would have all melted by now. Since he said it, it has expanded significantly. Well, he did have a book and film to promote. Anyway, I recently read an article that focused on two executives of a big oil company, Shell, I think, who firmly believe that global warming is occurring and that it is the product in part of the burning of fossil fuels -- but it doesn’t prevent them from searching for new reserves. They are realists who know mankind cannot at present prosper without them. They are even pleased at the melting of the ice caps, which has made search and extraction easier. I only know this: the planet has been warming since its inception. Without that warming life would not have come about -- there would have been no United States of America. Has man made pollution accelerated the warming to a dangerous level? Many scientists believe it has. Others disagree. I know also that China and India are not going to stop their development to please alarmists. They are improving the lives of millions, pulling them out of poverty. If indeed global warming is a danger, it makes more sense to make plans to minimize its effects than to make laws that will cripple established economies, laws the developing world will ignore, negating the effects of them. As always, these issues will come down to pluses and minuses. Right now the pluses of fossil fuels outweigh the minuses by a landslide. Then again, what do I know. Science was by far my worst subject.

I had the energy to haul a couple of crates of books to the dreaded viaduct, which is clear of snow and ice. Although I had no sales, there was a Morty sighting. 79, he's been battling cancer. Since I hadn't seen him in months, I feared the worst. He's a positive as he was when he was a salesman making big deals. In his prime, he would have had no patience for a small-timer like me.
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 2/9 - Scary

Peggy Noonan, a nationally syndicated columnist, has written a frightening op-ed piece featured in today's NY Post. I'm surprised the months old incident hadn't surfaced until now. Here are highlights of the piece, which in part will be edited, put into my own words in a single paragraph:
"The heretofore unknown story happened April 16. There was an armed assault on a power station in California. Just after midnight some person or persons slipped into an underground vault near Highway 101 just outside San Jose. The telephone cables were cut—apparently professionally, in a way that would be hard to repair. About a half hour later, surveillance cameras at Pacific Gas & Electric Co's nearby Metcalf substation picked up a streak of light, apparently a signal from a flashlight. Snipers then opened fire. The shooters appear to have been aiming at the transformer's cooling systems, which were filled with oil. The system leaked 52,000 gallons; the transformer overheated and began to crash. Then there was another flash of light, and the shooting, which had gone on almost 20 minutes, stopped. The assault knocked out 17 giant transformers that feed electrical power to Silicon Valley. A minute before the police arrived, the shooters disappeared into the night. No suspect in the case has been identified. There was no big blackout after the attack—officials rerouted power, and plants in Silicon Valley were asked to increase output—but it took 27 days to get the substation fully working again. Those who worry about the grid mostly worry about hackers, and understandably: It is under regular hack attack. But the more immediate and larger threat may be physical attacks. In any case, the incident appears to lift the discussion beyond the hypothetical. Protection of the grid on all levels and from all threats should be given much more urgent priority by the federal government. If it ever goes down nationally, it will take time to get it back up and operational, and in the time it could take—months, weeks—many of our country's problems would present themselves in new and grimmer ways. There would likely be broad unrest, much of it inevitable and some of it opportunistic. What would happen in an environment like that, with people without light, means of communication, and perhaps in time food? What would happen to public safety? To civil liberties? Those questions sound farfetched. They are not."
Is it Al Qaeda? Eco-terrorists? Whoever it is, it is scary. The first thing I would do is bullet-proof the cooling systems coast to coast.

The floating book shop got a huge break from mother nature. It looked like the the good fortune would be of no avail until the eleventh hour, when a middle aged woman purchased three works of non-fiction, two by Frank McCourt, and drawings of Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross a woman on my floor left behind when she moved. Both are entirely black on white except for the blue eyes of Streisand. Minutes later, as I was packing up, a gentleman approached and bought two John Grisham novels. My thanks to these two kind folks, and to the old Russian character who always greets me enthusiastically and shakes my hand vigorously. He speaks virtually no English. He proudly tells me: "Eighty-five," signifying his age, and "Bye-bye," when he leaves. He does pantomime to show me what he's been up to, eating and sleeping mostly. He hands out wrapped candy to children who pass. Some parents won't allow their kids to accept, which is understandable. They have no idea how harmless he is.
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 2/8 - 3rd Eye

I passed by the Chase bank while on my way to Burger King and saw that there was a slot big enough for the floating book shop between the mounds of snow. I wasn't optimistic, as parking remains a problem. To my surprise, I found a spot immediately. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases.

Here's another excerpt from my horror screenplay, All Hallows. In it, five nuts escape an asylum and terrorize a small town. It's available on Kindle for a buck, link below. This piece is a five-minute read:

   Part 38: Richards' car. He pulls into a clearing and brandishes the knife menacingly.
   Richards: Party time, mi amor.
   He cuts the tape that binds her ankles. She kicks at him. He grabs her by the hair and puts the gun to her head.
   Richards: You can have it one of two ways, mommy. I blow your brains out right now or I do you. A girl your age can't have any pretensions to purity. I want you to live - don't you understand that? I know you'll never forget me. You'll have nightmares about me for the rest of your life. That gives me such a rush.
   The Sheriff has crept up on them. Richards drags Angel to the woods by the hair. She has a flashback of her rapist doing the same. Richards twists her to the ground. He plants a foot on her chest, seizes a corner of the tape covering her mouth, and looks into her eyes, gun pointed at her. He rips at the tape.
   Angel: Sucio.
   Richards: Oooh, that's such a turn on. Can you scream for me in Spanish? Ay, Popi.
   He lifts his foot from her and pulls at his belt buckle. Angel kicks him in the crotch. He fires. The bullet grazes her cheek. The Sheriff bolts toward them.
   Sheriff: Angel!
   She has scrambled away. He runs right into a shot, which strikes him in the chest. He falls back into bushes.  Richards, on his knees, gasping, rises, shaken.
   Richards: Come out, Mommy, or lover boy gets his last rites. He may not be dead, you know. He may only have a belly wound. It takes a long time to die from one of those. Come out and he might have a chance.
   Angel, unsure of herself, fights to remain silent. Richards moves in for the kill.
Richards: How d'you think he'll look with a third eye, mommy? "I shot the sheriff,/ but I did not kill the deputy ...."
   Angel rises and runs off. Richards pursues. The Sheriff, who had donned a bulletproof vest, was waiting, shotgun ready, Richards briefly in his sights. He fires and misses. He has a flashback to Vietnam, a camouflaged enemy soldier eluding him. Silence ensues. Soon a hushed voice calls out.
   Angel: Barney?
   Sheriff: Here.
   He remains on the ground. She finds him, kneels, and leans her head against him. Blood from her cheek stains his.
   Angel: I thought you were ....
   Sheriff: So did the V.C...
   He winces.
   Angel: What's wrong? Did it penetrate?
   Sheriff: No. It just feels like somebody hit me in the chest with a sledgehammer.
   Angel: Take these cuffs off me.
   He does so.
   Angel: Gimme your gun.
   Sheriff: No way. Help me up.
   She does so.
   Angel: You're in no shape for this. Gimme the gun.
   Sheriff: You know CPR? I feel like I'm goin' into cardiac arrest.
   Angel: Lay down.
   He kisses her forehead.
   Sheriff: That was a joke, cowgirl.
   She takes him by the hand, steps toward the woods. She slips a hand into his pocket and takes the car keys, without his knowing it.
   Angel: C'mon, I saw him go this way.
   Sheriff: No, this way. He may be crazy, but he's no fool. He'll circle back to the car.
   Angel: Where's yours?
   Sheriff: 'bout a hundred yards back of the other one.
   Angel: At least let me have the shotgun.
   He gives it to her. She runs off on a tangent.
   Sheriff: Damn you.
   He watches her, smirks.
   Sheriff: Wonderful sense of direction.
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 2/7 - Chances

  Last night This-TV, 111 on Cablevision in NYC, aired The Who’s Tommy (1975), directed by Ken Russell and featuring a star-studded cast. I saw it in the theater when it first came out and found it chaotic and silly. I think even less of it upon this viewing. The most surprising aspect is the dullness of the numbers. The original album that inspired Russell’s screenplay at least had dynamic music to make up for the sketchy, goofy storyline and weak lyrics. The movie’s music is truly dreadful until the finale. What was curiosity about the vocals of the late Oliver Reed and Jack Nicholson is now passed, and both these wonderful actors failed miserably. But they aren’t singers, so they should only be praised for having taken an artistic risk. There's no excuse for the cringe-inducing work of Tina Turner on The Acid Queen and Elton John on Pinball Wizard. OMG! The best thing I can say about the flick is that it’s colorful. The late Russell was never one afraid to take chances. He experimented here, and should be applauded for that, but the work doesn't stand the test of time, if it ever did . Long ago I caught The Boyfriend (1971) on PBS and thought it ingenious, despite the fact that Twiggy is its star. I’m dying to see it again, but for some reason it is not available at Netflix. Tommy is rated 6.5 of ten at IMDb, so it does have its admirers. On a scale of five, I rate it one. The Boyfriend is rated 8.0 of ten, which only makes me more anxious to see it again, and more frustrated that it’s not in Netflix’s vast stock of DVDs. I just ordered a new player from Amazon. It set me back a little more than expected. The shipping wasn’t free, as it is being sent by a subsidiary. Still, after using the remainder of my gift certificate funds, it’s costing me less than $24. If it lasts only half as long as my previous machine, it will have been more than worth it.

Clint Eastwood, 83, has played scores of heroic roles in his storied career. At a dinner on the eve of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament, he was a hero in real life. Tourny director Steve John, 50, was choking on a piece of cheese when the Hollywood veteran sprung in to action. He performed the Heimlich Maneuver, lifting John, who is 203 pounds, three times in order to clear his windpipe. It was the second time John had the procedure done on him. How lucky has he been to have had knowledgeable people around? Kudos, Mr. Eastwood.

No longer able to sit on the sidelines, I took a limited edition of the floating book shop to the dreaded viaduct at E. 15th and Avenue Z, where there are less than half as many passersby than at my usual nook, where there is a pile of frozen snow that would require more than my plastic shovel to remove. Although the second location is only two short blocks away, I see very few people who recognize me there. And I had to lug the crates four blocks. Right now my arms feel as if I worked out with heavy weights. I didn't have any sales, but I did connect with a woman who said she'd look for me in the future. I hope so. 
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 2/6 - Stir Crazy

RIP Ralph Kiner, 91, Baseball Hall of Famer and longtime broadcaster for the NY Mets. Despite a long career behind the mike, he remained unpolished, and it became an endearing quality to fans. His strength was the stories he was able to tell about the players past and present. Here are two gems attributed to him: "Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Garry Maddox." (Centerfielder) "Cadillacs are down at the end of the bat." (Home runs)

CVS has made a bold move. The chain pharmacy is phasing out tobacco products, planning to have them off the shelves by October 1st. This will cost the company more than a billion dollars in profits. I’ve never understood why people smoke, and I hate the stink that comes with it, so I have no problem with the move. A company has every right to choose which products it offers, and there will still be plenty of places to buy the evil weed. Tobacco remains a legal product that government profits highly from in the form of taxation. The argument that it increases the cost of healthcare is disputed by those who claim it kills many prematurely -- some before they ever collect a dime of government benefits. Will there be unintended consequences to CVS' decision, such as an increase in the lucrative black market? I suppose Indian reservations will see a substantial increase in business. And I wonder if the company will eventually ban soft drinks or soda or ice cream. Given the obesity epidemic and its costs to the system, shouldn’t they, if their aim is to be a healthcare provider? Shouldn't the logic apply across the board?

I’ve rented at least 1060 DVDs from Netflix. It keeps a tally of how many I rate. All have been played on a Panasonic device. Last night it stopped working during the latter stages of a film I was watching. I assumed there was debris on the disc, as is often the case when a film stalls, but wasn't this time. It looks like the machine has finally broken down. I tried another DVD and the message came up “No Disc.” I checked the manual for possibilities but it seems like this is truly the end. I will try it again before I make a decision. I visited to Amazon and was surprised to find a similar one for $40. I have $37 worth of gift certificate money stored there, so it would cost practically nothing. I may wait a few weeks until I earn another GC in order to cover the entire cost, which would allow me to avoid using my credit card. I leave as little of a paper trail as possible.

Doing surveys online is often tedious. I’m currently engaged in one that has broken the mold. I’m logging whatever mail I receive. The company has sent me a scanner to read and store those pieces that have a bar code. It’s been fun so far. I have no idea what the aim of the research is, and don't care, as long as I'm compensated.

It would have been a decent day to sell books if not for the ice and snow. I'll probably set up shop tomorrow. First I will have to shovel my regular nook and clean off a portion of the ledge that surrounds the apartment building. I don't think I'll be able stand another day on the sidelines.
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 2/5 - Balls

Kudos to Jerry Seinfeld, who stood up to to a reporter who asked about the lack of diversity on his current show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. It is the same nonsense that was leveled at the comedian's classic sitcom. Here's some of what he had to say, culled from an article in the New York Post: “People think it’s the Census or something. I mean, this has gotta represent the actual pie chart of America? Who cares? Funny is the world that I live in. You’re funny, I’m interested. You’re not funny, I’m not interested. And I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that. To me, it’s anti-comedy. It’s more about PC nonsense than ‘Are you making us laugh or not?’”

Also in the Post: Shaun Livingston signed as a free agent with the Brooklyn Nets this past summer. He got off to a fast start, demonstrating unique versatility playing three positions. He then fell into a slump and began over-thinking his problems. The team's operations manager, Matt Riccardi, gave him a copy of Herman Hesse's classic novel, Siddhartha, the story of a man's quest for enlightenment. Livingston has since turned his game around and attributes it to the book. He says: “...But it kind of just helps on the court, I think. Mentally it kind of stabilizes you. You’re like, ‘All right. Nothing else matters. This is just a game,’ and you take all the pressure out of it. What I went through [with the injury] was kind of real life. … This is a game. Now, we get paid to do it, people’s jobs are on the line, you understand that. … I understand the professional part of it, the business part of it. But I get more out of it by thinking about it as a game and something you have fun with.” What should he read next? How about Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull?

In my post Super Bowl blog I praised the performance of the Red Hot Chili Peppers during the halftime show. It has now been reported that the the music track was pre-recorded, the vocal live. Although I was disappointed to hear this, I know the band's musicians are talented. They have played hundreds of concerts, perhaps thousands. Handlers claim there wasn't time to properly set up for their one song. RHCP have millions of fans. I find the band to be one of the most disappointing of all time, clearly talented but creators of very few notable tracks. Of course, this may simply reflect the fact that their rise coincided with my decreased interest in their kind of music.

About five years ago I invested a large chunk of an IRA in a CD, believing the stock market was headed for a long dry spell. That proved a mistake, as I would have earned so much more had I put it all into the mutual fund of dividend paying stocks I chose a year or so later. Now the money, plus its paltry return, is again available for investment. And the quandary has begun: what to do, what to do? I've put ten percent in a commodities fund, and have been gun shy with the rest. The stock market is in the midst of a correction. The Fed, at least for the time being, has stopped the Quantitative Easing that led to the rally to historic highs. Unless it resumes the strategy, which is probably an enormous long term mistake, I'll stay on the sidelines, drawing less than one-percent interest, until the correction reaches 20%. It may sound like I know what I'm doing, but I don't. I doubt many advisers do. The old adage remains true: No risk, no reward. Right now I'm risk averse or, as we say in Brooklyn: "No balls."

It's been raining in Brooklyn since at least six AM. There's a good melt happening. Unfortunately, there's so much snow around it is unlikely enough will disappear to make the book shop feasible. And it's doubtful many cars will be moved in the area of my nook, as the alternate side regulations have been suspended. Today I filled time redeeming recyclables, cleaning off the car and shoveling an exit for it, and proofing the final chapter of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. With more snow forecast for the weekend, the end of the hiatus is nowhere in sight.
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