The Writer's Life: March 2016

Thursday, March 31, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/31 - Points

Seth Lipsky devotes his op-ed piece in today's New York Post to a surprising circumstance. He lauds Drew Faust, president of Harvard University, who delivered a speech at West Point praising the military, which once would have been unthinkable from Ivy League leadership. “A supreme honor” is the phrase she used last week to describe what it meant to stand on the Academy's hallowed ground. It’s no coincidence that Faust seized the day. She’s the great-granddaughter of a West Point graduate, Lawrence Davis Tyson, who appeared in arms against Geronimo. Faust clearly has a profound admiration for her famous forebear, whose brigade in World War I took terrible casualties in breaching the Hindenburg Line. Tyson ended up in the US Senate. Faust also said: “...the military is the last institution in which Americans have high confidence. Not organized religion, not government, not newspapers, not banks — you. You and all you represent. We need you, now more than ever.” Kudos, madam. As Lipsky suggested, maybe she should be running for President.

Now that the smoke has cleared, it seems the incident in which a Trump security agent tugged at a woman's arm is much ado about nothing. Two former charges from my high school football coaching days who work security weighed in on the issue on Facebook, and said the woman was lucky she didn't suffer far worse. The guy who posted the message had recently run an anti-Republican rant, so I'm glad he was able to look at this latest fiasco objectively. As for Trump's commentary on abortion, it's high risk, as roughly 50% of the population either supports it or does not want to think about what it entails. He has given his detractors, especially feminists, plenty of ammo. Then again, if he hadn't said anything they would likely conjure faults. He will be ambushed by the media and protesters at every opportunity and needs to be smarter. After all, he is dubbed a racist although he fought heated opposition to have his Florida country club open to minorities, and did not oppose his daughter's marriage to an Orthodox Jew. I will say this again. I am as skeptical of Trump as I am of any politician, but he represents the unknown in this election. Everyone knows what America will get from Sanders or Clinton -- more government intrusion in citizens' lives. And establishment Republicans have failed miserably to curtail government's reach. Cruz is an outsider, but, were he to be elected, it would be one of the biggest upsets of all-time. And Kasich's only chance is a brokered convention, which risks dividing the party, setting it back at the national level for years. As I've also said, the demographics at the national level strongly favor Democrats. A lot will have to break right for the GOP to gain the White House. And the only candidate who might threaten those demographics is Trump. Of course, I've been wrong many times about so many issues. The most discouraging and painful aspects of this cycle may be the posts from friends who support Hillary, who I believe embodies all that is wrong with politics. I resist the temptation to comment. I'll restrict my opinions to this blog and the voting booth. There aren't many advantages to getting older, but one is that I likely won't be around to see the demise of this great country. I am no longer confident it won't happen. The floating book shop had a visit from Mountain Man today, and he, in his typically bleak assessment, said: "We are past the point of no return."

My thanks to the four kind folks who bought paperbacks today, all by Danielle Steel.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/30 - Around the Horn

RIP Patty Duke, 69. Born Anna in Queens, she had a remarkable career despite bouts of depression. She has 140 credits listed at IMDb, which does not include multiple appearances as the star of short-lived series or guest spots on other shows. In the 1950's, she was the youngest actress ever to have her name above the title of a Broadway play, The Miracle Worker, in which she played Helen Keller, a role for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar several years later, the youngest ever at the time at 16. Along her journey she won three Emmys and was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985-'88. She co-wrote a bio, Call Me Anna, with Kenneth Turan, that was adapted to the small screen. She has a fond place in the hearts of baby boomers as the star of The Patty Duke Show, in which she played cousins, Brooklyn girls who looked like twins. It ran for 105 episodes from '63-'66. In an interesting bit of trivia at IMDb, she won the top prize on The $64,000 Question. Her last film is scheduled to be released in 2017. Here's a telling quote attributed to her: "I've beaten my own bad system, and on some days, most days, that feels like a miracle." Well done, madam. Here's a clip of the lively opening credits of her eponymous show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzGzFmCVqM

Earlier in the week the FBI revealed that it had cracked the code of the San Bernardino terrorist's Iphone. In an article in today's NY Post, James Covert suggests, although it has not been confirmed, that an Israeli tech firm, Cellebrite, owned by the Japan-based Sun Corp., did the hacking. Last July its New Jersey based branch offered its services to any government agency, and was ignored. Just when it seemed confidence in the FBI had been restored, it has been dealt another black eye.

Ashley Thorne reports that there is good news from Stanford University, where more than 300 students have signed a petition to have a mandatory course on western civilization added to the curriculum. The school has not had one since 1988. By 2010, none of the top 50 colleges in the USA required it, 34 don't even offer it. WTF! Then again, why should students learn about those who brought freedom to the world? Kudos, kids.

In an op-ed piece, conservative pundit Jonathan Podhoretz offers another lament on the prospect of Donald Trump winning the Republican nomination. He is convinced the Donald will be routed because of the venom Hispanics and single women are showing him. Of the other GOP candidates, who would woo those constituencies? I suppose Cruz, because of his last name, might do better among Latinos, but I'm convinced he would lose the general election by a large margin. National demographics show it will be nearly impossible for any Republican to win the presidency, and it's not because of Trump. The nation has been trending toward socialism since FDR. Even Ronald Reagan, who successfully rallied the economy, failed to restrain the overall spending addiction of congress.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today, and to Herbie, who donated a paperback thriller.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/29 - Wind

There are several interesting items in today's NY Post: In an op-ed piece, Robert Bryce comments on the growing opposition to wind energy. Opponents cite visual blight, loss of property value, negative impact on tourism, and low frequency noise (infrasound) believed to be harmful, as drawbacks. Some turbines are half as tall as the Empire State Building. They require a lot of land, and kill a lot of birds. Bryce is not a climate change denier. He proposes more nuclear energy... Kudos to Sean "Diddy" Combs, 46, who has founded a charter school in Harlem, where he grew up... Elevated levels of lead in Newark public schools have prompted officials to shut off sinks and drinking fountains. Memo to kids: Drink soda, it's safer. Remember: "Things go better with coke." Besides, I own stock in it.

North Carolina and Syracuse, schools recently involved in scandal, have reached the Final Four. I guess it pays to cheat. Then again, major college basketball and football are largely sham. Many of the athletes have no business being anywhere near a campus.

On Gotham, Detective Jim Gordon, future police commissioner, has as many scandals on his ledger as Hillary Clinton. I hope there isn't an omen in that.

Last night on Scorpion, the team of geniuses tamed Mother Nature. Threatened by a cyclone that packed winds off the charts, they created dry ice and placed it at three intervals where it was sucked up by the huge twister, cooling it so that it slowed to a mere tropical storm. I wonder if the writers actually check the feasibility of what the crew pulls off each episode. Then again, it's just silly fun.

I wasn't optimistic about the prospects of the floating book shop today, as the wind was gusting, perhaps as high as 40 mph, as meteorologists predicted. I moved the operation leeward of a bus shelter, and the wares were secure. Unfortunately, high wind seems to be the biggest deterrent to sales. People just want to get home. My thanks to the old timer who bought Jeff Shaara's The Rising Tide, a WWII novel, the only sale of the day.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Monday, March 28, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/28 - Words, Words, Words

I receive email from a writers' web site I rarely visit. Today's featured an article on 30 words no longer in use. I've whittled it to ten and eliminated the commentary. I foolishly closed the application before writing down the author's name, and my History tab informs that it may not appear until later. I apologize:
1. Crapulous – to feel ill from excessive eating or drinking.
2. Groak – to watch someone silently as they eat, in the hope that you will be invited to join them.
3. Snowbrowth – freshly melted snow.
4. Apricity – a cold winter’s day when the sun is just gloriously warm.
5. Twattle – to gossip.
6. Elflock – tangled hair after a night's sleep.
7. Gorgonize – to have a mesmerizing effect on someone.
8. Cockalorum – a little man who has a high opinion.
9. Snoutfair – a good-looking person.
10. Jollux -- fat person.
11. Curglaff – shock from plunging into a cold body of water.
12. Brabble – a rather loud argument.
13. Lunting – go for a walk and smoke a pipe.
14. Beef-witted – something stupid.
15. Monsterful – to something rather extraordinary and wonderful..
16. Callipygian – beautifully shaped buttocks.
17. Quockerwodger – wooden puppet controlled by strings, person who acts like one.
18. Resistentialism – malevolent behavior displayed by inanimate objects.
19. Lethophobia – fear of oblivion.
20. Sluberdegullion – slovenly.
21. Zenzizenzizenzic – to the power of eight.
22. Houppelande – a cloak.

I've completed the initial round of the reworking of the novel I first began in November 1975. When the meanies who have hacked my PC ruined the thumb drive on which I'd had an updated draft from about five years ago, I had to go back to the original hard copy manuscript. Remember those? It is 639 typed pages. My guess is it's 150,000+ words. Among the many awesome features in MS Word is word count. A single click reveals the most recent update is about 60,000 words. I've lopped more than half of the narrative. finishing a month before I'd expected. Too much of it involved the writing process. I probably cut that by 90%. Most of the other paring came in golf and tennis scenes. I was far less explicit sexually this time around. The most significant change came in the story line. I will not reveal the major one, as I hope it will be a bombshell to readers. Can a book shrunk to such an extent be good? I only know that's it much better, especially in language. The pretentious writerly nonsense has been excised. I don't see much expansion of its 179 pages. When I return to it, I will be adding color and reinforcing character development. I'd be surprised if it extends past 185 pages. I've protected it by uploading the file to Google Docs, and saving an attachment in my email archive. I will not publish it before January. I will go through it at least two more times and, knowing me, probably more than that. The title is Five Cents. There is no plot but the story has four levels: the readjustment of a combat veteran, a love story, the gift all humans enjoy through the senses, and the changes America is undergoing from early 1970 through May 1976. I recently added a line about the two assassination attempts on President Ford in September 1975.

The floating book shop was rained out today and 40 MPH wind gusts are predicted for tomorrow. Since I scored a great parking spot this morning near my usual nook, I will probably look to do something there. I would think of passing had I not been sidelined the past two days. I caught up on chores today, did a lot of reading and the Sunday crossword puzzle.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/26 - Tracking Shot

When the latest disc from Netflix arrived the other day, it was a head-scratcher -- Victoria (2015). I had no recollection of what prompted me to add it to my list. I assumed, correctly, it was foreign. It takes place in Berlin on a single night, the entire 2:17 spun on a single tracking shot by director Sebastian Schipper. That must have been what raised my interest. The story follows the eponymous 20-something protagonist, who goes from dancing solo in a nightclub, to meeting four young men on the street, to participating in a crime. Generally, the theme of how quickly things can change in life is intriguing. In this case, I had a hard time accepting that the character would have spent more than a few minutes with the four guys, three of whom are jerks. She has recently moved to Germany from Spain and works in coffee shop, by all evidence a nice person. After years of training as a classical pianist, she was told she wasn't good enough. Granted, something like that could be a huge blow and may lead a person to fill the hole it creates with questionable behavior -- but driving a getaway car in an armed robbery only an hour or so after meeting her accomplices? Then again, stranger things happen in life. The viewer's enjoyment will probably rest on whether he/she accepts this premise. Although I had a hard time with it, there is still a lot to like about the movie, the chief being the performance of Laia Costa, which garnered several awards in Europe. Once the main plot point gets going, there is a palpable intensity to the narrative, but it takes way too long to get there. The first hour or so is devoted to the silliness of youth, drinking, smoking and behaving foolishly in the wee hours of the morning, similar to The Deer Hunter (1975). I imagine many people would bail during that run. That would be a mistake, as the film is worth seeing despite its flaws. No doubt it would be especially appealing to film students. I have a grudging admiration for it. When things became disastrous, I had no compassion for the four (one passed out, unable to participate). They were done in by gross stupidity. I'm not sure what Schipper, who wrote the screenplay with two others, was trying to say, if anything. Maybe he was more intrigued by the technical challenge of doing a film in one long shot in real time. Most of it is in English, the common language shared by the main characters. The German is in subtitles, minuscule on the DVD. 19,000+ users at IMDb have rated Victoria, forging to a consensus of 7.7 of ten. The contributors' commentary on it there is interesting. A few believe the film is a masterpiece. On a scale of five, I rate it 2.75. Schipper has written and directed only four films. He has 26 credits as an actor.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books today on Bay Parkway.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Friday, March 25, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/25 - Farewell & Debut

RIP Garry Shandling, 66, who died suddenly. His comedy was always fresh and inventive. His first breakthrough came as a writer for Sanford and Son, for which he wrote four scripts. He also did one Welcome Back Kotter. He made a significant mark in stand-up, but his most outstanding contributions came in two cable series for which he wrote extensively, It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show, the latter an inside look at a faux talk show host ala Johnny Carson, for whom Shandling substitiuted on The Tonight Show many times. He directed three of those. I thought it was outstanding despite gratuitous profanity. In his career he compiled 24 credits as an actor. He received 19 Emmy nominations for his series work, winning one for the finale of Sanders. Here's a link to a two-minute clip I love, preceded by a 15 second ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2ag66zAXVg (Facts from Wiki & IMDb)

Last night at ten ABC premiered The Catch. The show follows the exploits of a woman who runs an investigative agency on the hunt for high end criminals, one of whom is her fiance of one year, who disappears with more than a million dollars that was to go to the purchase of a house, setting up what figures to be a long arc. It looks like it's going to be slick and glossy. I'm not optimistic, but I'll probably watch the next installment. The episode featured several music tracks, the use of which usually annoys me, but one really stood out: Fireball by Pitbull Featuring John Ryan, an uptempo blend of funk and hip hop that rocked. Here's a link to the official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL9nWJrzVeg

For the past year or so, I've been working with Reportez.com, which is affiliated with IBM. I scan the mail I receive each day, which includes stuff they send. I guess it's a check on the efficiency of the post office. Last month the scanner stopped working. I was able to manually enter the codes of the envelopes they sent, but nothing else. A representative phoned me. They would not send me a new scanner until they received the old one. They must have appreciated that I wasn't trying to jake them. My earnings skyrocketed. I just used the $20 gift card at CVS. It's my third pay out with them. Not bad for a few minutes work each day..

I faced a choice today regarding the floating book shop: take the easy way out and set up at my usual nook, or take advantage of the school holiday and set up outside John Jay H.S. in Park Slope, which would be risky given the chance of rain and the notorious dearth of parking in the area. I lucked out on parking, finding a spot 100 feet from the corner of 4th Street and 7th Avenue. And fortune shined on me further when an old timer donated ten thrillers, half of which are by the late Vince Flynn. I felt bad that I had none for him, at least that he hadn't read. For the first two hours, it looked like I was headed for the dreaded goose egg. Then a fellow Italian-American, on his way to Good Friday services, came along and bought Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore and a bio of Krishnamurti. He asked if I knew of him. I'd only heard the name and assumed he was some sort of philosopher or guru. According to the gentleman, K was once believed to be the reincarnation of Jesus. My thanks, sir, and to the middle age woman who bought two works of non-fiction.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/24 - Old Fave

I don't think I'd ever be able to co-write with anyone. My ego wouldn't allow me to share credit. In TV and film, committees are common, and it occasionally achieves greatness. Last night the CW ran episode 19 from season eight of Seinfeld, The Yada Yada, first broadcast in April 1997. I've seen it umpteenth times and it still hasn't become old. It is flawless from start to finish, all four story lines woven together brilliantly and hilariously: George's larcenous girlfriend, Jerry's outrage over convert dentist Tim Watley's Jewish jokes, Kramer and Mickey's arguments over two girls, and Elaine's efforts to see that a couple qualify for an adoption. The casting of Robert Wagner and Jill St. John as the midget Mickey's parents was a stroke of genius -- "Mother Nature's a mad scientist," as Kramer puts it before that handsome couple even takes the stage. And there are several other memorable lines along the way: "No, I mentioned the bisque." "And you're an anti-dentite." "No, it offends me as a comedian." And the coup de gras, which guest star Debra Messing has the honor of delivering: "Not to mention the blacks and the Jews." Okay, maybe that last one is flawed, as a doctor is definitely smart enough to realize Seinfeld is a Jewish name. Still, it's bombshell funny. The episode won an Emmy. Four writers receive credit: Jennifer Crittenden and Steve Koren for story, and Peter Mehlman and Jill Franklyn as writers. Crittenden was involved in the scripts of 25 episodes of the series, Koren 26, Mehlman 40, Franklyn only this one. It was directed by Andy Ackerman, who was at the helm for 87 episodes of the iconic series. Even George's goofy pop-ins at the confessional booth and at the dentist office, and Kramer and Mickey's slapstick are spot on. Kudos to the army of talent that created this enduring work of art. I'm embarrassed about how I scoffed when fans told me of the show's greatness during its initial run. "A sitcom?" It's as astute a portrait of modern times as there is. (Facts from IMDb).

Best of luck to QB RGIII, who is about to sign with the woeful Cleveland Browns. He burst onto the NFL scene in his rookie season with the Redskins, dazzling the opposition passing and running, then suffered injuries that set him back, and lost his starting job to Kirk Cousins. While listening to a Giants' radio broadcast one Sunday, the analyst said that defenses knew Griffin's tendency was to lock on to his primary receiver, and that he had difficulty located any of the others. I hope he proves the naysayers wrong.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today. The session was highlighted by two visits from Mr. Philly, going and coming. He's a resident of the Atlantic Towers co-op and has businesses in Philadelphia, which he visits at least once a week. He is in the process of opening a pizzeria there and has designs on three more. 70, an ex-Marine, he doesn't need the money. He simply is enthralled with entrepreneurship. And brother can he wax about it.
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5
Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/23 - Careers

Who in his/her right mind would give up a career in medicine to become a writer? Tess Gerritsen did, and I'm sure she doesn't regret it. Her 27 thrillers have been published in 40 countries and sold more than 25 million copies. Her works inspired the popular cable show, Rizzoli & Isles. I just finished her first novel, Call After Midnight, which was published in 1987. It's one of nine romantic thrillers she did. I really enjoyed the suspense and hated the romantic aspects. There is no arguing the prose, which is first rate. It's easy to see why she's had such a long, successful career. The story involves a female scientist whose husband of two months is presumed dead under mysterious circumstances in Europe. Is the burned body her husband's? She sets out for the continent, trailed by a man in diplomatic service smitten with her. For the most part, the action is grounded. It strains credulity a bit during the climax, but not as much as many works of its type. It has a neat, sort of twist at the end. Except for the romantic parts, its 250 pages glide by. 81 readers have rated it at Amazon, forging to a consensus of four out of five stars. I rate it three, excellent for a first novel, especially from someone with no background in law enforcement or espionage. Impressive career, madam.

RIP Joe Garagiola, 90, whose career in baseball spanned decades. He grew up on the same street in St. Louis as Yogi Berra, and was considered the better catching prospect. Although he played nine seasons in the big leagues, his career was modest. The highlight came in his rookie season, when he hit .319 in the World Series for the champion St. Louis Cardinals. Overall, he hit .257, had 42 HR's and 255 RBI for four different teams. His largest impact on the game came from the broadcasting booth. For 30 years he worked on NBC's Game of the Week with Vin Scully. He also guest-hosted The Tonight Show several times during the Johnny Carson era, and was a staple on daytime TV as the host of numerous game shows. Well done, sir.

It was a quiet day at the floating book shop. My thanks to the four kind souls who bought books, and to Ol' Smoky, who donated two, Siddhartha and an abridged version of David Copperfield.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/22 - Progress

Show of hands: How many still oppose a pause on Muslim immigration?

Kudos to the reporters who asked Raul Castro tough questions. If only they would be as hard on the leftists in the USA.

Here's the gist of Thomas Sowell's op-ed piece in today's NY Post, pared and edited by yours truly: "Much is made of the fact that liberals and conservatives see racial issues differently, which they do. But these differences have too often been seen as simply those on the right being racist and those on the left, not. You can cherry-pick the evidence to reach that conclusion. But you can also cherry-pick the evidence to reach the opposite conclusion. During the heyday of the Progressive movement in the early 20th century, people on the left were in the forefront of those promoting doctrines of innate, genetic inferiority of not only blacks but also of people from Eastern Europe and Southern Europe, as compared to people from Western Europe. Liberals today tend to either glide over the undeniable racism of President Woodrow Wilson or else treat it as an anomaly of some sort. But racism on the left at that time was not an anomaly, either for Wilson or for numerous other stalwarts of the Progressive movement, who spearheaded the eugenics movement, dedicated to reducing the reproduction of supposedly 'inferior' individuals and races. The eugenics movement spawned Planned Parenthood, among other groups. In academia, there were 376 courses devoted to eugenics in 1920. Intellectuals who crusaded against the admission of immigrants from Eastern Europe and Southern Europe, branding them as genetically inferior, included many prominent academic scholars. Southern segregationists who railed against blacks also railed against Wall Street. Back in those days, blacks voted for Republicans as automatically as they vote for Democrats today. Wilson introduced racial segregation into the government agencies where it didn’t exist at the time, while Republican President Calvin Coolidge’s wife invited the wives of black congressmen to the White House. As late as 1957, civil-rights legislation was sponsored in Congress by Republicans and opposed by Democrats. Later, when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was sponsored by Democrats, a higher percentage of congressional Republicans voted for it than did congressional Democrats. Revisionist histories tell a different story. But, as Casey Stengel used to say, ‘'You could look it up' — in the Congressional Record, in this case. Conservatives who took part in the civil-rights marches, or who were otherwise for equal rights for blacks, haven’t made nearly as much noise about it as liberals do. The first time I saw a white professor, at a white university, with a black secretary, it was Milton Friedman at the University of Chicago in 1960 — four years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She was still his secretary when he died in 2006. But, in all those years, I never once heard Friedman mention, in public or in private, that he had a black secretary. By all accounts, she was an outstanding secretary, and that was what mattered. The biggest difference between the left and right today, when it comes to racial issues, is that liberals tend to take the side of those blacks who are doing the wrong things — hoodlums the left depicts as martyrs, while the right defends those blacks more likely to be the victims of those hoodlum. Rudy Giuliani, when he was the Republican mayor of New York, probably saved more black lives than any other human being, by promoting aggressive policing against hoodlums, which brought the murder rate down to a fraction of what it was before. A lot depends on whether you judge by ringing words or judge by actual consequences."

My thanks to the gentleman who bought Donald Westlake's Get Real, the woman who bought Danielle Steel's Malice, the woman who bought the JFK Jr. bio, and to Jeff, one of Atlantic Towers stellar porters, who put aside about 50 works of non-fiction plus Chaim Potok's The Chosen for me.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Monday, March 21, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/21 - Chump & Champs

Through two rounds, the 2016 NCAA tourney has already provided three fantastic finishes. I have not watched more than a minute of any of the broadcasts, but have enjoyed the highlights through the magic of the internet. Kudos to Wisconsin, whose coach, Bo Ryan, ran out on them early in the season when it looked like the team was going nowhere. They rallied from 9-9 under coach Greg Gard, and have moved on to the Sweet 16 after yesterday's stunning win at the buzzer. Bo Ryan is looking like a big chump, deservedly so.

Luck has been with the floating book shop the past two days. I expected to lose both sessions to bad weather, but Mother Nature arranged it so that the precipitation fell overnight. By the time I left the apartment today, the sun was shining. I snagged a parking spot immediately on 84th Street and had set up by eleven. I sold the last of my stock of Russian books to two women and expected action on only the six copies of Danielle Steel romances I had on display. None sold, but two customers were very generous. Bad News Billy was back. After having overpaid for a CD and DVD on Saturday, he overpaid for two works of non-fiction: an bio of SNL's Chris Farley and an exercise book by "ESPN's Fitness Queen," Kiana Tom, of whom I'd never heard prior to someone having donated the book. She has an interesting resume: Raiders cheerleader, actress (4 credits), Playboy spread, TV hostess, wife of a firefighter, mom of two. She is of Hawaiian, Chinese and Irish descent. Her dad, the late Layne Tom Jr., has eleven credits listed at IMDb, three as a son of Charlie Chan. He also played a Boy Ranger in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Kiana had two 65 year old guys leering at her photographs on the street today.

Billy wants to write a book about the characters who patronaged his dad's deli. It sounds like a good idea. I said I'd help, but I won't write it for him. My thanks, my friend, and also to the Asian gentleman who, when I said the books, other than mine, were one or two bucks, said he'd buy "ten for ten" for his kids. I like a guy who knows how to deal. He picked out an equal mix of fiction and non. Some days things just work out. My car passed inspection with flying colors, and I even bagged a great parking spot near my usual nook, which sets up the next two days' sessions very nicely.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/20 - Taxes & Coffee

Most people probably wonder why government doesn't get taxes right the first time so that the annoying and time-consuming process of filing a return can be avoided. Gregory Bresiger answers this in an article in today's NY Post. In effect, the process provides government billions in an interest free loan. Even after returning a significant portion -- at zero percent interest -- it comes out way ahead. It's just one more issue that justifies cynicism about government.

I've reached the point in the manuscript I've been reworking where the protagonist visits New York. Here's an excerpt drawn from real life. I didn't witness the incident. A friend did, but it has stayed with me decades later. The main character is in his late 20's.
On the long road back to the hotel, he passed Madison Square Garden. Suddenly a scream, followed by a police whistle, shattered the calm. Tom saw two youths approaching in full flight. He froze, afraid, but he was not their target. They streaked past him and across 8th Avenue, dodging traffic like fleet halfbacks eluding tacklers in the secondary. One had a purse tucked tightly into an armpit, like a football. An exhausted, overweight officer paused at the corner and waved disgustedly at the delinquents, signaling an end to the chase. He leaned against a parking meter, gasping. Presently the agitated cry of another male disrupted the stillness. The well-dressed man ran toward the cop and said: “Officer, my friend just collapsed in the street.”
For a moment the panting, red-faced policeman stood bent at the waist, taking deep breaths, the gentleman anxiously awaiting action. “Get ‘im a cuppa cawfee,” the officer finally uttered between breaths, to the astonishment of the man.
Tom hurried away, repressing laughter, bursting at the seams. It was the most absurdly funny incident he’d ever witnessed. He could hear the man and the cop arguing in the distance. “Get ‘im a cuppa cawfee,” he whispered to himself, chuckling, visualizing the plump figure mouthing the phrase. He was ignored by passersby, who he imagined were used to the sight of madmen laughing and talking to themselves on the street. How fortunate he’d been to have passed at that moment. The timing was perfect. He’d seen the entire farce unfold. At first he’d feared he would be assaulted, perhaps killed. Now he was afraid he would die laughing, despite the fact that a woman had been robbed and some poor soul might be near death in the road. He never ceased to be fascinated by life.

My thanks to the kind folks who purchased books today in Park Slope.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Saturday, March 19, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/19 - Icons

Last night I caught up to Daniel Craig's last dance as James Bond, Spectre (2015), courtesy of Netflix. I found it entertaining, despite the lackluster performances of most of the cast. Although I realize Craig has chosen to play 007 as absolutely cold-blooded, his movements seemed too robotic at times. As usual, the action is well-staged and the exotic locations are a travel log in themselves. The story line is better than usual, as the villains' aim of worldwide domination involves information rather than nuclear annihilation. Blofeld returns in the form of Christophe Waltz, who delivers a completely bland turn, so pale compared to his usual brilliance. Andrew Scott, who was awesome as Moriarty in the BBC's modern take on Sherlock Holmes, is so-so as the smarmy new face of British intelligence. The Bond girls, Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux, who at 31 is in the midst of a top flight career, are what fans of the series would expect. The most refreshing aspect of the plot is the vital participation of Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and especially the nerdy Q, wonderfully played by Ben Whishaw. I also enjoyed WWE superstar Dave Bautista's turn as a henchman reminiscent of Oddjob in Goldfinger (1964). I chuckled aloud at gags involving an air bag and a keg of beer. Made on a budget estimated at an astonishing $245 million, Spectre brought in "only" $199 million in the USA. I'm sure it doubled that worldwide and, when the DVD and streaming fees are tallied, I'm also sure the movie was a big financial success. It runs almost two-and-a-half hours. I did gaze at the clock a couple of times, which usually isn't a good sign. Still, it's a lot better than many of the films in the series, not as good as others, and I have a feeling its stature will grow in time. Perhaps there is more subtlety than I noticed to the performances. 237,000+ users have rated it at IMDb, forging to a consensus of 6.9 of ten, a bit low in my estimation. The commentary section, as usual, is heavily critical. Rumor has it that the next Bond will be black, as Moneypenny is in Spectre. It would be interesting to see the reaction to that. My hunch is that box office would be unaffected, as the fans who protest will be replaced by an equal number who will relate to the change. Other than making Bond gay, there's not much more to be done. The main allure will always be the character's adventure.

I had Michigan St. reaching the finals in my NCAA tourney picks. It's loss to Middle Tennessee is a true upset, a term now overused by broadcasters. The Spartans have had great success through the years, winning several national championships. Usually, such early round KO's occur to teams that have always struggled on the big stage, such as Virginia, DePaul and, lately, Villanova. I know it's an unusual year, but I still expect the big names, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, to go far.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today, especially Bad News Billy, who was very generous. He said I look like Robert DeNiro and asked if that insulted me. Naturally, I replied "a little bit," raising my right hand, tiny space between my extended thumb and index finger, as the actor did in that iconic scene in Goodfellas (1990). I poured through four pages of images and, to my chagrin, was unable to find a still shot of it. I bet I'd find it if I looked again tomorrow.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Friday, March 18, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/18 - America

Some news items are deliciously bizarre. The above photo is of Chrese Evans, 44, who runs an antique shop in Portland, Oregon. She is the granddaughter of one of the most prolific mass murderers in history, Joseph Stalin. She is profiled today in an article in the NY Post. I love America and, apparently, so does she.

The Weird But True column provides another tasty nugget. A Virginia victim of assault has come up with a novel way to fight crime. She has developed self-defense bras. There are two types: The Just in Case Knife Bra, which has a slot for a blade and sells for $54.99, and the Just in Case Pepper Spray Bra, $49.99. I'm sure Jane Russell would have approved and would have gladly done ads for them. Life never cease to fascinate. Kudos,madam.

Despite an unfriendly wind that wouldn't allow me to display my wares as usual, the floating book shop had a good day. Occupy Jack got things started. Decked out in a Bernie Sanders hat and T-shirt, and a jacket that had Sanders' logo stitched to its back, he went into the anti-Israel spiel he's delivered so many times, which manifests his contrarian nature like nothing else, as he is Israeli born. He praised an orthodox sect that shares his view. Coincidentally, someone had donated a book on such types only yesterday, and OJ bought it. Later, my spirits soared at the approach of a congenial old timer who spends most of the year in Florida. He bought six books in Russian and a Steve Berry thriller. Then Mira, a 30-year-old Ukrainian-born mom of a toddler. visited, giving me a hug and kiss. That alone would have been enough, but she also bought Billionths of a Lifetime. She is on Spring break from her second semester at St. Joseph's College. Finally, Natalya and Benedict bought four mysteries (dee-tec-teeve) in Russian. Since they've donated so many books, I wanted them to have them for free, but they insisted on paying. My thanks, folks, and also to the gentleman who swapped a Tom Clancy hardcover for two paperback thrillers.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Thursday, March 17, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/17 - St. Patty's

Erin Go Bragh to the Irish. I'm glad I no longer ride the subway on this day of the year.

Seattle has become a bicyclist's mecca, and theft is common. A citizen has taken on the problem almost single-handedly. He's been dubbed Bike Batman by the press. He studies for-sale listings on Craig's List, matches the items to those that have been stolen, then meets with the culprit and offers a choice -- either hand over the bike or be reported to the police. Since he's six-four, he's had success. Kudos, sir. Maybe there's a place for him in the Marvel Comics canon.

RIP Frank Sinatra Jr., 72, who succumbed to a heart attack before taking the stage in his Sinatra Sings Sinatra review. While the children of celebrities enjoy many privileges, they live in the shadow of a parent whose accomplishments they will likely not approach. Imagine being the offspring of megastars like Old Blue Eyes or Elvis or the Beatles or Michael Jackson. It can't be easy. Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped at 19. The kidnappers were fortunate the mafiosi who were searching high and low did not find them. After Frank Sr. paid the ransom and the culprits were caught, Junior was accused of having orchestrated the crime as publicity for his budding career. It set him back, and he was persona non grata to many. He fought back from it. He eventually became his father's musical director. At IMDb he has 21 credits as an actor listed under his name. According to Wiki, he cut seven albums and guested on eight others. Well done, sir.

I just spent an hour-and-a-half in the dentist's chair. Since the tooth that needed extraction had already had root canal, it was not painful, but it was extremely annoying. The left corner of my mouth is sore from the stretching it suffered. A temporary bridge is in place. The next appointment is in two weeks, which should allow the area to heal. Some things that need doing really suck.

It was a typical March day. The weather delivered a little bit of everything, from sunny calm to breezy drizzle. My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books. The box score reads like this: Sold: Russian books four, English three; donated -- ditto.
Erin Go Braless.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/16 - Jokers

Conservative pundit John Podhoretz despises Donald Trump, and seems incapable of objectivity on the issue. In his op-ed piece in today's NY Post, he predicts Trump will fall short of the required delegate majority that would clinch a first ballot nomination at the convention, and that the resulting chaos will result in a Hillary presidency. As I see it, only Trump has a chance to defeat her. I believe Ted Cruz is the best candidate, but I think he would lose the general election by a wide margin. Trump gives the GOP a 50-50 chance.

The Post's Weird But True column reports that a large number of Buddhist monks in Thailand are obese. They rely on food donations from the public, and people have been leaving snacks and sugary drinks. Maybe Michael Bloomberg should run for president there.

Kudos to the creators of Limitless, prime time TV's most quirky and inventive show. Most series of its type, The Blacklist, Blind Spot, etc., rely on high body counts and fast-paced action. Limitless opts for the imaginative and outrageous. How refreshing.

I've completed the reworking of four parts of the first manuscript I ever typed, begun in long hand in November 1975. 500 pages of hard copy have been reduced to 159 in MS Word. The protagonist is not the needy individual he was originally. He is a lot stronger. The novel is now entirely from his point of view rather than from multiple points of view. Gone are the young author's pontificating and the arty, often artificial language. The most critical change involves the story line. I will not post an excerpt, as I want it to slam the reader, at least those who haven't figured out what is coming. In the past few days I must have lopped off 80 pages, a lot of them involving the ups and downs of trying to be a writer. I pared down a lot of the golf and tennis the main characters play. I don't anticipate a lot will be excised from the remaining 159 pages. Will it be a good book? That is always for readers to decide.

There were only two sales today at the floating book shop, but a slew of donations. My thanks to the kind folks who ponied up, especially the Russian gentleman who brought about 20 books in his native language. One middle age guy, who always comes by on his bike to either buy or donate, is an avid collector of playing cards, particularly jokers. He showed me a tiny deck in Russian. He recently bought 23 different decks, paying a buck a piece. I showed my appreciation by giving him a pair of jokers from a deck Synovate surveys gifted me before it was acquired by another firm. What strange passions humans sometimes have.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/15 - No-Win

Here's more madness on the political correctness front. Tappan Zee H. S. in Orangetown N.Y. is putting on Mel Brook's The Producers -- without swastikas! Officials don't want to to offend anyone. Somehow the play within that play -- Springtime for Hitler -- is okay.

This morning at about 6:30, as I mounted the pedestrian bridge that spans lower Sheepshead Bay, I passed a solitary figure, in hooded rain gear, jigging for mackerel. There was a plastic bag nearby, fish flapping inside it. It was like a movie scene, the street lights reflecting off of puddles. I was reminded of when The Exorcist approached Mrs McNeal's home.

For the past six years I've accompanied a handicapped friend on her medical visits. She pays me $20. It has always required a lot of patience, as she she suffers from a rare affliction that affects the use of her legs. When she first started slowing to a crawl, I suggested it was time to go to a wheelchair, and she almost bit my head off, as she does to anyone acquaintance who makes the common sense suggestion. I'd wanted to bring it up again, hoping she would tell me to take a hike, free me from the responsibility. As I passed in my car on Saturday, I saw her struggling in the company of an attendant, and it gave me an opening. I sent her an email telling her to stop fooling herself. She called that night and gave me the history of her condition, which did not change the fact of the severity of her condition or my position. I assume my assistance is too valuable to her to "fire" me. Today I accompanied her to the optometrist, less than a block from the door of our building. In the lobby a woman asked when she was going to get a mechanized wheelchair. She was not being malicious. Nonetheless, she was chewed out rudely. The walk took a half-hour each way. I had to stop traffic so she could cross East 13th. It's ridiculous. The next time she emails me asking if I will be available, I will say no, I won't lie. I will tell her my patience has been exhausted. She'll just have to depend on the people an agency sends her. Her son is hundreds of miles away. She should be living somewhere near him, but they've been feuding lately and she has put her plans to move on hold. I tell myself I'm not doing anything wrong, but I still feel like a rat. It's a no-win situation.

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

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Monday, March 14, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/14 - Changes

Correction: Yesterday I cited the Chicago Democratic convention riots as being in 1972. They were in 1968. Mea culpa. I'll have to eliminate the erroneous reference I made to it in the novel I'm working on. A writer should always verify, especially one my age.

Without having watched a single minute of play this season, I've made my picks for the NCAA BB tournament, which seems wide open. In most match-ups I selected the higher seed. I have Kansas defeating Michigan St. in the finale, based on newspaper articles I've glimpsed the past few weeks. I couldn't have been any more unconventional and unimaginative. Although many of the athletes are fake students, it's still a great event. Heck, I may even watch a few minutes here and there.

Also in sports -- what a difference an off-season makes. Golfer Jordan Spieth was red hot in 2015 and has been almost ice cold so far in 2016.

It rained in NYC today and I made productive use of being cooped up in the apartment. Reworking the manuscript I began in November 1975 and completed a few years later has been challenging and fun. I've gone through 455 of the 639 page hard copy, which has been reduced to 155 pages in MS Word. Today's sessions were slash and burn, 20 pages pared to two. Not only bloat that was addressed. One scene has the protagonist, a college lit instructor, having sex with a student in his office, which reflects where my mind and hormones were at the time. Here's how it reads now. The time is mid December 1974:

On the final day of the Fall semester, Tom was seated in his office, working on final grades. He hadn’t even looked at the most recent papers he’d assigned. He evaluated each student by previous work, giving the benefit of the doubt to those who fell in between a B and C. He was still stingy with A’s.

The door was slightly ajar, kept so for a measure of privacy. The crack informed others he was present and available for discussion, provided the matter was of importance. Finished, he leaned back and closed his eyes, hands behind his head. He was dozing when someone knocked politely.

A young woman stepped into the room, furry coat draped over her arm. She was tall, lean, sharp-featured, her chin, cheeks, nose and elbows rather pointy. Her medium length sandy hair was cut in a becoming shag. Neither plain nor pretty, she projected a robustness that made her attractive.

“Hi, Cathy,” said Tom warmly. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m dropping off my final paper. I’m sorry it’s late. Things have piled up in my personal life.”

“No need to worry. You’d already earned an A. Besides, anyone who wears an MIA bracelet gets special consideration from me.”

She lowered her head, obviously troubled.

“What’s wrong?” he said softly.

“My brother’s MIA,” she choked. "Some days..."

“Have a seat.”

He stepped past her and closed the door, then poised himself beside her at the edge of the desk. Tears were pouring from her eyes. Tom caressed her shoulder, ashamed he’d fantasized about her sexually. When are you gonna grow up? he thought, recalling how he'd almost lost Kitty.

“He was a helicopter pilot.”

“Those guys saved our butts so many times.”

She looked up. “Really? You were there?”

He nodded. “Just about all of Sixty-nine.”

She took a tissue from her bag. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been holding it back for so long.”

“I’m the last guy in the world you’d have to apologize to about this. To me, anyone who served there’s a hero.” Except you, he said to himself.

He let her stay as long as she needed to gather herself. He didn’t know what to do other than to let her cry. When finally she rose she kissed his cheek, said “Thank you,” and hurried away. Eyes glazed, hands shaking, he wondered why he had survived and more worthy men had died. Believing it was God’s plan seemed ridiculous.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/13 - Cheap Thrills

Kyle Smith has a great line about Democrats in his op-ed piece in today's NY Post: "The party of labor became the party of lawyers." It's looking more and more like the late 60's, early 70's across America. The desperation to derail Trump is astonishing. Will his opponents' rancor continue to contribute to his rise, or will there come a point where most citizens feel they've had enough of the anger? I wonder if there will be riots in the street outside the Republican convention as there were outside the Democratic convention in Chicago in 1972. Stay tuned.

There have been so many deaths among rock stars lately that I decided to research comparisons to the general populace. Here are excerpts from a column by Jonathan Pearlman of Sydney, Australia, filed in Oct 2014, pared and edited by yours truly:
"Pop and rock stars die up to 25 years younger than the average person and have far higher rates of death by accident, suicide and homicide, an Australian study has found. The chances of an accidental death for well-known musicians and rock stars were found to be between five and 10 times greater than for the general population. The average musician today lives into the late 50s or early 60s and has a life expectancy about 20 years lower than the general population. The study found suicide rates among musicians were between two and seven times greater than that of the general population. Homicide rates were up to eight times greater."

I didn't sell any books today. There were a few browsers but no buyers. Early in the session a middle age woman approached and engaged me in conversation. She'd recently had an operation to repair a detached retina and is suffering blurred vision. She gave me four bucks for "good luck" and would not take any books or the Janis Joplin CD Ol' Smoky gave me the other day, which I listened to in the car yesterday. I'm not a big fan of Joplin. Usually a listen to one of her songs is more than enough for me. Since the disc had a scratch, I wanted to see if it was in good enough condition to sell. It played without interruption. I suffered through it. Its title is Cheap Thrills and the album is actually attributed to Big Brother and the Holding Company, the band Joplin fronted before breaking out on her own. It has only seven tracks. Anyway, I offered it to the woman and she sniffed. "I like Jerry Vale," she said. "He's one of the most underrated singers of all-time," I returned. In terms of vocal purity, he was as good as any pop artist ever, and his career was successful, but he was unable to rise to the upper tier, largely because of a lack of presence. When the woman gave me the money, she said: "People in Park Slope are cheap." The assessment proved correct, at least for today. If it hadn't been for her generosity, I would have walked away with nothing. My thanks. And what came up on the 27th of 40 discs I've burned for my car CD player as I was driving home? My favorite Joplin track, Move Over.
Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

The Writer's Life

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Thursday, March 31, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/31 - Points

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/30 - Around the Horn

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/29 - Wind

Monday, March 28, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/28 - Words, Words, Words

Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/26 - Tracking Shot

Friday, March 25, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/25 - Farewell & Debut

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/24 - Old Fave

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/23 - Careers

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/22 - Progress

Monday, March 21, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/21 - Chump & Champs

Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/20 - Taxes & Coffee

Saturday, March 19, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/19 - Icons

Friday, March 18, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/18 - America

Thursday, March 17, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/17 - St. Patty's

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/16 - Jokers

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/15 - No-Win

Monday, March 14, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/14 - Changes

Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Writer's Life 3/13 - Cheap Thrills

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