The Writer's Life 7/1 - Life & Death

Working back to front, it seemed today's NY Post would yield nothing fresh, then I got to page three, which had a blurb about suicide rate by profession, which contained several surprises. The highest rate occurs in farmers, lumberjacks and fisherman. The latter do seem a lonely lot often in isolation, but farmers and lumberjacks? Number two was a complete surprise: construction workers, although I suppose those who fail to land steady work might be susceptible. Number three also seems odd: mechanics. No explanation was suggested. Number four is not surprising: factory workers. The monotony might drive anyone off the deep end. The most surprising is Number Five: architects and engineers. That kind of work seems so fulfilling. Number six is the group I would assume would be first, at least the latter two, who see so much of the ugly side of life: fireman, cops and correction officers. The least likely? Librarians and teachers. There was no mention of writers. Whew!

From Yahoo Odd News: One man was determined to take his grudges to the grave. Hubert Martini published his own obituary in a newspaper in western Germany. The deceased, who described himself as "open, honest and unforgiving," banned his five siblings and their families from his memorial service. It is unclear what made Martini want to have the last word, but the 64-year-old noted that in life: "I have hurt some people — and that's good." A popular bromide states: "Don't speak ill of the dead," which I believe is hogwash. There's nothing wrong with it as long as it's the truth. Will someone now have to come up with a phrase for when the dead speak ill of the living?

Also from YON: Political killjoys in the city of Boulder, Colorado have ordered an end to the selling of ice cream and other unhealthy treats at parks and pools. Fortunately, people are still able to bring them in on their own.

There is great news for New Yorkers out of the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets are hosting a return of "Linsanity," the fan mania that accompanied the heroics of point guard Jeremy Lin when he played for the Knicks. He signed a three-year pact at $12 million per. Last year he averaged 11.7 points and three assists per game for the Charlotte Hornets. Best of luck, young man.

For the first three hours it looked like the floating book shop would follow its recent pattern of poor returns. I sold only the excellent Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson, which chronicles the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900. As I was packing up, a young Asian male approached and asked if I had any fantasy. He bought six books. And on his heels another young man came along and bought Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera. My thanks, gentlemen, and to the woman who donated two bags of novels the library around the corner refused, most of them best sellers.

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/