The Writer's Life

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/15

Here are some quotes, some silly, some profound, that have struck a chord in me:
Michael Ray Richardson, NY Knicks point guard, on the team's troubles: "The ship be sinkin'." My all-time favorite. I chuckle whenever I recall it.
Master thief Willie Sutton when asked why he robbed banks: "That's where the money is." Crystalline logic and a slap in the face to all psychologists.
An angel to Mary Magdalen on her way to Jesus' tomb: "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Absolutely touching.
Teri Hatcher to Jerry Seinfeld on whether she's had a boob job: "They're real and they're spectacular." I bet they are.
A boy to Shoeless Joe Jackson on the accusation the White Sox threw the 1919 World Series: "Say it so, Joe." Out of the mouths of babes.... Wonderful even if it's mythology, the creation of a sportswriter.
Pope John Paul: "Be not afraid." Great advice. We would accomplish so much more if not for our fears.
Oscar Wilde: "I can resist everything but temptation." This resonates because I've so frequently fought off temptation - to my own frustration.
Tom Clancy: "The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." One of my goals as a writer is to try to make sense of the bittersweet mystery of life. It's a losing battle.
Marie's CD donation has already begun to pay dividends, as Vinnie bought Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam today. Thanks, goombah.
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/14

Fall returned to the area today. A stiff wind played havoc with the floating bookshop, but my luck continued, although it didn't seem it would for the first two-and-a-half hours of operation. 30 minutes into the session, it began to rain. It lasted about five minutes and, given the forecast, had me scurrying to the viaduct. Sure enough, the sun came out and I stood there kicking myself for moving, hoping the romance lady, Yelena, would make a coffee run so that I'd have something to show for the shift. After an hour-and-a-half of being ignored, I packed up. Along the way, I passed Yelena, outside her work place sneaking a smoke with a co-worker. She turned her back as I approached. I think she saw me. Maybe she has maxed out on potboilers. I am grateful to her nonetheless.
It looked like it would be more of the same at my usual post. I'd probably missed any of my regulars who'd happened by. And the temperature was so un-June-like I couldn't blame people for not stopping. Then everything turned around, as a woman purchased three children's books for her birthday girl. An Asian man picked up a beautiful pictorial on deer and looked through the whole thing. When someone does that, it usually means no sale. When I went down to one dollar, he took it. I'm such a soft touch. A few minutes later Marie brought me another CD donation, at least ten, including Led Zeppelin II, the Police Singles and the Best of the Hollies, which I'm listening to right now (Long Cool Woman). And then lovely young Alisa approached, addressing me in Italian, dressed as if she were coming from work. Sure enough, she has landed a gig as a Russian translator. I asked her the phonetic spelling of certain terms, i.e., Dosvedanya (Goodbye til next time). Finally, Bob Rubenstein, author of Ghost Runners, came by and bought a CD of legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker.
Thanks to all for brightening my day.
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Monday, June 13, 2011

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/13

Kudos to the Dallas Mavericks, champions of the NBA. I didn't think they had it in them. I'm glad I was wrong. Dirk Nowitzki has been vindicated. Several years ago, facing the same Miami Heat, pre-Labron, in the finals, he missed free throws that would have given the Mavs a 3-0 series lead. The series turned around, Miami winning the next four games and the title. I didn't think he'd get another chance. I thought Jason Kidd, a rare player who makes everyone around him better, was too old when the Mavs acquired him. I remember the uproar when he was accused of beating his wife during his stint with the New Jersey Nets. He was excoriated in the press and by most people at work, although details of the event were never disclosed. Was it a pattern of abuse or a single argument that got out of control? It was never made clear. I withheld judgment. Things happen between a man and wife. I witnessed it in my own family. It's something that is never forgotten and leaves emotional scars, especially on children. These instances can eclipse the thousands of days when there were no altercations. "Never hit a woman," several of my co-workers said. That is the correct standard, of course, but life is what it is, not how we want it to be. No one outside Kidd's family knows what actually occurred.
As for the Miami Heat and its three-headed Lebron-Wade-Bosh monster, I hope they've been humbled, but I doubt it. The modern athlete lacks humility and class with few exceptions. If they remain healthy, they will get their rings, perhaps next year. A little fine tuning and they'll remain the team to beat. The Celtics and Spurs have gotten old, and it's doubtful the Mavs will repeat, given the age of their squad. It appears the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder stand in the Heat's way. And perhaps the Lakers. I don't understand what happened to them this season, but it was refreshing not having them in the finals.
I don't know if it was the cool weather, but I sold a lot of books the past two days, none of mine, of course. Oh, well, maybe tomorrow.
Read Vic's stories, free: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/11

The floating bookshop was closed today due to inclement weather.
Here's the latest review I've posted at amazon. It's for the kindle edition:

Skyline Review 2011 Literary Anthology
Price: $0.99

Availability: Auto-delivered wirelessly

196 used & new from $0.99

Something for everybody, June 9, 2011

This review is from: Skyline Review 2011 Literary Anthology (Kindle Edition)

Water Forest Press has issued the third edition of Skyline Review, chock full of poetry, stories and book reviews. In My Most Days..., Jaimie Eubanks illuminates the sense of futility of a writer just starting out on her dream. In Nick of Time, Russell H. Krauss brings readers to a bar, where two males set their sights on twins. Mike Clough's Berkeley and the Half Man is a portrait of a self-taught, intellectual, bitter combat veteran. Gerald Farrell explores the psychology of a rape victim in Ice-cream Thunderbolt. In The Disappearance of PFC Ned Lansing, Sue Ellis focuses on the tragedy of alcoholism. George G. Wilson returns with another amusing tale, The Scarlet Storm. In Sleeping Beauty, Trodayne Northern offers a look at cancer and sibling rivalry. In The Interview, Bill Gibson writes of a nasty competition for a job. Leland Thoburn reveals the secrets of sinners in The Confession. In The Consummation, Laura Drysdale takes readers on a trip down a Portuguese river, circa 1861. Andrew Broxton delves into the mindset of a woman coping with the death of her husband in After the Reading. Geoffrey Smagacz paints a picture of a crotchety old woman in Agnes. Harris Tobias predicts the future in The Last Robin. In Into Metamorphosis, Susan Dale writes of the transformation of a Cherokee. And Sue Sabia tells the story of an odd couple in Ray and the Angel. What diversity!
Full disclosure: My story, The Unknowable, appears in the anthology.

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Friday, June 10, 2011

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/10

It was a great day at the floating bookshop. Most of my regulars showed. Alisa is in her first year at the New School, a liberal college in Manhattan. She took a class on piano. Playing less than one year, she passed her test, learning a piece by Chopin. At a party the other night, she sat at a Steinway and improvised some blues. Obviously, she has an affinity for music. She spotted a book on Ethics and was disappointed I had set it aside for mailman extraordinaire, Mr. Chou. That's the kind of stuff she reads. Clearly, she is on a higher intellectual plain than most of us. Of course, Mr. Chou didn't want it.
Alexander the Poet followed up on my recommendation of lulu.com and is awaiting a phone call from them, which he is more comfortable with than web exchanges. And my man Bob Rubenstein, author of Ghost Runners, is 37,000 words into his second novel. He has asked me to edit, and I look forward to it.
The following was in the Weird But True section of today’s New York Post. I hope you find it as amusing as I did: A computer tech pulled a scam straight out of "Revenge of the Nerds." When the Fullerton, Calif., geek fixed laptops for female customers, he secretly installed a Webcam program, authorities said. He then told the women to take the computers into their steamy bathrooms while they showered in order to keep the machines clean. Several women fell for the line, leading to the arrest of the nasty geek.
People are endlessly fascinating.
Thanks to Susan, Giggles Pulaski, Uncle Charlie Grizzly Bear, and a first-time young customer for buying books to day.
All the links at my alternate website are now live: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 6/9

Since the temperature was forecast to be near 100, I wasn't unhappy about accompanying Arlynn to the doctor at mid afternoon and losing a day at the floating bookshop. I'm sure sales would have been paltry, perhaps even zilch, and she paid me, although I did not ask for it. Her bills have been arriving and have passed $200,000. She believes they will reach $300,000. She says: "Is it any wonder Medicare is going broke?"
Last night I watched an outstanding independent film, Buried (2010), courtesy of Netflix. The entire 90 minutes takes place in a coffin. It is part mystery, thriller and political commentary, and it worked on all levels except for one brief aspect that seemed outlandish overkill but fell in line with most artists' view of the business world. It is an allegory on the U.S. involvement in Iraq. Those who opposed the war or believe its price was too high will likely think it is spot on. Those of us who supported the war will have to wait years, if not decades, to see if the film-makers were wrong. Given what some pundits call "the Arabs genius for failure," which has been going on for 2000 years or so, no one would be surprised if the entire Middle East fell under the thumb of Islamofascists. The so-called Arab Spring, the current uprisings, may be a direct result of what is taking place in Iraq. Still, it won't be known for a long time if the results are positive. Are the odds even 50-50? Will the Arab Street reject Jihad and embrace Democracy? We should all live so long. Stayed tuned.
Kudos to director Ricardo Cortes, who made a riveting film in a single, cramped setting, and to actor Ryan Reynolds, both of whose previous work I had not known. Reynolds has more than 50 credits, including a guest spot on one of my favorite shows, The X-Files. I do not remember it.
All but one of the links at my alternate website is live: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Brooklyn Day will be celebrated tomorrow. Yes, there is such a thing. I so looked forward to it when I was a kid. The schools closed. I don't know if they still do. Here is a list of famous people born in the borough of kings. I took out the names of politicians. I did not add my own name. For a more complete list, go here: http://www.famouswhy.com/Born_Where/Location/Brooklyn.html

Thanks to the Merry Mailwoman, who purchased thrillers by Jonathan Kellerman and Iris Johannson today on Avenue Z - despite the heat.
My alternate website is almost completely operational. There are just a few more links to correct and add.
http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/