Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 8/14 - SMH

Some days the world looks much darker than others. When inhumanity rears its ugly in other parts of the world, I think: "God bless America." Here, our battles are usually fought with words and they are concentrated largely on the distribution of money. Today there are two instances that dismay: the callous badgering of Robin Williams' daughter by morons on Twitter, and the rioting in Missouri over the death of a young black man in police custody. The first makes one wonder if our society, or at least many in it,  has become, as critics cite, desensitized by a bankrupt culture. The second arouses the fear that inner cities will burn, as several did in the 60's. Although the circumstances are sketchy, many are rushing to judgment. Sadly, the situation will be divisive, the outcome unsatisfying to at least one side and possibly to everyone. The officer must be given the benefit of the doubt until all the facts have been adjudicated. I wasn't there. I don't know what happened. But I do know this: it is stupid to resist even an unjust arrest. Several months ago a Facebook friend constantly used the abbreviation that baffled me -- "smh," short for "shaking my head." That's how I feel on this day when the human race looks hopeless.

One thing New Yorkers can't complain about today is the spectacular weather. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases today, especially the Russian woman who bought five mini-dictionaries, three of them not much longer than an inch. I assume they were designed specifically for travelers. Two were Polish-Russian, one German-Russian, and one Italian-Russian. The lady asked if I were Polish. When I said I was Italian, she replied she knew only one very important word in Italian: Mangiare, her pronunciation excellent. I laughed. One need only see all the posts of food on Facebook to know how much the word means to goombahs. I have one book in Russian left, a large pictorial on sex. I've been a little uncomfortable having it on display, although it is by no means pornographic, despite the nudity and salacious positions shot in shadowy black and white. Anything like it is bound to be offensive to someone, so I keep it near, ready to warn anyone interested in it of the content. I've established good will at my regular nook and don't want to blow it, pun intended. When a woman reached for it this afternoon, I asked if she knew what to expect, even though I was sure she did, as I've sold her many items. She pooh-poohed my leeriness. Unfortunately, she didn't buy it, so I will remain on guard.
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 8/13 - Woman of Years

RIP Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall, 89. Known as Betty to friends, she shot to stardom at 19 opposite Humphrey Bogart in To Have and Have Not (1944), her first film. Circa 1972, in a lit class, our professor, Dr. Galligan, described the ruckus in the movie house when the actress spoke the immortal lines: "You know how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together and blow." Although she was nominated for only one Oscar, as Best Supporting Actress in The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), she won two Tonys: Applause (1970), a musical adaptation of All About Eve (1950) and Woman of the Year (1981), an adaption of the 1942 film of the same title. She married Bogie and was his co-star in many films. She later wed Jason Robards, but the marriage ended in divorce after eight years. She wrote By Myself, a memoir that won a National Book Award in 1980.  Here's a quote attributed to her: "I put my career in second place throughout both my marriages and it suffered. I don't regret it. You make choices. If you want a good marriage, you must pay attention to that. If you want to be independent, go ahead. You can't have it all."  Well done, madam. Thank you. Facts culled from IMDb.

Several months ago I read E. Annie Proulx's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Shipping News. Last night I watched the 2001 film adaptation directed by Lasse Halstrom, whose work has always been difficult for me. This one was not difficult, but there was something missing, although it is true to the spirit of the book. The leads, Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore, great actors, do not match my physical image of the main characters. Then again, finding a perfect match for a literary figure is rare. I can think of only one, Jack Nicholson in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), although there must be others. Except for the Newfoundland landscape, the book does not lend itself easily to cinema. Since there has been a lengthy gap between my reading and viewing, I don't know how closely the film adheres to the book, but it does so much more than most adaptations. There is only one daughter rather than two in the film, that much I recall. The supporting cast is impressive: Judi Dench, Scott Glenn, Cate Blanchett and Pete Postlethwaite bring their considerable talents to the proceedings. It's running time is only 111 minutes. I don't know how anyone who hasn't read the novel would grasp its essence. The contributor comments at IMDb were mixed, most of the negatives coming from Canadians, particularly a Newfie who felt slighted. I don't see it as a negative portrait of our friends to the north. I see it as an examination of damaged humans living in a harsh climate. Broad analysis is a common error. 25,000+ users have rated The Shipping News at IMDb, forging to a consensus of 6.8 of ten. I rate it three on a scale of five. Robert Nelson Jacobs had the unenviable task of adaption. Christopher Young's melancholy Celtic-based score fit the narrative precisely. 

My thanks to the kind folks who patronized the floating book shop today. I have missed only one session since June, and it had nothing to do with the weather. It has not rained during the early afternoon since May. I hope I haven't jinxed myself.
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 8/12 - Struggles

As I came to the home stretch of my morning walk, I stopped to pick up the NY Post and was blindsided by the headline: “ROBIN WILLIAMS DEAD,” and the caption: “Actor, 63, in suicide.” My eyes glazed. He brought so much joy to the world but not enough to himself. He battled addiction on and off for decades. Despite it, he turned out marvelous work, growing from manic comic to serious actor. He was even cast by Kenneth Branagh in the small role of Osric in his 1996 production of Hamlet. He was nominated for an Oscar four times, winning Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting (1998). He won 54 other awards. I always looked forward to his appearance on talk shows, where he churned out hilarious content that seemed spontaneous, his mind in overdrive. Although he was an opponent of the Iraq War, he entertained troops there several times. He completed four projects that have yet to be released. He had a lot left to offer. For whatever reasons, his demons got the better of him. The most troubling aspect is wondering what damage this has done to his three children, who are young adults. Here are two quotes from him, listed at IMDb, that illustrate his struggle:
“Cocaine is God's way of telling you you are making too much money.”
“...And now that you have a child you have to clean up your act, 'cause you can't drink anymore. You can't come home drunk and go, ‘Hey, here's a little switch: Daddy's gonna throw up on you!’”
RIP, sir. May you find peace on the other side. And thank you. 

The world stops for no one, not even major stars. A blurb in the Post mentions a new item that will be included in gift bags at the Oscars -- The Haze Vaporizer, a device for inhaling herbs, especially of a certain sort. It lists for $249.

And in what New Yorker's pray is not a permanent sign of the times, the Post reports that the elite Emergency Service Unit has been ordered to drive around the most troubled  neighborhoods at night with lights flashing in order to stem the rising crime rate. The members receive overtime.

The weather cooperated until nearly two PM, allowing the floating book shop to reap a small gain. My thanks to the young lady who purchased a book on healthy eating, the gentleman who bought a book in Russian, and to Estelle, Caroline and the Fed-Ex Guy, who donated seven books between them.
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 8/11 - Praise

All the drama and thrills absent from golf’s first three majors of 2014 were on display during yesterday’s final round of the PGA Championship. The shot making and near misses were spectacular. The race against darkness and an approaching thunderstorm were additional exciting elements. There’s no disputing who is the number one player in the world. It’s Ireland’s Rory McElroy. 25, he’s won his fourth major, the third youngest to accomplish the feat by that age. I was rooting for Ricky Fowler, who has yet to win one. He finished in the top five in all four this season, a great accomplishment. Thankfully, he eschewed the all orange look he usually sports in the final round, which was hard on the eyes. At 44, Phil Mickelson is still unbelievable. He lost by one stroke, but the margin seemed even smaller, as he had so many narrow misses, including an incredible chip for eagle at 18. The quiet self confidence of these men is impressive. Great show, guys. Tiger who?

I made my usual Monday trip to Park Slope, dreading it would be as frustrating as last week's. That fear was alleviated immediately by an attractive, tattooed young woman who purchased Descartes' Discourse on Method and a book on nutrition. I also sold a couple of children's books, one on strengthening vocabulary, and one on politics. The highlight came when a man in his 30's approached and said he'd bought Close to the Edge at least five years ago, enjoyed it, and still had it amidst his book collection. I was embarrassed that I didn't remember him. It's the kind of comment a writer needs to hear every once in a while, one not from a friend or family. Unfortunately, he was in a hurry and had no time to look over my other books, but he promised to return in the future.Thank you, sir, and to all the buyers.
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 8/10 - Luck

As I pulled up to the Chase bank on Bay Parkway and 85th, a crew was working on the front entrance and the drive-through. I didn't want to deal with the noise, dust and odor, so I set up shop across the street under a tree. It was a fortuitous move. My thanks to Navita, who bought Close to the Edge, and to the others who purchased goods.

I was listening to the radio while eating dinner. The sports reporter said there was a logjam at the top of the PGA Championship, golf's final major of 2014. I have it running on another page.

Here's a brief excerpt from Dream Father, a story from the A Hitch in Twilight collection. In it, a vain young man mysteriously acquires power over women, invading their dreams. It's a couple of hundred words from a 3800 word story:
On a balmy early Spring morning, he climbed the stairs of the elevated station with a song in his heart. Not a hair out of place, smiling, he attracted the gazes of females of all races. He loved the cultural treasures the city afforded.  How many nationalities had be conquered? If he were a country, he thought, he would be a world power.
As he strolled toward the spot where he usually boarded, he noted a group of women in various stages of pregnancy conversing animatedly.  They fell silent as he approached and passed. Although their faces were puffy, he recognized each. He'd fantasized about them. The song in his heart was stilled.
"I was on the pill," said a blonde with a slight Russian accent. "I don't know how I got caught."
"I was between boyfriends," said a brunette, obviously of Italian descent.
"How'd he do it?" said a red-haired lassie. "The doctor told us we had almost zero chance of conceiving. Thank you," she said to his back.
What was he supposed to say: "You're welcome"? He'd had nothing to do with it. It was ridiculous to believe he had.
"Sucio," said a Latina bitterly. "If my father catches him..."
He walked further down the platform so he wouldn't be sharing the same car with them. During the commute he kept his head buried in the newspaper.  He vowed to cease girl-watching, at least until the madness ceased.
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 8/9 - Off the Schneid

Amazon and Hachette, a billion dollar publishing corporation, are in a dispute. I have great appreciation for Amazon, which lists my books and allows me to offer items on Kindle for a dollar, which helps an author at the bottom of the literary totem pole get noticed. I just got an email from them, asking me to write a letter of protest to Hachette regarding their pricing of ebooks, some of which list from $15 to $20, which seems criminal. Hachette has already paid 166 million in penalties for colluding to keep prices high. I did not send an email. It would be unfair without hearing Hachette’s point of view. It’s possible that they’ve lost so much money on traditional print books that they must make it up in e-sales. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now, even though they seem to be turning up their noses at writers like me. I believe most  books on Kindle and Nook should sell for three bucks or less, five for the top selling authors. An electronic copy of A Hitch in Twilight sells for $6, which I think is a mistake on the publisher’s part. Then again, I don’t have access to its financials, so the price may very well be justified. An individual who lists a book at Amazon does so for free. I don’t know if publishers enjoy that privilege.

I’m glad to see the President has approved bombing in Iraq. While the prevention of genocide is cause enough, I hope that it is public relations cover for what should be the real aim -- wiping ISIS off the face of the earth, which is what it would like to do to all who don’t meet its twisted criteria.

It seems NYC has an unelected co-mayor, Al Sharpton. In times like these I hope all my instincts about the left are completely wrong. I’m not leaving New York, but I understand why some would.

As I was returning from Mickey D's with my lunch, a crispy chicken and bacon wrap, I noticed two elderly Asian men playing a game in front of a house. The board looked like a floor panel and the pieces like cookies. I'd never seen it before.

My thanks to Victoria and her mom, who bought A Hitch in Twilight, and to the others who purchased wares today on Bay Parkway. It had been a couple of weeks since the last sale of one of my books. It's a relief to get off the schneid, to lose, at least temporarily, the feeling that there will never be another sale.
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 8/8 - Boxes

I’ve viewed my first film produced, directed, and written by Paraguayans, courtesy of Netflix, and it's a winner. 7 Boxes (2012) is the story of a teenager who trolls a dense market in the capital city of Asuncion, asking to transport the bags of goods shoppers carry, using a rickety wooden cart. He happens to come upon a meat plant just before police are going to search it. The owner asks him to carry the boxes around until the coast is clear. A desperate older rival tries to steal the haul, certain it contains something of great value. This leads to exciting chases through the crowded mazes of the area. The most interesting theme is what certain people in dire straits will do. I don’t know enough about the country to say whether this is an overall picture of it. I hope it isn’t. Fortunately, humor leavens the narrative. Cell phones are new to the players, and the reactions to the capabilities are amusing. The most surprising and refreshing aspect is the benign portrayal of the cops. They are not the corrupt lot seen so often in movies that take place south of the border. The story is solid, but the real strength is the visuals of this heretofore unexplored territory. The young leads, Celso Franco and Lali Gonzalez, are fantastic, particularly the latter. The film was co-directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schemori, who collaborated on the screenplay with Tito Chamoro. It is not their first work. They each have several credits. 1800+ contributors at IMDb have rated 7 Boxes, forging to a consensus of 7.2 of ten. On a scale of five, I rate it 3.75. It runs about an hour-and-forty-five minutes. One drawback -- the subtitles are frequently lost in the colors on the screen. I don't know if a dubbed version is available.

The floating book shop has more than seven boxes of goods available. My thanks to the kind folks who made purchases on yet another day of magnificent weather. The highlight came when a Russian gentleman who extends best wishes every day stopped to chat. Always upbeat, he displayed rare dismay. He's worried about what America is becoming. He held both hands, fingers extended, and said he waited ten years for the opportunity to come here, and he had to do all sorts of menial labor in the meantime. Once the communists knew he was leaving, he, his wife and son were treated like persona non grata. He is not happy about those amassed at the border being allowed to jump the line. Can't blame him.
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