The Writer's Life 1/22 - Parallel

Last night at ten PBS in NYC ran another in its long line of fascinating documentaries. This one was part of the series Nazi Mega Weapons, which has so far aired nine episodes over two seasons. I’d seen parts of others and was only mildly interested. This one hooked me from the get go, focusing on the SS, Hitler’s secret police, which ran Germany with an iron fist. There were two particularly astonishing aspects. To justify the invasion of Poland, which is regarded as the official start of WWII, a group of SS dressed as Polish dissidents attacked a Nazi radio station near the border that separates the two countries. One even took to the microphone and broadcast an incendiary message in fluent Polish… The bunker to which Hitler fled in his final days is familiar to most. There was also an elaborate system in another part of the country, designed as a place to make a last stand. Since their forces were spread so thin by the end of the war, the structure went unused. The film-makers took the cameras inside. It was spooky. The Nazis showed such ingenuity in their evil. Watching the piece, I began to wonder just how many Germans approved of Hitler’s Third Reich. It’s impossible to tell, but certainly there were enough to kill millions. There is a parallel to today’s world. We do not know how many Muslims support violent Jihad. One observes and wonders how so many can be convinced that mass killing is good. That’s scary.

The second proof copy of my rock n roll epic arrived yesterday evening. So far, it looks great. I've read seven chapters, 66 pages. I've spotted two errors. One was forgetting to drop the g on "something" and including the apostrophe at the end of it as well. The other was an extraneous "to" in an instance where I probably changed the wordage. I took the book to the floating book shop to see how people would react to the ten-point font. Four had no problem with it. The one who did, the Lady Eve, will be reading it on Kindle, where she can adjust the font to her preference.

My thanks to Cabbie, who donated six books and bought four, and to Barbara, who gave me a can of candy similar to Swedish Fish, only a solid rather than opaque red. I made the mistake of trying one and suffered the temptation of going back for more. I'll keep them with the books and offer them to customers.

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

The Writer's Life 1/21 - Sun of a Gun

There were a lot of interesting stats across a broad spectrum in today’s NY Post: the average price of a ticket to the Super Bowl -- $2929, lower, at least momentarily, than in recent years but still incredibly ridiculous; Facebook is cited in one-third of divorce cases, as cheating spouses communicate with lovers or brag in posts; last year in Japan more people died than were born, which sounds like something out of science fiction; the controversial film, The Interview, has surpassed 40 million in download sales, a victory for free speech; Twiggy has turned 65. Here are then and now pics of this icon of the always fascinating world pop culture:

Although I’m not eligible until May 1st, I’ve received my Medicare card and an instruction booklet. I doubt I’ll need more than the basics at present. I dread the thought of reading up on it, having heard so many people bemoan the labyrinth. One positive aspect, I’ll be without coverage three weeks less than I’d expected. Now all I have to do is remain healthy until then.

It looked like it would be a disappointing session of the floating book shop. I had only one sale in the first hour-and-a-half in the cold, as a woman bought Thomas Keneally's Schindler's List. Then Ol' Smoky showed. He's alive and as well as can be expected given his mental state and the fact that he's sleeping on subway trains these days. He was in a foul mood at the start, cursing up a storm, disgusted with his inability to get his free cell phone working, blaming the mob and the CIA. He was wearing new cargo pants and a pristine heavy denim coat, which he must have picked up from a charity. His mood lightened after he'd dug a plastic spoon into a plastic jar of a generic peanut butter, and later a cup of peaches. By then the sun had come out, and I decided to prolong my stay. Smoky gave me a large paperback on animal spirituality, which I planned to leave in the lobby of Atlantic Towers 3. Soon after he left, a young woman reversed her steps, having noticed the same name on five of the books. She pulled out her iphone and typed in the info. I told her to look for my Amazon page, but forgot to mention she could sample a ton of my short stories for free. Although nothing will likely come of it, that alone made staying worth it. I was rewarded further when a gentleman with a heavy Russian accent purchased books on vocabulary and grammar, and a huge text on Psychology, which must weigh two pounds. And darn if my most faithful customer, Marie, doesn't show up and immediately spot the book on animal spirituality, which she had just been discussing with a friend. I gave it to her, a small token of my appreciation for her generosity. Thanks, folks.

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

The Writer's Life 1/20 - Dancing on Rocks

The left is on an extended losing streak, at least in the public’s perception of it. Their policies continue to dominate our society and likely always will. The latest foolishness is their snit about the critical praise and popularity of American Sniper, based on the autobiography of the same title by Chris Kyle, who served four tours of duty in Iraq. He was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze, one Navy and Marine Commendation Medal, and two Navy and Marine Achievement Medals. He was wounded twice and survived six IED attacks. He was murdered at a shooting range by a troubled ex-soldier. He was only 38. The naïve condemn warriors. I thank our lucky stars that such men exist. Yesterday ISIS executed a group of teenage boys for the crime of viewing a televised soccer match. Who else but warriors would face such evil? Film-makers and screenwriters?

Rose Senehi, who grew up in Michigan, graduated from Syracuse University. She settled in that frigid part of New York and entered the corporate world, where she eventually was in charge of opening walls. She wrote part time. She moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and fell in love with the Southern Blue Ridge Mountain area of North Carolina, particularly Hickory Nut Gorge. I just finished Dancing on Rocks, her seventh novel. It is the story of the effect the disappearance of a little girl has had on the surviving members of her family. It is told with utmost decency, sans profanity, with only the mildest of sexual content. I cared about the characters and enjoyed the story, even though I knew where it was headed from the first appearance of one of the characters, and although it avoided an interesting conflict by dispatching a romantic rival. The prose could have used tweaking. Still, I don’t know how anyone would not be moved by the circumstances. She is to be commended for her extensive research of the area and its history. Unfortunately, I am satisfied with just a glance at natural beauty, so that aspect was a chore for me, slowing what otherwise was a fast read at 258 pages. 17 users have rated the novel at Amazon, forging to a consensus of 4.8 of five, which reveals an enthusiastic, if modest, fan base. The book’s sales have been so-so. I wish mine were so so-so. On a scale of five, I rate Dancing on Rocks three. Senehi now writes full time and lives in the small town where the action is set, Chimney Rock.

My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today.

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

The Writer's Life 1/19 - Chronicles

The Vagina Chronicles created controversy several years ago, lauded for its frankness by feminists, bashed for its vulgarity by many. It had been staged annually at Mount Holyoke College, an all-female institution, until this year. A student spokesman criticized its “narrow perspective” and called it “inherently reductionist…and exclusive.” I guess it no longer pushes the envelope far enough. Maybe the next shocker will feature actual sexual acts. That would truly be theater of the absurd.

Anyone traveling to Indonesia be forewarned. Despite pleas from other countries, yesterday its government executed six people, five of them foreigners, for drug-trafficking. The method was firing squad. I wonder how its citizens’ illegal drug use compares to that of other societies. I’ve always had trouble with the death penalty, so I can’t support Indonesia’s methods, but its decisiveness is as impressive as it is shocking.

NFL: There were no surprises yesterday. Seattle won what figured to be a close contest, and New England rolled. As much as I hate the Patriots, this is a dream matchup -- the precision of the Belichick machine vs. Carroll's undisciplined wild bunch, whose bizarre penchant for penalties, especially the personal foul, has so far been negated by its awesome talent. In fact, the pairing is strikingly similar to last year’s. I doubt there will be a blowout this time. It looks like a toss-up.

A few days ago I emailed AuthorHouse, publisher of my first novel, Close to the Edge, and asked if they'd send me the file they use to print the book so that I could make it available on Kindle. Of course they will -- for 50 bucks, and the contract, which should soon be up for renewal, will then be voided. I'd love to switch it Create Space, which might allow me to lower the cost of a print copy from its current $16.73. I won't pay the asking price, however. My only options are finding a way to recover the file, which is on a floppy disc, or retyping the entire manuscript.

Since it was so windy at my usual nook, I took the floating book shop to Bay Parkway, where the Chase bank, which was closed, provided shelter. For the first two hours there wasn't much activity. I sold only The Manhunter, a memoir by John Pascucci, who specialized in capturing evil men, including Nazi mastermind Josef Mengele. After two, a Polish woman who has donated scores of books gave me seven pristine paperback best-sellers. Minutes later a gentleman purchased Close to the Edge. Thanks, folks. I celebrated by picking up a couple of squares at L&B.

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

The Writer's Life 1/18 - People

In an op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, Jonathan Podhoretz explains the President’s "trolling" strategy. He believes Obama throws out plans like free community college simply to create an uproar among conservatives, hoping it will make them look bad. Has it worked? Since 2010 Democrats have lost 69 seats in the House, 14 in the Senate, and 913 in state legislatures. These days the only policy in which the numbers break the President's way among the public is immigration.

Whether one prefers the term karma or poetic justice, it’s most satisfying to see Hollywood’s limousine liberals embarrassed. This year’s 20 Oscar  nominees in the four acting categories are all white. This has bean counters in an uproar. The Reverend Al is on his way. Enjoy as the elites cower and whip out their checkbooks.

What would you do if you found a sack full of money? This has been a common theme in many films, including Good People (2014), which I watched last night courtesy of Netflix. Set in London, it stars James Franco and Kate Hudson as the recipients of the windfall, and Tom Wilkinson as the cop investigating the overdose of the criminal who lived in their basement. The best aspect of the film is its economy. It comes in under 90 minutes and takes leaps in time, leaving out the extraneous, trusting the audience to follow. It is also viscerally satisfying. Is it believable? Hardly. Is it entertaining? Very. Usually, my opinion on a movie does not vary much from the general consensus. This is an instance where I’m much more enthusiastic than the masses. 6500+ have rated it at IMDb, forging to a grade of 5.5 of ten. I say 3.5 of five. Good People was directed by Henrik Ruben Ganz, who has 25 credits across shorts, TV series and films. It was my first look at his work and I am impressed. Anyone squeamish about violence should pass.

The deluge put the kibosh on the floating book shop. At least it's not snow. After hitting Stop n Shop with the recyclables and picking up my laundry at the old house, there wasn't much to do but read and tackle the puzzle page in the Post. What will tomorrow bring?

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

The Writer's Life 1/17 - Bonus

Quiz: Which player has appeared in the most Super Bowls? He is profiled in an article at Yahoo Sports. I had only a vague recollection of him. He was in six championship games, on the losing side in four with the Buffalo Bills, a two-time winner with the Denver Broncos. He was a substitute defensive lineman, and his name is Mike Lodish. And what’s he doing these days? He's a salesman for a gourmet peanut brittle company. His record will be tied, barring injury, by one of two players, kicker Adam Vinatieri of the Colts or QB Tom Brady of the Patriots, whose teams will square off this weekend.

The second proof copy of my rock n roll epic is on the way. It’s nervous time. In scanning through the online reviewer, I was pleased that the spacing between chapters held together much better than last time. I regret not having placed an icon between them, something like a G-clef. I can make changes anytime I want, but if the book looks good I’d rather leave well enough alone. It’s not a perfect production. In some instances a page’s text still does not extend to the bottom, but only by a few lines. There aren’t the gulfs that characterized the previous proof. Of course, the biggest worry is whether I caught all the misspellings and such. I dread the possibility that there are many I still have missed. Knowing me, I’ll go back and make changes even if there are just a few. I hope I don’t have to go through the entire process again. I’d rather submit the update and approve publication rather than having to order another draft. If the ten point font is eminently readable, it will be a boon not only to me but to anyone who buys the book online. Changing from twelve point knocked the price down from almost $19 to $14.73. I'm not yet sure how much the Kindle version will be.

Whenever someone promises to return to the floating book shop, it's about a 99% certainty he/she will not. Today the one percent occurred. It was a day of brilliant sunshine and low wind, which negated the sub-freezing temperature. Although business was disappointing, it felt as if it were a bonus session. I'd planned to close at 2:45. At 2:30 a gentleman uttered the dreaded words: "When I come back." I waited until three. He returned while I was packing up and bought Caught by Margaret Peterson Haddix, a young adult novel published by Scholastic. My thanks, and also to the gentleman who purchased Talon, a fantasy by Julie Kagawa.

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

The Writer's Life 1/16 - Queen of Marks

My thanks to the two gentlemen who bought books on the this windy day. After going half crazy working on getting the file for Rising Star ready for publication, it’s time for some light entertainment. Here’s an excerpt from a short story, Defining Moment, available in the A Hitch in Twilight collection. In it, a wrestler is called out of retirement to replace another who has gone MIA. The setting is MSG.

   A short, frail, mustachioed, balding man was in the center of the ring, microphone in hand, announcing next month's card. Len strode forward, largely ignored. A few young males shouted insults regarding his girth and baldness. He stifled the urge to respond. A whipping boy was to do nothing to draw attention to himself, to detract from the star.
   As he neared ringside, he did a quick shuffle step away from the railing that separated the audience from the "squared circle." He'd recognized an old, sour-faced woman clutching a large handbag. He was amazed she was still alive. Then again, it seemed she hadn't aged since the first time he'd seen her 20 years ago. The wrestlers referred to her as the "Queen of Marks." It was said she carried a brick in her purse. It certainly felt like it. She'd once delivered a blow to his back following a match in which he'd accidentally inflicted a deep gash in the forehead of a rising star. Did she still remember that moment? Perhaps she'd grown so feeble-minded as to no longer be able to distinguish good guy from bad. He was glad he'd denied her opportunity.
   As he passed the broadcast table, he patted lightly at the back of a giant wearing a headset. "Hi, Gino," he mouthed, winking. Formally known as the Siberian Assassin, Gino was responsible for the periodic stiffness of the neck that Len suffered, the result of a Piledriver executed too well.
   "Entering the ring," said the announcer, "at a weight of two hundred ninety-three pounds - the Bronx Bomber."
   Only the jokers in the crowd reacted, raising a mock cheer. The perpetual buzz that characterized live events was at its lowest volume.
   Two ninety? thought Len, irked; I'm fat, but not that fat.
   "And his opponent...." Eeerie percussive music burst through the sound system.  "...weighing in at three hundred fifty-seven pounds, from parts unknown - Doctor Voooo-doooo."
   Spectators rose, necks craned, as the behemoth skulked into the arena gazing about as if he were mad. Paper balls ricocheted from his massive torso. Beverage was hurled at him. He paused and eyed several of his detractors, most of who remained defiant. Reaction was rather subdued, as the matchup was not worthy of a major card.
   Len fought to repress laughter. Having been away from the game for so long, he lacked the discipline to take it seriously. He was sweating profusely. He'd forgotten how hot it was under the lights, how hot it could get in such a place, especially in summer.
   A short Hispanic in a bow tie and light blue shirt climbed into the ring.
   "Hi, Gilly," said Len softly, hand covering his mouth. "Long time no see."
   "Lenny? I thought you retired."
   He explained.
   "Just be careful. This guy might really be crazy. Maybe it's the stuff they're all takin' to bulk up."

Vic'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://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/