The Writer's Life

Saturday, February 7, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/7 - Misadventure

Norway, a cinematographer's paradise, is producing good films. Last night I watched Ragnarok (2013), a blend of several genres but essentially a monster movie. The story is simple. An archaeologist, single dad, in search of Viking artifacts takes his two children with on an expedition in a remote corner of that gorgeous country, near a border shared with Russia, called "No Man's Land" during the cold war. It is reminiscent of old horror fare in that there is a leisurely pace for the first half hour and that the monster is not seen until mid way. The most surprising and refreshing aspect is the complete lack of gore. It concentrates on thrills and suspense. I enjoyed it, although it seems unlikely such a loving father would drag kids on such a trip and allow them to roam the woods without supervision, although I realize he would not have any idea of what was out there. Contributors at IMDb were harsh, especially to the actors and the script. Overall, 30 users forged to a consensus of six out of ten. On a scale of five, I say three, and that despite how I irked I was at having to search for subtitles that should have been automatic. I've watched more than a thousand flicks and TV shows on DVD, and that was the first time that ever happened.

Yesterday I downloaded Microsoft Word in order to create a solid Kindle version of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. Unfortunately, a whole bunch of unwanted stuff came with it. I thought I'd blocked all of it, but when I turned on my PC this morning my usual page had been usurped by diabolical websites. I used an old method I learned years ago at work to find my way to help: Control, Alternate, Delete. I uninstalled about ten items from my control panel. Eventually, I found Microsoft Security Essentials and ran a virus scan, which came up empty. Fortunately, my machine has returned to near normal. I am inundated with ads at certain sites like Amazon and IMDb. This one is secure, as was Facebook this morning. It remains to be seen if this is the beginning of the end for my Dell Inspiron, which I love. It's at least five years old and has gotten plenty of use, accumulated a lot of web debris.

Since my back was aching and there were flurries in the air and the state of my computer was haunting me, I took a quick spin to Bay Parkway, found no favorable parking spots, and headed home. On the way, I decided I'd set up shop at my usual nook, since I've hardly been there lately because of the weather. I just missed out on a great parking spot, and settled on one across Avenue Z, about 100 yards from my nook. I fought off the temptation to go right to the apartment. It wasn't that cold and there wasn't a breath of wind. It was the right move. As I was setting up, Madeline approached. She'd just filled her shopping cart with about 20 Russian books, which I haven't had for a while, that were in a box outside the library. I wound up selling five. And Herbie bought the third proof copy of Rising Star. And another woman brought me a bag filled with books, English and Russian. It was easily my best business day of the month.

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://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/

Friday, February 6, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/6 - World Premiere

Finally, the print copy of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star, is now available at Amazon. I'm still working on the Kindle, which requires a different file. Here's the back cover blurb:
It's the 80's. Vinyl is king. Four guys from Brooklyn team with a drifter and an ambitious Ivy league educated manager to create rock n roll history. Will they avoid the trappings of the trade? How will success change them? Rising Star -- Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll. Mature audiences only.
And here's the cover. The drummer in the picture doesn't look anything like the drummer of the band. It's a generic shot I pulled from Create Space, the most appropriate I found relating to music.

The novel is complete fiction except for a madwoman that lived on Bay 37th, the block I grew up on. She was such a large part, literally and figuratively, of our lives, and this book was the best fit for her. She is a minor character. Everyone else is entirely fictional, although the main character, Paul, is very much like me in personality. When I began the book I was trying to write a best-seller-type. Of course, me being me, the characterizations took on a lot of depth. The subtitle -- Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll, says it all in a nutshell. It gets sordid, as does the real world of rock n roll. Anyone squeamish about that lifestyle should pass. While the sex is not explicit, there is lots of it. Here's a link to the book's Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Star-Drugs-Rock-Roll/dp/1505671221/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423257609&sr=1-1&keywords=rising+star+sex+drugs+rock+n+roll

I don't know if it's because the book is available or it it's due to the three ibuprofen I took last night, but my back is a little better today -- not good but less intense in terms of pain. Since it was only 15 degrees and cloudy at eleven, I didn't open the book shop. Maybe tomorrow.

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

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

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/

Thursday, February 5, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/5 - Holding Pattern

I ordered 50 copies of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star, which will be available online very soon, possibly tomorrow. I also ordered 50 of Killing, as I only had two left. The Kindle version of Rising Star is in limbo. My literary angel, Victoria Valentine of Water Forest Press, has again reached out to help, despite dealing with her husband's terminal cancer.

I didn't open the floating book shop today, which was probably a mistake. Given the cold, wind and the condition of my back, I decided to forgo it and was kicking myself when brilliant sunshine came through the blinds, especially since I feel better on my feet, moving around. Those first few steps are brutal, though. I have to hold on to keep from falling. I invested in some heat patches at CVS, although I'm skeptical of their usefulness. I've had one on since noon and don't feel any different. I tried a couple of ibuprofen on Monday and yesterday. It is great for headaches but doesn't do a thing for this type of back pain. Do I try three or four? I would if it would allow me a pain-free day. I'd then do it every other day to minimize the damage to my overall health. Oddly, when I had my previous bout of this, the pain shifted from my lower back to my right hip and down my leg. This time it's the left hip and leg. Three ibuprofens allowed me to get some sleep back then. I did it two nights in a row and then that part of the problem went away. I'll do it tonight a couple hours before bed time. There's nothing like something like this to remind one that health is the most important part of life.

Well, if there was ever any doubt, we know Brian Williams will be voting for Hillary. They are siblings in fabrication.

There were several posts by friends on Facebook today about the closing of the trading floor futures pits in New York and Chicago. The death knell sounded in 2006 or so, when electronic trading was approved. Now only the options pits remain. How long before they too will close? The world evolves and we all must adapt.
Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

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/

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/4 - Perspective

I just got a dose of perspective. My back pain is worse today than yesterday. Even my morning walk didn’t diminish it. In fact, I haven’t found one position, seated or laying down, where I haven’t felt it. This is my second episode, the previous in 2010 or 2011, so I know what to do. All the guides I’ve read state that normal activities should be carried out. I’ll carefully lug the crates on those days the weather allows me to sell books. And I’ll do the exercises I’ve been doing since the last bout, which may or may not have helped. Only one causes me pain. The worst aspect is not knowing how long it will last. The prior episode was about six months, the pain diminishing gradually. Anyway, I just visited Facebook and received a dose of perspective. Tom, the husband of my literary angel, Victoria Valentine, has eight months to live, his cancer having metastasized. He’s a Vietnam vet, so he must be at least 60. On top of that, they will be losing their house, as the income stopped and the bills continued. In her post she asked people to buy books at her website. Down to two copies of Killing, I asked for a price on 50. I hope others will follow suit. Here’s her website url: http://www.waterforestpress.com/

I've just gone through the third proof copy of my rock n roll epic, Rising Star. It's not perfect, but it's workable. A few of the most recent corrections I made did not work out as I'd hoped. In one instance an blank line now appears. Some of the extra spaces I'd closed between words still seem wider than the rest of the spaces. As expected, the text on some pages doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the page. Since the file looks fine, I don't know what could have caused it. I'll leave it as it is. Unfortunately, a new problem has arisen regarding the Kindle version. A message warned that Adobe files might not transfer well. Recalling that I'd used it to upload Adjustments, I thought I'd give it a try. Sure enough, it's shon-gahd, as Italians would say. Since the program recognizes only Word and not Works, it's back to the drawing board. Fortunately, this does not affect publication of the print version, which should be available at Amazon in three days.

There was a reprieve from the wintry weather today, allowing the floating book shop to open, despite back pain. My thanks to Alan, who bought Kay Hooper's Chill of Fear. I also had a visit from one of my favorites, Laura, a Romanian immigrant, mom of two teens, who is in her final semester of college and has begun applying to medical schools. Good luck, sweetie.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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

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/

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/3 - Ladies Night

The other night I was switching back and forth between movies on ThisTV and Movies, a station that recently popped up and has a fantastic catalog. I was particularly interested in the careers of two of the featured players, Thelma Ritter and Debra Paget, which led me to research them at IMDb. Ritter was as accomplished a supporting player as there ever was, nominated for six Oscars, never winning, a dubious distinction she shares with Deborah Kerr and Glenn Close. She was excellent at wisecracking wisdom. To my surprise, she has only 44 credits listed. No doubt there would have been many more had she not suffered a fatal heart at 67 in 1969. She did win a Tony in 1958 as Best Actress in a Musical, New Girl in Town. She was married to the same man from 1927 until her death. They had two children. Here’s a pic of this Hollywood great film buffs love:

Debra Paget’s beauty was stunning. She is known to most for her role in The Ten Commandments (1956). She never reached the top plateau of actresses. She has only 45 credits listed. Her last was way back in 1965 on an episode of Burke’s Law. Her sister, Lisa Gaye, has 88 credits. Another sister, Teala Loring (the family name) has 32, and her brother, Frank Griffin, has 19. She was married three times, two were very brief, including one to director Budd Boetticher. The last was to a Japanese businessman, with whom she had a son. That one lasted twelve years. She is born again and living quietly in Texas. Here’s a pic in the glory of her youth:

And here's one of Lisa Gaye:

And one of Teala Loring:

Recently I've been grateful about not suffering any pain issues. I often feel feverish and my neck is hardly ever loose, but from the shoulders down I've felt great. That happy streak has come to an end. As I was shoveling snow yesterday, I felt a sharp stab in the lower left side of my back. I'm re-learning the tricks I used the last time I experienced this, such as laying on my back to put on my socks, and bending at the knees, back straight, to pick something up or to sit. The pain won't prevent me from selling books tomorrow, when the temperature is expected to be in the 40's.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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

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/

Monday, February 2, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/2 - Fantastic Finish

Just when it seemed the Patriots had been done in by another bizarre reception, the Seahawks’ coaching staff outsmarted itself, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Not handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch, "The Beast," was shocking, despite the pass-first philosophy of the modern NFL. He is such a huge part of the team’s persona. This was a rare instance in which a coach may have lost a game. It’s impossible to know if the there would have been a great goal line stand or a fumble, so it’s not a certainty that Seattle would have scored. Still…. I was reminded of the recent Super Bowl between the 49ers and Ravens, when San Francisco’s future Hall of Fame RB, Frank Gore, did not touch the ball once in the closing minute in four downs inside the Baltimore ten. I was also reminded of how it seemed Tom Landry often tried to outfox an opponent rather than allowing the talent of the Cowboys to decide the issue. I thought New England the better team. It dominated except for the last 30 seconds of the first half and third quarter. In the fourth the offense seemed to figure out how to better protect its QB, and Tom Brady was at his best. The Seahawks demonstrated uncharacteristic discipline until the final 20 seconds. Then their true colors appeared, showing how difficult it was to root for either of the teams. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots return to next year’s big bash. The rest of the AFC appears too weak to challenge them. The Seahawks will have a much tougher road, especially if they lose Lynch, who will demand budget busting big bucks. And a team will pay, despite the fact he is a anti-social creep. Kudos to the unsung players who stepped up dramatically for both teams. As for the halftime show, it was lively and very colorful. Typically, I fuzzed out during the ads, so none stood out. The NFL is to be commended for bucking society’s trend and emphasizing the importance of fathers, a not so subtle message to many of its players. My thanks to Adam and Sharon. I had a great time, even though I was the only invitee dumb enough to ignore the impending storm. Fortunately, the streets were merely damp and not icy on the way home, and I even bagged a decent parking spot should the weather allow the floating book shop to return mid week. My spirits were bolstered when I went out for my morning walk and found that it was pouring. I hadn’t seen such slop in ages. Hopefully, most of the snow will be washed away before it freezes -- fat chance, I know. The temperature is supposed to be in the 40’s on Wednesday. Maybe the sidewalks will be ice-free by then.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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

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/

Sunday, February 1, 2015

The Writer's Life 2/1 - XLIX

In today’s NY Post Louis Bayard writes about a new book by Ben Yagoda, The B-Side, which excoriates music of the 50’s. I agreed with the auhor's opinion of each song cited except Yakety Yak, which I happened to hear last night on one of the streams. It is lively and well-written, early rock n roll at its best, expertly delivered by the Coasters. It is the amusing story of a mom laying down the rules to her son. It caontains one of my favorite lines: "...Just tell your hoodlum friends outside/You ain't got time to take a ride..." It was released in 1958, written, produced and arranged by the legendary Leiber and Stoller. The article does not mention Elvis or Jackie Wilson or the wonderful do-wop recordings of the era. Yagoda cites the Beatles and Beach Boys as the saviors of music. Few would criticize the work of those groups, which laid down so many fine tracks, but there is value in every era. Of course some songs, taken out of the specific period when they became popular, now seem lame. It’s easy to cherry pick. I’ll do it too. I will be glad if I never hear Hey Jude, particularly its last two minutes, or California Girls and, especially, In My Room ever again.

Somehow this has slipped by me. Since 2012 Johnny Depp has partnered with Harper Collins in publishing books. The first was Woody Guthrie’s novel House of Earth. The collaboration has also released Bob Gruen and Jody Denberg’s See Hear Yoko and, this week, Jonathan Shaw’s cult novel Narcisa: Our Lady of the Ashes, which was first published in 2008 and went out of print. Copies were going for $200. It’s now less than $13 at Amazon. Kudos, sir.

New Zealander Lydia Ko is the number one ranked female pro golfer in the world. She is 17. Tiger Woods was the previous youngest golf pro at 21.

My thanks to the young man who purchased a Ursula K. LeGuin fantasy, and to Bad News Billy, who bought the last two of the homemade CD's I had on hand. He does not know who's going to win, but he believes the Super Bowl is fixed. Let's see -- which team do I dislike less? No contest -- Seattle, so I'll root for the Seahawks. Of course, I expect the sinister Belichick to win, especially in light of Deflategate. What I'm really looking forward to is the food at the annual bash at Adam and Sharon's.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

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

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/