The Writer's Life 7/12 - Virtuosi

Fortunately, the cloud cover and breeze negated the heat, but the humidity was draining out there today. I was fortunate to attract a buyer immediately, who spotted Suzi Orman's Women & Money, which I'd displayed prominently. An early sale always goes a long way to lessening the feeling of futility the endeavor engenders. I sold a sci-fi novel in Russian to an elderly repeat customer, who I sensed was merely being kind. He didn't seem too thrilled with the selection. An elderly woman donated a handsome illustrated copy of Robin Hood geared toward young readers. Only problem is, do kids even know who that medieval figure is? Is there a video game about him? He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, unlike the Monty Python character Dennis More, who "robbed from the poor and gave to the rich - stupid bitch!"

Even though I didn't sell any of my own books, the day was a success, as I sold my literary angel January (Victoria) Valentine's romance novel, Love Dreams, to a young woman who asked what I had in the genre. Thanks, miss. And thanks to Munsie, who said she really enjoyed the article about me in the Bensonhurst version of the Brooklyn newspaper.

RIP in peace Celeste Holm, 95, one of the great ladies of Hollywood and Broadway. She was nominated three times for Best Supporting Actress, winning for Gentleman's Agreement (1947), and she was the original Ado Annie in the Oscar and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma, singing the memorable "I Cain't Say No." I'll always remember her as Frank Sinatra's frustrated love in Cole Porter's High Society (1956), which featured the classic duets "Did You Eva?" sung by Ol' Blue eyes and Bing Crosby ("Have you heard? It's in the stars, next July we collide with Mars"); and "Now You Has Jazz," sung by Bing and Louis Armstrong ("For these cozy virtuosi, the best in the trade, are fixin' to show you, approximately, how Jazz music is made"). All of those giants are gone, but their art lives on.

Visit Vic’s sites:
Vic’s Third Novel (Print or Kindle): 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 Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f