“Five Cents,” Vic Fortezza’s (B.S. ’71, Physical Education) newest novel, is now available. Set in a town named Kazoo, “Five Cents” takes place in the early 70s and revolves around a returning Vietnam Vet, a love story, the changes American was undergoing, and joy brought by the senses.
Fortezza, who has now released eight books, six of them novels, says while his themes are universal to all writers his greatest source of inspiration comes from real life; things he’s personally experienced or read about in the news.
He’s explored why someone might go off ‘the deep end’ (“Close to the Edge”), the act of killing (“Killing”), working on the commodities trading floor (“Exchanges”), and the sordid history of a fictional rock band (“Rising Star”). Additionally, “A Hitch in the Twilight” is a short story collection influenced by The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock, something Fortezza says is “sheer fun.” He’s also released “Billionths of a Lifetime,” which contains two screenplays.
As a student at WMU, Fortezza studied physical education and played football during his first year.
“I was a huge sports fan and at the time I thought coaching would be my life,” Fortezza said. That was not the case. After coaching football for several years at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo and then at his own high school in Brooklyn, Fortezza decided he wanted experience outside of school buildings. He began tending bar and eventually landed at the Commodity Exchange in lower Manhattan. All the while, Fortezza was writing.
“It was the perfect place for a writer,” Fortezza said, “teeming with life and filled with a variety of human beings.”
Fortezza, who lives in Brooklyn, left the Commodity Exchange in 2007 and continues to write. He’s currently working on a new manuscript, his ninth book, and has plans for two additional.
“This is the best time to be a writer,” Fortezza said. “The internet affords opportunity to everyone, not just an elite few.” He suggests new writers start out by blogging for practice. “If you have articles or stories you're uncertain about, post an excerpt and ask for feedback.”
Fortezza also points out that aspiring writers can publish their works for free on various websites if they can’t seem to attract the attention of publishers.
“Keep your expectations modest,” Fortezza explains. “There are at least 13 million titles available at Amazon. That's a lot of competition. I sell my books on the street because web sales are few and far between.”
If you’re not in Brooklyn, you can purchase his books, and learn more about Fortezza, here.