Greetings.
My name is Rick Conti.
Welcome to my blog, which also serves as a platform for my writing.
For the full story (pun intended) click on the “About” button at the top of this page and read all about it, as the Newsies would say.
Or click on the “Blog” option above and go right to my blog to read my fiction, my reviews, and my general rants about nothing in particular and everything in general. I’ve also written several books. Read on to learn more about them…
My first novel is “A Slippery Land”. It follows the perilous life of a Haitian girl who survives the 2010 earthquake but loses her family.
“A Song in the Storm” is my second book. It was inspired by actual events, about a young woman who emigrates from Italy to the US to marry a man she’s never met.
Both of these novels are appropriate for adult and young adult readers.
I also have a four-book series called “The Endless Cycle”. Although it is aimed primarily at middle grade readers, it can be enjoyed by younger children and by adults. It follows the adventures of a young boy on a bike, searching for his forgotten identity.
The books are “Breakaway”, “Blowout”, “Slipstream”, and “Endgame”. They are all available now, along with my other writing.
“The Little Red Boat Came Back” is a children’s picture book set in Haiti, originally included as part of my book, “A Slippery Land”. It’s illustrated by a great friend and gifted artist, Taylor Dueker.
“Only Love Can Break Your Leg” is a romantic comedy novel for all adult and young adult readers.
As its name, “Scribbling in the Sand”, suggests, my ninth book consists of material previously published in this blog, a “greatest hits” collection, if you will.
“Scrolled” is my 10th book, the fourth based on one of my screenplays. It’s a love letter to comedy in all its forms.
Then there’s my 11th book (not including one I wrote only for myself and my family), “Haiti 2000 – A Memoir in Real Time”. It’s a journal I wrote during a visit to Haiti 25 years before publication. If you have an interest in that beautiful, unfortunate nation, you might appreciate the impressions I recorded upon my first of several visits.
Click on any of the images above to visit their respective sale pages. The first eleven books are sold exclusively on Amazon, where you can buy them in either paperback or Kindle eBook. Or you can visit my Amazon author page where all those books are listed. The 12th book was released via Barnes & Noble Press. It’s available here, or visit my B&N author page here.
I hope you have a chance to check out my writing, whether in blog or book. I’d love to get your feedback.
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Scribbling in the Sand 
The NBA has their own dramatics when the whistle is blown. There should be a new Emmy award category for the best “Who, me?!” moment (usually followed by a finger twirling in the air in to convince their coach to request a replay).
It’s all part of the contemporary competitive strategy. Instead of depending on talent and teamwork, you also need to work the officials to get the calls go your way.
I totally agree.
In fact, the acting chops at the professional level of all sports are Oscar-worthy. NFL QB’s milk the ever tighter “roughing the passer” rules by mastering the art of falling dramatically. And if a defensive guy on any playing field or court throws his hands up anywhere near a fallen offensive player, you can be sure he’s going to be at the receiving end of a penalty/foul.
We ought to expect this stuff. After all, professional sports is part of the entertainment-industrial complex. It’s only a matter of time before Disney buys the NFL. We’re getting close, given that some football games can now only be seen on Paramount, Prime, or other streaming services.