Simon & Schuster paid an aging unknown (paid me a pittance, but still) to spend eight months in Italy, get around, eat, meet Italian basket players, and the Americanos, and plenty of everyday Italians. Bologna. Roma. Venezia. Milano. My lovely seaside space, Riccione. The excellent editor who bought the project, Jeff Neuman, said he knew there wouldn't be a raging demand for the book (basketball was one thing, Italian basket quite another), but loved the idea himself and, having done well for S & S and was permitted an occasional pet project, especially for cheap.
I had the time of my life, but Jeff Neuman was correct about poor sales, which haunt you like a criminal record or bad credit.
But, the time of my life matters. Thirty years later I still go back, still stay in touch, still fantasize about moving there. Ciao, Bortolo! Annarosa! Tutti!
