The Artistic Life

By Mark SaFranko

Hoping to keep his woman happy, Max Zajack has scrounged up grunt work for another laughable paycheck, forced once again to plumb the depths of The Artistic Life and this time Max is convinced he's hit rock-bottom. How can he be so sure? Because he's working on a Hollywood production...

About the Author:
Mark SaFranko is an American author, playwright, artist, and musician. He was cited in The Best American Mystery Stories 2000, and has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. His mundane working life has consisted of a multitude of jobs: political risk analyst, dating advice column ghostwriter, freight loader, teacher, landscaper's assistant, deliveryman, truck driver, clothes salesman, astrologer, short order cook, fast food worker, bank clerk, proofreader, bar musician, government pensions clerk, brewery worker, reporter, telephone solicitor, stock clerk, and chauffeur, among others. He is the author of five published novels—Hating Olivia, Lounge Lizard, God Bless America, Hopler's Statement, and The Favor—and has written dozens more. He lives with his wife and son in New Jersey. His goal in life is to avoid further such mundane work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mendicant Bookworks
• Release date: Sep 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452477718

Mark SaFranko

Mark SaFranko’s novels have garnered rave reviews and a cult following throughout Europe, particularly in France. His stories have appeared in more than sixty magazines and journals internationally, including the renowned Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. In 2005 he won the Frank O’Connor Award from Descant magazine for his short fiction. He was cited in Best American Mystery Stories 2000 and has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. SaFranko is also a playwright whose work has been performed on stages in Ireland and the United States. As an actor, he has appeared in several independent films, including Inner Rage, A Better Place, Shoot George, and The Road from Erebus.

Book preview

The Artistic Life

By Mark SaFranko

Copyright 2011 Mendicant Bookworks

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The Artistic Life

I’d been out of work a long time, writing novels I had no luck publishing, plays no producer would stage, a screenplay no agent would take on. In the past, I’d gotten work occasionally as an actor (all actors work only occasionally) in grade-C films and dinner theater, but it all dried up. I was too young