Wednesday, July 3, 2002
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Wednesday, July 3, 2002 |
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Library presents author seminar
By CAROLYN
CARY
The Fayette County Public Library and the Friends of the Library recently presented the second series of "Why and How I Write." Eight authors of fiction and poetry answered questions from an audience of 60 people. When asked to name someone who influences them, the replies ranged from Langston Hughes, Robert L. Stevenson, Emily Dickinson, Somerset Maugham, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Rudyard Kipling and our own Dr. Ferrel Sams Jr. "More important than who influenced us," said author Franklin P. Smith, "is what you (the audience) reads. What you read is very important." When asked why publishers are not now buying books as they have in the past, it was explained that under an old IRS tax structure, publishers could warehouse thousands of books, and reduce the value of them each tax season. The rule has been changed and the full value must be carried each year. Consequently, the publishing houses do not wish to have much inventory on hand. The many would-be authors were treated to lunch, along with the discouraging news that there re only about 300 authors in the world who actually make a living from writing.
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