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.