What could be better on a chilly February evening than curling up in a cozy chair reading a good book? Instead of reaching for the latest Danielle Steel or John Grisham novel, however, try popping into a local bookstore to discover works by some local literary talent.
Authors in Athens weave tales of intrigue and collections of poetry designed especially to sell in the area bookstores, said local poet Billy Renz.My writing helps me to understand the world around me and is a way to communicate with others about my life experiences
Renz said.
Renz creates collections of philosophical, humorous and self-help poems to share with audiences under the pseudonym Cricket Jones. Renz is the publisher and owner of a small press in Athens, Divine Relay.
Renz has also published Whistling With Crackers and is currently working on another book of poetry called Lord Of The Things, which should be out sometime in the spring.
Renz couldn't make an estimate as to profits from book sales, but writing requires a full-time income to supplement the money brought in from the books.
Athens is really a trial market for larger districts Renz said, who plans to eventually expand sales to online markets.
Renz's newest book, Woo Woo Love, is a collection of 12 short poems, each about feelings of love. He feels that all poems in the book were channeled from a higher power.
I felt that I was a messenger for an open-ended message to humanity Renz said.
Bookstores in Athens support the town's authors by making their books readily available to the public.
One problem that bookstores have in obtaining books by local authors is that they do not know of their existence.
Some local authors have difficulty marketing themselves, said Kurt Holsapple, owner of Little Professor Book Center, 65 S. Court St.
If people don't tell us about their books
we can't order them
Holsapple said.
Follett's University Bookstore, 63 S. Court St., sells all types of books, but tries to keep a large array of poetry books in stock. At Follett's, area authors' works comprise approximately 10 percent of the general reading books they carry, said Tiffany Teofilo, a store clerk at Follett's.
Local authors often come to Follet's University Bookstore to market their work, Teofilo said.
The Athens Book Center, 74 E. State St., tries to carry at least one copy of any local author's work in their store, said employee Richard Ellwood.
Store workers at the Athens Book Center are planning an event to introduce local authors to one another in an informal get-together. The store is also discussing other events such as future book signings. The events are still in the planning stages and no tentative date has been set, Ellwood said.
Teofilo said that book signings are a great way for authors to promote their work. Jaswinder Bolina, an Ohio University graduate student, recently held a book signing at Follett's. Teofilo said Follett's sold 80 percent of all the books they had ordered for the event.
Renz offered his own advice for aspiring authors.
Write all the time
in every situation that you can
he said. Have paper with you all the time and just jot down ideas when ever you can.
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Brianna Voight
