We have many local authors in our community. I don’t know if
we have more than most but we have a lot. At our bookstore we have a section
for local authors. Just inside the front door. They don’t sell very well as a
rule. It makes me wonder about writers supporting other writers.
I used to own an art gallery in San Luis Obispo, our central
city. It was one of those galleries where the artists rented space. It was
beautiful, did well and graced the mezzanine that circled my art supply store
on the ground floor. I came to know many of the local artist, of which we have
many—I do believe that this is a particularly creative community. One thing I
became very aware of was that the artists I met and came to know didn’t buy
each other’s work. I have been in several artists homes and saw only their own
art on their walls. I know writers who never buy contemporary novels. They say
they don’t have time to read.
We artists, writers, count on others to buy our work. Bottom
line. That’s what it takes. I would hope that those who paddle around in the
same creative pool would know that better than most and support each other. I
would hope.
