I feel sorry for authors, poets and writers whether in this country or others in the Arab world. Too many of them have been forced to act as salesmen so they can market their works. At cultural events and other similar gatherings, it is not unusual to find a writer with a bundle of books, moving here and there in an attempt to promote a new novel or a collection of poetry. Others keep knocking at the doors of newspapers, hoping to see a review of their new works.
This is not a criticism of the writers. They are simply making an effort to make their works known. It is painful for a writer to see people at fairs and bookstores passing their works without even stopping to look at them, let alone buy them.
Even more painful is seeing people stopping to read graffiti but giving no time to actually reading a book. Writers watch in horror as dust settles on books piled in bookstores while the bored shop employee kills time trying to brush the dust and rearrange the books by moving them from one shelf to another.
If writers are forced to work as salesmen to promote their books, what is the role of publishers? In other parts of the world, it is the publisher who look for writers and then markets the writers’ books.
Publishing houses are of course driven by profit-seeking to make money but they know very well that the books they publish will promote their own interests. Many of our writers, on the other hand, have to pay to get their books published. But even so, the books still pile up in stores, waiting for the public to be made aware of them.
Arab News From the Local Press 29 January 2003
