25 years ago a writer named Nicholas Sparks came out to Yellow Springs to be interviewed. His first novel, "The Notebook," had been out for about a month and it was already a best-seller. Sparks has gone on to become one of the best-selling writers in America. He has sold millions and millions of books.
Over the years there have been numerous authors who have appeared on the program right as they were starting their careers. Some of them have gone on to enjoy success but the majority of them have struggled to get noticed. That's just the reality of the business. For every author who sells a million copies of a book there are another hundred writers who never sell enough copies to even earn royalties. The book business is like that. So is the music business.
Nicholas Sparks had great ambitions when he came out to see us 25 years ago. His dreams of becoming a best-selling writer came true. It was fun to revisit this interview and hear him say that he didn't know how long his success might last, that it could be a fleeting thing. By the time his next book came out he was well on his way to a fame that was beyond his wildest notions.
The Book Nook on WYSO is presented by the Greene County Public Library with additional support from Washington-Centerville Public Library, Clark County Public Library, Dayton Metro Library, and Wright Memorial Public Library.
