By Janice Surlin
I just discovered to my delight
That such a day exists—
So wishing fellow authors
A happy day, I can’t resist!
A little daunting to compile
A comprehensive list
Of the authors of whom I know,
Whose books should not be missed;
However, here some facts I’ll share*
That are interesting to me,
About famous, prolific authors,
Which writers hope to be:
The “Guinness Book of World Records”
Says Agatha Christie is the one
To claim being the world’s best-selling author—
4 billion copies sold of stories she has spun;
Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss,
Has sold 650 million children’s books—
In 95 countries throughout the world,
Amusing verse and illustrations
Are his fantastic hooks;
For science fiction he’s the one,
Isaac Asimov wrote or edited 500 works—
Histories, mysteries, popular science too,
No subject would this brilliant author shirk;
Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland,
Over 700 books has written—
Selling 600 million to a billion copies,
“Queen of Romance,” not just in Britain!
Dictating to a secretary,
Typical writing garb she’d don—
Signature oversized eyelashes,
And flowing dresses in pink chiffon;
The mother of two sons and a daughter,
Grandmother of six, great-grandmother of five,
She was also step-grandmother To Diana,
Princess of Wales when she was alive;
Another author, Danielle Steel,
Shares Cartland’s romantic noir,
Selling between 500 and 800 million books,
Poetry and children’s stories
Also in her repertoire;
And now the Bard I shan’t forget,
Who, beyond all doubt forsooth,
Is the most famous and greatest
English author—
Of his timeless works,
2 to 4 billion copies sold, in truth!
Around 1,700 words in the English language,
He Introduced or invented in what he wrote:
Bedazzled, belongings, eventful,
New-fangled and fashionable, a few of note;
The world renowned Russian author,
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy,
Fluent in English, French, and German
Read many other languages so
No need a translator to employ!
Of his works his “magna opera,” **
These two are usually called—
“War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina,”
With the latter’s titular heroine
Readers always are enthralled;
To paraphrase Matthew Arnold,
Who gets right to this epic’s heart—
A novel by Tolstoy, a piece of life,
Not just a work of art;
Now, here’s a book that tops them all,
Filled with essential wisdom galore,
Over 6 billion copies published,
With eternal teachings we can’t ignore!
Translations of the Bible,
We know as of today,
They number around 700,
And of course more on the way;
Now some personal background,
That I’d like to share with you,
Versification is my passion,
And all my life have loved to do!
I started with a legal pad,
Moving to typewriter, word processor too—
Progressing to PC’s Microsoft Word,
Something I never thought I’d do!
But no matter what the “instrument,”
Or how many my words shall reach—
I’ll never forget “It’s the creative process that counts,”
A wise, special lady did teach!***
*Book totals can vary depending on sources.
**“Magna opera” –plural for “magnum opus”: greatest work;
***“Gladys Gladstone Rosenberg enriched the artistic life of Utah as a performer and educator. Legendary Utah Symphony conductor Maurice Abravanel once heralded her impact on piano history in Utah as b.g. and a.g.: ‘Before Gladys’ and ‘After Gladys.’ She served on the University of Utah faculty for 45 years and as piano chair for 23.
