There is one main question you must ask yourself before you ever put a word on that blank piece of paper: what do readers want to read?

It seems like a simple question, but your answer could make or break the sale of your book even before you write it. Like oil and corn, steak and the stock market, supply and demand runs the planet. And so it goes for books.

What should you write? A young adult western, or a book on how to raise ostriches for profit? What is the demand? Is there a supply?

Other questions need to be asked also. If there is a demand, does that mean a glut? If the opposite is true, can you, as a writer, provide what the readers want to read?

When asked what types of books their patrons most ask for--and sometimes can not get--librarians scattered across the country gave amazingly similar responses.

Many request books on health, said Jane Coles, director of the Fort Myers Beach Public Library in Florida. "If there's a "vogue" disease that they see on TV, readers will come in asking for books on that particular disease."

At the River Forest Public Library in Illinois, Jana McIlroy also saw a demand for books on health. "Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson, is very popular."

How-to books seem to be popular in the south. Sandra Tanner, reference librarian at the Weatherford Public Library in Texas, mentioned that many request information on how to start a business raising exotic animals.

The most unusual request? "Someone asked for a book on alligator farming," she laughed. She also said that a lot of interest was being generated for ostrich farming, a growing business in the Lone Star State.

Wanda Wright, youth services librarian, also at Weatherford, said that they cannot keep enough story books and picture books on the shelves. Alphabet books are always in demand, and so are holiday books.

What holidays should writers of children's books concentrate on? "St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving," Wanda said. "There are lots of books about Christmas and Halloween, but very few books about the other holidays."

She added that Independence Day is another overlooked holiday. When asked what young adults like to read, she said science fiction and horror were popular, but very few westerns are being checked out by young readers.

"Family health is something that everyone seems to want," stated Claudia McCain at the Bellingham Public Library in Washington state. "Also we can't seem to keep enough resume books on the shelves, for some reason." She noted that hobby books, cook books and how-to books are popular. For children, books on states, animals and the environment are always in demand. Like Ms. Wright, she also said that holiday books are well-liked by children, and noted that books on Jewish holidays are in short supply.

Supply and demand. What do the readers want to read? The answer may be as close as your library.

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