Evening star., 1945-08-26
Among
the Authors
By CaroIyn Cogqins

If the name of DIR. Charles NJ.
Sheldon sounds familiar, 1t is be-
cause he is the author of one of the
best sellers of all time. 1t is his own
estimate that 10000, 900 copies of his
book, I'm His Steps," have been sold
in this country figure which
doesn't attempt to touch some 20
foreign printings. Because of in
adequate copyright protection, none
of the publishers who bring out the
book are legally bound to pay him.
Only one does. Grosset g. Dunlap is
the only publisher who pays him
royalties, and they have sold over
100000 in the last "a years. If it
were not for them, Sheldon would
be without income, in spite of his
authoring a best seller.
X +
Olga Briceno, who wrote Cocks
and Bulls in Caracas" is a South
American who has been d news
paper columnist and correspondent
for 10 years. She is a slender.
short woman with brown hair and
eyes and it sometimes amuses
her to wear the black lace man.
tilla and red rose expected by
North Americans. Olga and her
brother, who owns a newspaper in
venezuela, were sent to Paris for
their education. She also studied
In England for while where a be-
Wlldered teacher tried to teach her
English through memorizing Shake.
speare.f Perhaps that is why she
now attends Columbia University
tnree evenings a week to improve
her English and acquire a more
practical vocabulary. As editor Of
Guia, an industrial magazine, she
is even learning "ballbearing, mo-
tors and words like that.
Across the street from the police
headquarters on Center street in
New York City, chap by the name
OF "Weegee" has an Office. In it is
the equipment for one of the highest
paid spot newsmen in the country.
He Is photographer who spends
his nights touring the city in an
auto while he listens to a radio
capable OF picking up police broad
casts. The idea Is to reach any
scene OF crime or disaster as soon
after the participants as is humanity
possible.
"Weegee" is not as handsome "a
his paychecks, but he is often in his
own pictures because he knows a
living person Is more interesting to
the public than an inert view OF
trouble with no curious onlooker in
sight. Getting himself into them
requires trick of photographing
by remote control. He is 43 years
old, single, and has unusual eyes
that probe or stare. His build Is
rather stocky and he has gray hair
and foreign accent. His true love
Is his camera, and he gets 50 many
IAN letters he has to have a secre-
tary to answer them. His pictures
are exhibited, too, at places like the
Museum of Modern Art.
Now he has added writing to his
accomplishments. The result is q
| book, "The Naked City," with his
own descriptions of the many pic
lures OF his which are included. POST
poned continually since January,
the book Is due next week. If 1t
fails to arrive promptly 1t will be
because making book these days Is
as difficult as finding "Weegee"-an
impossible feat unless, like him, you
arrive first on the scene of some
| Terrific r.inhffiv,a4
What do you mean by having
such fun at your own party?" we
asked Mignon Eberhart, whose new
mystery, wings of Fear" was being
celebrated at the Park Lane in the
Petite Salon.
isn't that what parties are for?"
asked this author, who is rather
petite herself. That is how we
learned that she has another reason
for feeling happy. She had put ono
over on her editor by selecting
Mexico City as the setting for her
story because she wanted to vaca.
ton there. The party was fun
because the guest list was small. It
meant every one could talk to every
one else and go away without feel
ing frustrated by the half sentences
and confusion of big party.
This is Mignon's 21st mystery story.
She is Smartly dressed, vivacious.
with a pleasant suggestion of
freckles rowing across her nose. She
lives IN New Canaan, Conn, but
has been in New York lot recently
to escape country life in wartime.