What is an author?

 A creative, a craftsperson, an artisan?

Possibly. Probably. But, for me, what they certainly are is a human being. 

But now there are more and more instances coming to light where human authors are being replaced by something generated by a computer. 

I've never knowingly read a book produced in this way, and I never intend to produce one - I enjoy writing, with all the blood, sweat and tears it involves, far too much to ever give that up. 

The Society of Authors is launching a scheme with a logo for a book that indicates that it was authored by a human. It is proving popular and many authors are joining. When I next have some work out I hope to use it.

A book written by a human may have taken months, even years of work to produce. It may have required trips to archives and record offices and copious notes. Or trips to visit locations - an element that writers do tend to find less arduous than siting with the computer and bashing away. It will have required thought. A reader is getting a connection with the author, and experiencing all the emotions the writer is working to convey. Human emotions. A piece of work in which a person has dedicated time and effort to produce an end product to the very best of their ability.

Something worth thinking about?