Real writers, awake!

It’s kinda like watching Richie Cunningham do something embarrassing on “Happy Days” — www.1stBooks.com can make you cringe: It’s a Web site that publishes and sells anyone’s book. No restrictions — these guys are committed to helping first-time authors write, promote and distribute their own books. Here are some of the soon-to-be best sellers that are spotlighted on the homepage. Buddy Ebsen, best known for his role as Jed Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” has written Kelly’s Quest. This is a story that portrays one woman’s combined need for love and personal success in a world dominated by men. Or, there’s a rigorous read entitled The Milkman, The Connection, penned by James Westmoreland. 1stBooks describes this author as “the actor best known for his longtime role on the daytime soap opera, ‘General Hospital,’ and his golf instructional videos.” And 1stBooks doesn’t only publish works by noteworthy celebs. Stories with titillating titles such as Birds in My Big Backyard or Once Upon a Time in a Baseball Stadium … Far, Far Away or Someone’s Picking the Daisies were all written by folks just like you and me. Prices for the books vary.