translating into sales for local writers, a disappointed local author and publisher revealed yesterday.

Paperback and hardback books, including Mr. Colin Benbow and Mr. Dale Butler's "Gladys Morrell and the Women's Suffrage Movement in Bermuda'', the first ever on Bermuda's women suffrage movement, Mr. Ira Philip's "Heroines in the Health Profession'', "Transitions: Voices of Bermudian Women'', edited by Dr.

June Hill, and the second edition of Dr. Eva Hodgson's "Second Class Citizens, First Class Men'' have been collecting dust on book store shelves since last spring.

And Mr. Butler said he feared that this could hamper further work along those lines.

"Sales are very weak,'' he said. "It is preventing additional projects from coming out.'' "Battle for Freedom: Bermudian Poetry and Drama'' by Bermudian playwright Ms Shangri-La Durham Thompson and sells for $35 in hardback has been the only "best seller'' , according to Mr. Butler. And he attributed that to Ms Durham Thompson's fame and supporters.

A clerk at one of the Island's largest bookstores, The Bookmart, said only two copies of the book remained.

At the same time she said there were "lots'' of copies of other books left, including "Mazumbo'' by Mr. Butler about the life of the late civil rights activist Dr. E.F. Gordon ($10 in paperback), "Transitions'', ($15 in paperback), and hardback copies of the books on the women's suffrage movement and women in the health profession, ($24 and $18 respectively).

But yesterday he said as a result of the lack of interest in the locally-produced reading material, a reading campaign has been launched at Dellwood Primary -- where he is the head -- to encourage students to read, particularly about Bermudian events and people.

He has also asked the Association of School Principals for a grant to aid the cause.