Alexandra Ripley — American Writer born on January 08, 1934, died on January 10, 2004

Alexandra Ripley, née Braid was an American writer best known as the author of Scarlett , written as a sequel to Gone with the Wind. Her first novel was Who's the Lady in the President's Bed? . Charleston , her first historical novel, was a bestseller, as were her next books On Leaving Charleston , The Time Returns , and New Orleans Legacy ... (wikipedia)

Books have become products, like cereal or perfume or deodorant.
I really don't know why Scarlett has such appeal. When I began writing the sequel, I had a lot of trouble because Scarlett is not my kind of person. She's virtually illiterate, has no taste, never learns from her mistakes.