DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have a question about the Oxford casino opening this week. Since slot machines pay a percentage of what they take in, is it safe to assume that no machine will pay out its “jackpot” until it has been played awhile? How will a machine be able to pay a jackpot if it is brand new?

Is the opening date still June 6? Thanks for all you do! — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots did not get this question in time to address the opening date, which was June 5. She did, however, email Scott Smith, advertising, public relations and social media manager for the Oxford Casino, about the jackpots. He wrote:

“New or used they all payout the same. Slot machines are all monitored by the Maine State Gaming Board with the support of Scientific Gaming. Strict compliance to all state gaming laws rules the day.”

In other words, the machines are stocked appropriately before and during the times they are operated.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have written nearly a hundred poems I feel I should be sharing with other people. I put my heart and soul in them. I want to reach out and touch people with my poems.

Is there anyone that could help me get my poems in places where people can read them? Or even get them published? If so, how? Thank you? — Dustin, Windham

ANSWER: Sun Spots gets this question periodically. She is sorry to tell you that there is little market for poetry in today’s shrinking publishing world. You can self-publish, of course, if you don’t mind paying for the privilege.

If you search for publishers online, you will see numerous options for self-publishing, which has become increasingly popular. That way you can give your books out if they don’t sell.

Another option is to put your poems online. You mentioned you are on Facebook. You could post them there, or get your own website and put all your poems on that. That is relatively inexpensive. A domain (www.whatever.com/net/info/etc.) can be purchased for a small annual fee, and you can host it for about $5 a month.

Readers might also be interested in a possible explanation for of the decline in popularity of poetry. Sun Spots listens each week to a program out of New York City called “On the Media.” They have an annual show on the state of book publishing, and this year one of the guests offered an explanation for the decline in the popularity of poetry that Sun Spots had never heard before.

Publishing industry analyst Mike Shatzkin said that poetry was very popular for many centuries because most people were illiterate and poems could be memorized and shared orally. Once public education became more common toward the end of the 19th century, the popularity of poetry began to decline and novels moved into ascension.

He also theorized that the changes in reading habits brought about by computers and other electronic devices may change reading habits again. For example, he noted the increasing popularity of genre fiction (romances, science fiction, mysteries, etc.) and the decline of literary fiction.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Artios used books is looking for volunteers to help out in the store in exchange for books. We are at 180 Turner St. in Auburn. We carry all genres and have more than 100,000 books in stock.

If you’re interested, please call me at 782-2236. — Tracy

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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