Writer or Author?

A  few weeks ago I had my book printed out.  I was cool seeing it in print even thought it was the first draft and I had it printed so that I could be begin my long daunting task of editing. 

While at my local office supply/copy center, the lady that did the work for me mentioned that she took a few peeks at little snippets and really liked what she had read.  I just may have sold my first book. 

We began to talk about the book and she showed an interest in my writing.  After a few minutes of chatting i gave her my  web address for my blog.  I reached into my purse and pulled out a sheet of paper and hand wrote the blog address and handed it to her.

I began to think about my hand written blog address and how unprofessional that was.  I mean if I wanted people to take my seriously, I can't hand write my blog address on a sheet of paper found in my purse.  Most business people have business cards and that is what i needed.

I began to design my cards.  I decided to keep them simple, they have my name, my e-mail and my blog address.  I did add a simple little design.  Looked pretty good.  I then decided that I needed a title, but what should it be?

Writer?
Author?

I began to think in my own mind what the definition was for both.  I came up with a writer being someone that writes.  They write short stories, novel, poems and articles.  They write what ever they want.  That was simple.

Now, and author, they are someone that has been published, someone that makes a living at writing.  Steven King, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, they are authors.

Before I just put a title on my business card, I did some research to find the true definition of the two.  I did a search of 'the difference between a writer and an author."  I got a lot of hits and was very surprised at what I found.

I didn't leave it to one site, I went to several sites.  They all told me the same thing.  They all had their own take on it, but pretty much they had the same definition.  After a little over an hour and several sites later, I learned the difference between a writer and an author.

This is what I learned.

writer (noun)

1) person who has a particular text. or who writes books or articles for profit.
2) both writes or composes stories, poems or articles
3) a person who has written something.
4) one who writes as an occupation

author (noun)

1) a writer of a book or article
2) a person who originates a plan or idea
3) writer of a book, article or other text
4) one who practices writing as a profession

So, what am I?  A writer or an author?

Several web sites defined a writer and an author as the same thing.  There are really no differences between the two.

I am not just one, but I am both.  I do feel more comfortable calling myself a writer.

Happy Writing
Barbara