Dynamic Query not passing varible

[EdGy28376]

I am trying to create a query based in user input. However it seems using the GET function is not passing it php script. I can hard code the variable into the php script then it will accept the variable. Below is what I have after 12+ hours of hair pulling

Setting the GET statement

<form action="author.php" method="GET" >
Center Alpha Code <input type="text" size="25" name=$author />
<input type="submit" value="author" />
</form>

author.php script

mysql_select_db("library");
$author = $_GET['author'];
#$alpha = Flynn;
$q="SELECT * FROM Location, pub WHERE Location.Number = pub.number AND Location.author = '".$author."'";
$result = mysql_query($q);

When I do run it I get the field headers. Which is telling me that it is not recognizing the variable.

[rsmith]

In your form the name of the input filed should be "author" not "$author".

<form action="author.php" method="GET" >
Center Alpha Code <input type="text" size="25" name="author" />
<input type="submit" value="submit" />
</form>

[EdGy28376]

I removed the '$' and now I am getting:
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_CONSTANT_ENCAPSED_STRING in /var/www/books/author.php on line 8

and the URL reads:
http://192.168.1.101/ModemResults/alphaquery.php?author=

Thank you for trying but this is very trying too relearn!

[Weedpacket]

Wrong $author. Read rsmith's post again.