i'm trying to learn php/mysql.

inserting data into mysql works fine but inserting those with apostrophe is generating an error. i tried using mysql_real_escape_string, yet this doesn't work.

would appreciate any help.

<?php
include 'config.php';

echo "Connected <br />";



$auth = $_POST['author'];
$quo = $_POST['quote'];

$author = mysql_real_escape_string($auth); 
$quote = mysql_real_escape_string($quo); 


//**************************



//inserting data
$sql="INSERT INTO Quotes (vauthor, cquotes)
VALUES ($author, $quote)";

if (!mysql_query($sql,$conn))
  {
  die('Error: ' . mysql_error());
  }
echo "1 record added";

...

what am i doing wrong?