Can we call a person an "author" who writes essays?

answers1: An author is a writer of a literary work (such as a book).
Whereas a writer could have written anything. I would say that an
essay is a literary work so I would call that writer an author. For
example, I certainly would call Jonathan Swift and author, although he
wrote essays and poems.
answers2: author is one who writes books. Yes there is a huge
difference between both the words.
answers3: certainly.
answers4: no u can't