mysql variable

[Abanoup]

#include <Windows.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <mysql.h>
using namespace std;

int main() {

   MYSQL *conn;
   char names;

names= mysql_query(conn,"select * from names");

return 0;
}

error:
Error 1 error C2440: '=' : cannot convert from 'int' to 'char *'

i want to set a variable for the query so i can cout/printf it anytime i want how should i do that.