1st November: Authors Day

Every year on November 1, millions of people celebrate authors and the books that they write on National Authors Day.

Books have a mind of their own. They take time to develop, research, draft, edit, revise, and rewrite. The stories we devour and indulge in as we drift off to sleep, travel, or allow to collect dust on several flat surfaces in our homes may take years to reach a publisher. We may have only one favorite author or many collected works with which we cannot part. Whether we prefer fiction, non-fiction, or a mix of both, authors have been telling stories to fill our heads for thousands of years.

Authors keep a record of history through their stories. They mark time through their observations of history. Their tales create remarkable memories of place, sealing it between the pages of the binding. Their books allow us to keep coming back to visit again and again.

After her grandmother’s death in 1968, Sue Cole promoted the observance of National Authors Day. She urged people to write a note to their favorite author on November 1, to “brighten up the sometimes lonely business of being a writer.”  She also suggested flying the American flag as another way of showing appreciation for the writers who have created American literature.