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Author’s Day: Which author’s book are you celebrating?

PNA celebrates Author's Day on 1 November

Annually on 1 November, millions of people celebrate Author’s Day by honouring writers and their books. Are you thinking about your most-loved author right now? Or perhaps the first book you’ve read, or the one you’re currently busy with?

If you’ve read all the horrors (published so far) by Stephen King or got lost in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter fantasy series, or Stephanie Meyer’s vampire romance series, Twilight, then you should acknowledge this day too. We think the best thing about Author’s Day this year is that it falls on a Sunday, which is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and let your eyes travel through the pages.

Author’s Day

This day commemorates thousands of authors, and yes, there are a lot! Not just famous international authors, but also South African authors such as Deon Meyer, Antjie Krog, Niq Mhlongo, and Angela Makholwa, to name a few. All the wonders that these wordsmiths have spun into the world by pen and their talented, creative minds and souls, are observed. 

But where did Author’s Day originate from? The Illinois Women’s Club had their usual meeting to enjoy some of the writings of their favourite authors, when Nellie Verne Burt McPherson decided to bring up this day to her fellow club members way back in 1928. As a teacher and an avid lover of literature, she had written a letter while she was recovering in hospital in WWI. The letter was to Irving’s Bacheller, sharing her joy of enjoying his “Eben Holden’s Last Day A’ Fishin”. She then received a copy of another story he had written, and on top of that, an autographed one!

So she decided that the only way to show her appreciation to her dearest author is by setting a day aside, and she submitted her suggestion to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Only 20 years later, the United States Department of Commerce made it an official holiday, and it was celebrated ever since.

Sharing Thoughts and Dreams

There are a couple of ways to celebrate Author’s Day instead of just picking up a book and start reading. Yes, reading your old-time favourite or a new one is definitely what you should do, but with these ways, you can involve your kids too:

  • Buy educational books: PNA has a wide variety of educational books for kids, from James Patterson’s Katt vs Dogg to Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mister Tom. So bring the kids along to choose the book they’re interested in, or simply buy one as the next gift. View your closest PNA store here.
  • Write a letter: You know who your family’s favourite authors are. Encourage them all to write a letter to them to say thank you for their books and entertaining you. Just like anyone else, authors also like to hear that their words have meaning and that people enjoy their work.
  • Review a book: Very similar to the above, but this point focuses on a specific book you’ve enjoyed. Create some hubbub around your preferred author and get their name out there by making a vlog on YouTube or a blog post, and let others know what the book is about and what touched you about it most. Involve the kids by making arts or crafts related to the book and share it with the author.
  • Write: If you felt the need or want, somewhere throughout your life, of writing a book, maybe this is the time to start? You never know, you might become SA’s next big author.
  • Don’t have time to read? If you’re not a bookworm, you can contribute by watching a movie. Most movies are from books, anyway. We know that some movies are not exactly according to the books, but at least you’ll be able to follow the storyline.

In whichever way you choose to spend Author Day, have fun and relish in knowing that people are celebrating with you, globally.

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