National Author’s Day is a holiday observed on November 1st that celebrates the writers who write the books we love. Books are one of the oldest mediums—second only to verbal storytelling—and they can entertain us, educate us, and even uplift us.

It’s the authors of these books who are responsible for writing the works that shape us. Just about everyone has a favorite author, and this holiday is the day on which they can show that author the appreciation they deserve. So let’s all knock the dust off our favorite bookmarks, crack open a book, and read it cover to cover.

The History of National Author’s Day

National Author’s Day was created in 1928 by the president of the Bement, Illinois Women’s Club, Nellie Verne Burt McPherson. She was a teacher and a lifelong reader, and she felt that there should be a holiday that honors the best authors of the U.S. But the idea for this holiday was actually formulated a decade earlier by her in appreciation of her favorite author.

During WWI, she was recuperating in a hospital and decided to write a fan letter to Irvin S. Cobb to tell him how much she enjoyed his story “Eben Holden’s Last Day A-Fishing.” Cobb would send her an autographed copy of another story after receiving her fan letter. McPherson felt like she had to show her appreciation to this author, so ten years later she would create this holiday. And in 1949, the day would become official when it was recognized by the U.S. Department of Congress.

Observing National Author’s Day

Let’s all help to keep this holiday alive by spreading the word about it to our friends and family members. Also, make sure to use the hashtag #NationalAuthorsDay to spread the word about the holiday to people who may not have heard about it. It’s also a good day for people to catch up on their reading or to share their favorite authors with those around them.