Every book you have ever loved began with one person and a blank page. National Author's Day, observed on November 1, sets aside a day to recognize the people who do that work: novelists, poets, journalists, children's writers, historians and everyone in between. It is a day to read, to recommend, and to say thank you. Whether you send a note to a living author, leave an honest review, or simply finish the book on your nightstand, the point is the same: writing is hard, and readers' appreciation keeps writers going.
History of National Author's Day
National Author's Day traces back to Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, a teacher and president of the Bement Woman's Club in Bement, Illinois. During World War I, while recovering from an illness, she wrote a fan letter to the author Irving Bacheller to tell him how much his story had meant to her. He wrote back and sent her an autographed copy of another of his books. The exchange stayed with her, and she began to think that authors deserved a day of public appreciation.
In 1928 she submitted the idea to the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and the federation later passed a resolution supporting it. The observance gained wider recognition in 1949, and McPherson's family continued promoting it after her death. Over time, November 1 became the accepted date.
Today the day has grown well beyond its origins. Libraries, bookshops, schools and online reading communities use it to spotlight local writers, run author talks, and encourage readers to share the books that changed them. It sits neatly at the start of November, which is also the month many aspiring writers try to draft a novel in thirty days.
Why National Author's Day Matters
Authors rarely see their readers. A book can sit on someone's shelf for twenty years and quietly shape their thinking without the writer ever knowing. This day closes that gap a little.
It also reminds us that most authors are not famous. The majority are mid-list writers, debut novelists and local historians who rely on word of mouth. A single recommendation, library request or review can make a real difference to whether their next book gets published. Celebrating authors is, in a practical sense, a way of keeping good books coming.
How to Celebrate National Author's Day
- Write to an author: send a short email, letter or social media message telling a writer what their book meant to you.
- Leave a review: post an honest review on a bookseller site, Goodreads or a library catalog, which helps other readers find the book.
- Read a local author: ask your library or independent bookshop to point you to a writer from your town or state.
- Buy or borrow new: request a recent release at your library or buy a book from a debut author.
- Start your own story: spend twenty minutes writing a page of your own, the way every author once started.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, start a quick 'book swap' shelf in the break room or ask colleagues to share one book that changed how they think, then compile the list in a team message. In classrooms, teachers can ask students to write a letter to a favorite author, invite a local writer for a short talk, or have each student create a new cover for a book they love. At home, families can visit the library together, read a chapter aloud after dinner, or let children dictate a short story that a parent writes down and staples into a homemade book. Book clubs can choose a title by a living author and send the writer a group note afterwards.
Fun Facts About National Author's Day
- The day began with a fan letter from a reader to the novelist Irving Bacheller, who replied with a signed book.
- November 1 sits at the start of the month many writers use to attempt a 50,000-word novel draft.
- Library requests matter: many libraries buy titles specifically because patrons asked for them.
National Author's Day FAQs
When is National Author's Day?
National Author's Day is observed every year on November 1.
Who started National Author's Day?
It is credited to Nellie Verne Burt McPherson of the Bement Woman's Club in Illinois, who proposed it in 1928 after an author replied to her fan letter.
How can I celebrate National Author's Day?
Read a book by a living author, leave a review, recommend a writer to a friend, or send an author a note of thanks.
Is National Author's Day the same as World Book Day?
No. World Book and Copyright Day is a UNESCO observance on April 23. National Author's Day on November 1 focuses specifically on thanking authors.