On the list of strange holidays you’ve never heard of that take place each year, National Author’s Day has to be one of the best (at least for this book lover).
From NationalDayCalendar.com:
“After her grandmother’s death in 1968, Sue Cole promoted the observance of National Author’s Day. She urged people to write a note to their favorite author on Nov. 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 men and women who have created American literature.”
Celebrating it is easy: Support your favorite authors by purchasing a book by them, and share about it on social media with #NationalAuthorsDay. Not sure where to start? I asked the Ivy Tech librarians to suggest some authors students should be familiar with.
- Brené Brown: “Brené is a scholar, author, and research professor. Her books are engaging, inspiring, and will move you to live courageously. Students (or any reader) would be empowered by what she has to say. The library recently acquired her most recently published book, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone.” suggested by Nicole Treesh, library director
- Maya Angelou: “Maya is someone everyone should know by name. She was a poet, a writer, and a civil rights activist. Her words of wisdom are timeless. The library has many of her books including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” suggested by Treesh
- Margaret Atwood: “I know this is a trendy choice, since The Handmaid’s Tale TV series is currently so popular and critically acclaimed, but one of my reasons for picking it is because of its remarkable longevity. I’m old enough that I recall reading it when it first came out in 1985, and the fact that it’s still relevant – maybe even more relevant now – is amazing. I remember being absolutely chilled and horrified by Atwood’s vision of the future. Today’s students should read it not only because it’s a cautionary tale, but because Atwood is a darn good storyteller and the story itself will haunt them for the next 30 years – which is exactly what a great book should do.” suggested by Carol Gibbs, library assistant
- Louise Erdich: “Her stories are about complicated characters dealing with history and the present, and although they struggle, things always work out in ways that uplift the human spirit.” suggested by Ann Morrison Spinney, librarian
- Neil Gaiman: “I love how he usually mixes in a little mythology to his writing and presents a mixture of fantasy and suspense. A couple of spooky ones we have are Coraline and The Graveyard Book – both written for younger readers, but excellent reads for adults as well. We have his recent Norse Mythology on the shelf, too.” suggested by Liz Metz, librarian
- Michael McGreger: “Physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. One of my favorites is How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, the book that will change your perception of health and nutrition. I like his books because they are based on meticulously documented scientific studies that McGreger translates and summarizes for you in plain English.” suggested by Elina Puckett, librarian
- Frank Herbert: “He writes science fiction like Tolkein does for fantasy.” suggested by Jonathan Puckett, library clerk
- John Scalzi: “A clever writer who injects plenty of humor into his stories.” suggested by Puckett
Who are some of your favorite authors? Share them in the comments!
Inside Ivy Tech 