National Author’s Day
By Sharon Schweitzer
The creator of National Author’s Day is still unknown. In 1928, Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, the president of the Bement, Illinois Women’s Club suggested setting aside a day to celebrate American authors. She was a teacher and an avid reader throughout her life. While she was recuperating in the hospital during World War I, she wrote a fan letter to Irving Bacheller, a fiction writer, by telling him how much she enjoyed reading his story Eben Holden’s Last Day A’ Fishin. Upon receiving her letter, Irving Bacheller sent her an autographed copy of another story, and it was then that McPherson realized that she would never be able to thank him well for his gift.
McPherson decided to show her appreciation by submitting an idea for a National Author’s Day to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. In May of 1929, the club endorsed a resolution for National Author’s Day to be observed honoring American writers. The United States Department of Commerce recognized this day in 1949.
Consider this, famous author J.D. Salinger once said, “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours, and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.”
Authors are the creators of literature, and literature is one of the best things we can do for our minds.
According to Healthline, books can benefit your mental and physical health by:
- Strengthening your brain
- Increasing your ability to empathize
- Building your vocabulary
- Preventing age-related cognitive decline
- Reducing stress and depression
- Promoting better sleep
In addition to health benefits, consider these quite interesting facts about some of the famous authors.
- Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code” was a pop singer before his being famous as a novelist
- The name Vanessa was invented by Jonathan Swift
- Samuel Langhorne Clemens used the pseudonym ‘Josh’ to sign his writings until he settled for ‘Mark Twain’ as his pen name
- The word ‘verbicide’ was coined by C.S Lewis to denote the distortion of a word’s original meaning.
- William Shakespeare’s name on his marriage document in 1582 was spelled “William Shagspeare”.
National Author’s Day is a meaningful celebration that recognizes the significant impact authors have on our lives through their creative works. It’s not just a day to celebrate published authors but aspiring writers are also motivated to partake in events, fostering a love for literature in all.
Photo by Atharva College of Engineering, Malad-W, Mumbai
Sharon Schweitzer JD, is a diversity and inclusion consultant, cross-cultural trainer, etiquette expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE Centre, she is an attorney and mediator. Sharon served as a Chinese Ceremonial Dining Etiquette Specialist in the documentary series Confucius was a Foodie, on Nat Geo People. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business, Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, won a coveted Kirkus Star, and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books. She’s a winner of numerous awards, including the British Airways International Trade Award at the Greater Austin Business Awards.
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