National Authors' Day

Today is National Authors' Day. Every year millions of people around the world celebrate Authors' Day on November 1. Sue Cole promoted the observance of National Authors' Day after her grandmother’s death in 1968. She urged people to write a note to their favourite author on November 1 to brighten up the sometimes lonely business of being a writer.Some purchase books of their favourite author to support them. She also suggested flying the American flag as another way of showing appreciation for the men and women who had created American literature.

In 1928, the President of the Bement, Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, Illinois Women’s Club had an idea of dedicating a day to celebrate American authors.

McPherson was a teacher and an avid reader throughout her life. While she was recovering in hospital during World War I, she wrote a letter to fiction writer Irving Bacheller telling him how much she enjoyed reading his story, “Eben Holden’s Last Day A’ Fishin." On receiving the letter, Bacheller sent her an autographed copy of another story and it was only then that McPherson realized that she would never be able to adequately thank him for his gift.

McPerson decided to show her appreciation by giving an idea for a National Authors’ Day to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

A resolution was passed declaring November 1 as a day to honour American writers. The United States Department of Commerce recognized this day in 1949.

Here are some of the most popular and loved children's authors worldwide.

Enid Blyton

Enid Mary Blyton was born on August 11, 1897 and she died on November 28, 1968. She was an English children's writer whose books have been among the world's best-sellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Blyton's books are still enormously popular. They have been translated into almost 90 languages.

She wrote on a wide range of topics including education, natural history, fantasy, mystery stories and biblical narratives. Blyton is best remembered today for her Noddy, Famous five and Secret seven stories.




 

Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967. An American author of romantic and paranormal fiction for teens and adults she wrote under several pen names, but now writes under her real name. She has written and published over 50 books, and is best known for The Princess Diaries produced later by Walt Disney Pictures were turned into two feature films of the same name.





 

Anne Frank

Anne Frank was born on June, 12 1929 and died on February 1945. She was a German-born diarist and writer. She is one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her wartime diary, The diary of a young girl has been the basis for several plays and films.

She was born in the city of Frankfurt in Germany. She gained international fame posthumously after her diary was published.



 

Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott was born on November 29, 1832 and died on March 6, 1888. She was an American novelist and poet. She is best known as the author of the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886).

Raised by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May and Amos Bronson Alcott in New England, she grew up among many of the well-known intellectuals of the day such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau.

Compiled by Husna Inayathullah