Today, 1st November, is National Authors’ Day. No, I didn’t know either.
I suspect it’s more of an American national rather than international day but any excuse for a blog post is good by me. Or indeed any excuse to be pampered and looked after and … yes, in my dreams, never mind.
It was back in 1928 that Nellie Verne Burt McPherson first suggested to her fellow members at The Illinois Women’s Club there should be a day dedicated to authors to demonstrate the readers’ appreciation. Her idea was well-received and, eventually, in 1949 the US Department of Commerce officially recognised Authors’ Day.
But why should authors have a special day?
If you’re reading this blog post I suspect you’re a reader, and I probably don’t have to convince you of the value of books. From education to escapism and everything in between, there’s a book for it.
If you’re a writer as well as a reader then you’ll know it’s a lonely sort of job where being rejected is part of the contract. Depression, alcoholism and authors tend to be good friends.
So let’s hear it for authors! Support your favourite authors today. Buy their books, leave reviews (very important), send them a note to say how much you appreciate their work. The latter is very easy to do these days with Twitter or FaceBook: most authors have a presence.
As for me, who are my favourite authors?
In the crowded field of romantic fiction it has to be Katie Fforde. Her stories always feature unusual or interesting jobs or places, along with lovely characters. Yes, it’s a little bit predictable but that’s what most people want when it comes to romantic fiction. (As I may have said before, I still haven’t forgiven Louisa May Alcott for not letting Jo and Laurie marry in Little Women. And fifty-odd years is a long time to hold a grudge.)
The Janet Evanovich books featuring Stephanie Plum also rank high in my list of favourites. If you like witty attractive characters in crazily ridiculous plots then this is the series for you.
At the other end of the action scale we have Precious Ramotswe and the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith. So slow moving you wonder if anything’s happening but they are wonderful books when you need life to calm down. When, like Precious, you want to sit back and smell the African air, and let the world go on around you. The crimes they solve are immaterial in many ways; it’s all about the people.
I’ve saved my absolute top recommendation for last. Fredrik Backman has written lots of books in a variety of styles but my overall favourite is My Grandmother Sends her Regards and Apologises.
Most of them are stories with lots of characters who you eventually realise are all linked even if they don’t know it. All slightly quirky and gentle with hidden traits. He’s also written the marvellous Beartown, which is completely different but equally excellent. (I think it’s been published under different names.) And fairly recently he brought out a book about his experience of parenting. A very honest and funny book. Things My Son Needs to Know about the World.
