November 1: National Author's Day

While there is no official site, a blog by novelist Jane Kennedy Stutton summarizes the history behind National Author’s Day. 

According to Stutton, the idea was suggested by Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, president of the Bement, Illinois Women’s Club in 1928.  McPherson, a teacher and avid writer apparently wrote a fan letter to fiction writer Irving Bacheller telling him how much she enjoyed the story “Eben Hoden’s Last Day A’Fishin”. 

When Bacheller responded by sending her an autographed copy of another story, she decided to show her appreciation by electing for a National Author’s day to honor American writers.  Stutton and other sites maintain that National Author’s Day was recognized by the Department of Commerce in 1949.

To show appreciation for your hometown writers, head out to the following locations to check out books by author’s in your local area.

The Shop at Cockey’s features books from local authors covering all topics ranging from historical landmarks, graves and burial sites, ghosts and legends and much more.  A brand new addition to the inventory is:

• “Then & Now: Carroll County” the 96 page softcover is for has been put together  by Catherine Baty and Jerry Trescott on behalf of The Historical Society of Carroll County.  Visit the following Carroll County Times article to read more about this book.

EcLecTicity, located at John Street and Winter Street features works from local artists, authors, poets and more.   Some books currently featured include:

• “Westminster…The Way it Was” by local retired photographer Bob Porterfield. 
• “Seeds of Hope”, by Phil Grout
• “The First Woods Thrush”, by Phil Grout
• “The Christmas Sack” by Phil Grout

Also featured in the shop are poetry anthologies by One Tree Productions.

Owner and operator Shawn Lockhart worked at Locust bookstore on Main Street for six years before it closed in March 2010.

“EcLecticity still tends to be a bit of a secret but we would love for people to come check everything out,” Lockhart said.

With the secret out and National Author’s Day as a perfect excuse, be sure to get out to check out works from local authors ASAP.