List of Holidays for Authors and Readers
Has anyone ever wished you a “Happy Paperback Book Day”?
I’m not joking!
It turns out there are quite a few unofficial “holidays” for readers, writers, and authors that you have probably never encountered before.
If these months, weeks, and days are off your radar, you’re missing out—they can have fun and practical benefits.
Organizations, corporations, and nonprofits alike have established these special celebrations, making them perfect opportunities for book marketing and promotional tie-ins.
Below is a month-by-month guide highlighting these unique “holidays” for authors and writers to know about.
My hope is that authors, writers, independent booksellers, librarians, and anyone passionate about books will find these book-related holidays useful for book marketing and promotion, social media posts, email campaigns, and content creation ideas.
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(The list is intended for American nonfiction authors)
January
Book Blitz Month
Second Tuesday of January: National Poetry at Work Day
February
Black History Month / National African American Read-In
National Haiku Writing Month
First week of February: Freelance Writer Appreciation Week
9: Read in the Bathroom Day
14: Library Lovers Day
March
Humorists Are Artists Month
1–7: National Ghostwriters Week
First school day in March: NEA’s Read Across America Day
First Thursday of March: World Book Day
First full week of March: Read an E-Book Week
2: National Read Across America Day
21: World Poetry Day
April
National Poetry Month
First Sunday through the next Saturday of April: National Library Week
1: Poetry & The Creative Mind Day
4: Dictionary Day (always part of library week)
Thursday of the second full week in April: Celebrate Teen Literature Day
23: World Book Day
23–29: Disability Book Week
Last Saturday of April: Independent Bookstore Day
26: National Dissertation Day (it’s also Audubon Day and Pretzel Day!)
May
Get Caught Reading Month
Latino Books Month
National Read to Your Baby Bump Month
Mystery Month
First full week of May starting on Monday (Monday through Saturday): Children’s Book Week
Second Full Week of May: Reading Is Fun Week
12: National Limerick Day
16: Biographer’s Day
June
Audiobook Appreciation Month
National Bathroom Reading Month
National GLBT Book Month
Pride Month
Rainbow Book Month
July
Self-Care Month
Third Wednesday of July: Take Your Poet to Work Day
30: Paperback Book Day
August
National Read A Romance Novel Month
Read-A-Romance Month
What Will Be Your Legacy Month
18: Bad Poetry Day
September
Be Kind to Editors & Writers Month
First Saturday of September: National Writing Date Day
18: Read an Ebook Day
24: Punctuation Day
Last week in September: Banned Books Week
October
National Cookbook Month
First full week in October: Great Books Week
First full week in October: Mystery Series Week
First Wednesday of October: Random Acts of Poetry Day
Thursday of second full week of October: Harry Potter Book Day
1: National BookIt! Day
1: National Poetry Day (UK)
16: Dictionary Day
17: Black Poetry Day
November
National Memoir Writing Month
First full week of November: National Book Awards Week
First full week of November: Childrens Book Week
1: National Author’s Day (also National Calzone Day)
15: I Love to Write Day
December
National Write A Business Plan Month
Sources Consulted
Use the links above to identify more holidays
that relate to your characters, plot, themes, or tropes (fiction)
that connect to who and how you inform, inspire, entertain, or educate people (nonfiction)
that speak to what you like or value that could serve as conversation starters (both)