World Book Day

Today is World Book Day!


World Book and Copyright Day was established by UNESCO in 1995 as a way of celebrating and discovering the joys of reading. It is inspired by a Catalonian tradition of commemorating 23 April, the anniversary of the death of author Miguel de Cervantes, through book fairs and street festivals. 23 April happens also to be the date of both the birth and death of William Shakespeare and the birthday of Nobel Literature Laureate Halldór Laxness. This week Nobelprize.org pays tribute to all Nobel Laureates in Literature - authors who have produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction".
(text from nobelprize.org)

Being a writer, with many writer friends, both published and unpublished, I hope you'll consider celebrating the day by buying something from your favorite author. Or perhaps buy a book for a child in your life, and if you can, read it out loud to him/her. Two great gifts for a child are instilling a joy of reading, and taking the time to share the joy together.

If you feel so moved, consider donating to a literacy charity - I love First Book (www.firstbook.org).

I have gone most of my life without a favorite author. So many out there, so many great stories and wordsmiths. In the last few years, I have discovered a couple, though, that have certainly made it to the top of my list, and I thought I'd share them here, along with some other past favorites.


No one writes a better story than Eva Ibbotson. Possibly best known for The Secret of Platform 13, Which Witch and other children's books, Ibbotson also wrote a few historical romances. Mostly set in the years directly before or after WWI or during WWII, these books have touched me in ways nothing has since I was a teenager. Also, after years of being out of print, they have recently been re-released by Puffin. I don't usually reread books, but I find myself pulling these off the shelf a few times a year, if only to be inspired by a favorite scene. Not only are the details beautiful, the writing is exquisite. Amazing, poignant, with perfectly crafted plots and characters, I defy you not to be swept away by these books:

A Company of Swans * The Countess Below Stairs

A Song for Summer * The Morning Gift * Magic Flutes

Thanks to my writing partner, I have also discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

A powerhouse in the romance industry, I mainly ignored her because her most famous works involved Alpha-male athletes. Not interested. Ah, said my partner gamely, you'll still be carried away. I guarantee it. Hmmm. That sounded vaguely like a challenge. So I picked one up. And couldn't put it down. They may be athletes, but they're definitely not dumb jocks. SEP writes characters you get behind, and puts people together you never would have thought would be right for one another, but turn out to be so perfect, that you could never imagine anyone else for them. A formula of alchemic proportions. A funny, touching, heart-racing set of stories that leaves you wanting more. (Warning: SEP only writes a book every year or so, so once you've read them all, it's hard to wait for the next one. Sigh.)

Another romance favorite, as well as somewhat of a mentor/cheerleader in my own writing life is Mary Jo Putney. I especially loved her Bride Trilogy and her Fallen Angel Series.

I've enjoyed the Harry Potter books -- the books that changed the way the world reads -- and the anticipation of waiting for the last three of them at midnight. Sharing them with my sons has been a special pleasure.

For the sheer joy and beauty of language, look into Isak Dinesen, the author on whose life Out of Africa was vaguely based. Consider Jane Austen or the Bronte Sisters. (And take a second to think how blessed we are that these intrepid women had the audacity to write!) For a fascinating peek into a lost world, even then in transition, check out A Moveable Feast, Hemingway's memoir written of his early days as a young writer and husband in Paris in the 1920's, or anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald, but especially The Great Gatsby.

Remind yourself just how amazing your days are by counting your blessings. If you need a little help, try A Short Guide to A Happy Life, by Anna Quindlen,



Nothing inspires me so much as a good book. I hope you feel the same joy, the same sense of celebration that I do when I come across some piece of writing that makes me think, dream, or act. I hope today, in honor of World Book Day and life in general, you'll pick up a good book and smile at the sheer pleasure of it.