“Do what you can to show you care about other people and you will make our world a better place.”
Category Archives: News
For Those Who Never Came Home
From fellow blogger Alastair with “A Mixed Bag”.
Veteran’s Day 2023
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November 2023 Literary Calendar
Events in the month of November for writers and readers
National Family Literacy Month
National Memoir Writing Month
Native American Heritage Month
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Picture Book Month
- November 1 – Author’s Day; Day of the Dead; World Vegan Day
- November 2 – All Soul’s Day; International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
- November 4 – Book Lovers Day
- November 9 – International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism; World Adoption Day; World Freedom Day
- November 10 – World Science Day for Peace and Development
- November 11 – Veterans Day (U.S.)
- November 12 – World Pneumonia Day
- November 13 – World Kindness Day
- November 14 – Young Readers Day
- November 15 – I Love to Write Day
- November 16 – International Day for Tolerance; World Philosophy Day
- November 18 – Margaret Atwood’s Birthday; High-Five a Librarian Day
- November 19 – International Men’s Day
- November 21 – Voltaire’s Birthday
- November 23 – Thanksgiving (U.S.)
- November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- November 29 – Louisa May Alcott’s Birthday
- November 30 – International Computer Security Day
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2023
“If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come.”
Native American Proverb (Arapaho)
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Banned Books Week 2023 – October 1-7
Today is the start of “Banned Books Week 2023” – the annual pronouncement against literary censorship. Every year we have to deal with this. It’s a war that will never be won, since there will always be those who think they know what’s best for society and what everyone should read. They may win small battles in particular communities and in certain school districts. But we can never let them win the overall conflict.
Writing coach and fellow blogger Dan Blank is a true supporter of writers and other artists. In his most recent post, he made this proclamation:
“There has never been a better time to be a writer. The world has never been more open to hearing a wide range of ideas & stories, and embracing the voice of each individual – including you!”
One of Dan’s mantras is simple, yet profound:
“I believe that you should GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO CREATE. Put craft first and accept that the world needs what you create. You are ready to be seen and heard as a creator. Don’t follow trends and rush for the easy “like” on social media.”
Indeed, to all my fellow writers and artists, don’t ask for others to grant you permission to create your particular brand of art!
The Heart Has No Wrinkles
This is a simple, yet extraordinary post from fellow blogger Catnip of Life. Indeed, the heart never gets wrinkled! Thank you, Sharla!
“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
It is inevitable for the wrinkles of life to show their ‘ugly’ signs throughout the aging process. For some, the signs of aging appear much earlier than others. How soon they appear and the deepness of their appearance depends upon life itself…its ups & downs, as well as detours along the way.
“Wave the magic wand!” we might say at some point. Ah-h-h-h, if only that would work but then we could find ourselves in the midst of a global storm! Yet, if we were without those wrinkles, what would that say about our lives? Would we have truly lived? Would we have smiled and laughed, as well as frowned and cried? Or, would our faces look pasty without any indications of former emotion?
Reflect back on times in your life perhaps when a wrinkle might have first appeared. What was your reaction? Did signs of any wrinkling change the love and compassion you feel in your heart? To love and to be loved never ages regardless if wrinkles appear!
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October 2023 Literary Calendar
Events in the month of October for writers and readers
National Book Month
National Reading Group Month
- October 1-7 – Banned Books Week
- October 1 – International Coffee Day; International Day of Older Persons; International Music Day
- October 2 – Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday; International Day of Non-Violence
- October 4-10 – World Space Week
- October 4 – World Animal Day
- October 5 – Robert Hutchings Goddard’s Birthday; National Poetry Day in the UK; World Teacher’s Day
- October 6 – Thor Heyerdahl’s Birthday; Mad Hatter Day; World Smile Day
- October 7 – Desmond Tutu’s Birthday
- October 9 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- October 10 – World Against the Death Penalty; World Homeless Day; World Mental Health Day
- October 11 – Myth and Legends Day
- October 13 – International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
- October 14 – E.E. Cummings’ Birthday; World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
- October 15-21 – National Friends of Libraries Week
- October 15 – Mario Puzo’s Birthday
- October 15 – International Day of Rural Women
- October 16 – Noah Webster’s Birthday; Dictionary Day; World Food Day
- October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Day; World Trauma Day
- October 20 – National Day on Writing
- October 21 – Alfred Nobel’s Birthday
- October 23 – Michael Crichton’s Birthday
- October 25 – Anne Tyler’s Birthday; International Artist Day; World Opera Day
- October 27 – Dylan Thomas’ Birthday; National Tell a Story Day in Scotland and the UK
- October 28 – International Animation Day
- October 29 – First Internet Message; World Stroke Day
- October 30 – Ezra Pound’s Birthday
- October 31 – John Keats’ Birthday
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Happy Labor Day 2023
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September 2023 Literary Calendar
Events in the month of September for writers and readers
Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month
Library Card Sign Up Month
National Literacy Month
Read a New Book Month (also December)
World Alzheimer’s Month
- September 1 – World Letter Writing Day
- September 4 – Richard Wright’s Birthday; Labor Day (U.S.); World Sexual Health Day
- September 5 – International Day of Charity
- September 6 – Fight Procrastination Day; Read a Book Day
- September 7 – Newspaper Carrier Day
- September 8 – International Literacy Day; World Physiotherapy Day
- September 9 – International Day to Protect Education from Attack
- September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
- September 11 – Patriot Day (U.S.)
- September 13 – Roald Dahl’s Birthday; International Chocolate Day
- September 15 – Agatha Christie’s Birthday; Marco Polo’s Birthday; International Day of Democracy; National Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 16 – Oktoberfest; International Coastal Cleanup Day; International Day for Preservation of the Ozone
- September 18 – Read an E-book Day
- September 20 – Upton Sinclair’s Birthday
- September 21 – Stephen King’s Birthday; International Day of Peace; World Gratitude Day
- September 22 – Dear Diary Day; Hobbit Day; World Rose Day
- September 24 – F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Birthday; National Punctuation Day; World Rivers Day
- September 25 – National Comic Book Day; World Dream Day
- September 26 – T.S. Eliot’s Birthday
- September 29 – Miguel de Cervantes’ Birthday; International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste; National Coffee Day (U.S.); World Heart Day
- September 30 – Truman Capote’s Birthday; International Translation Day; National Ghost Hunting Day; World Maritime Day
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Chief Writing Wolf 