On National Authors’ Day, we’d like to thank authors for transporting us to new and old worlds with their writing. Thanks to them, our imaginations are given wings to fly on adventures without us ever having to leave the comfort of our reading nooks.

"The way they can weave words into such vivid imagery and make us feel so connected to the characters and places they write about will always amaze me."

I’ve been fascinated by authors ever since I was a child. The way they can weave words into such vivid imagery and make us feel so connected to the characters and places they write about will always amaze me. I remember the first time I met an author. Our teacher had invited him to our classroom so he could read from his poetry book. The poems were funny, but when he read them, magic happened! His passion oozed out of his words, and the pride he took in his poems was contagious. I remember thinking he must have had the best job in the world. And he inspired me, that day and for years to come, to enjoy writing for the fun of it. To take pride in what I created with my words.

Now that I’ve started working in the publishing industry, I get to meet authors all the time. I attend book launch events and still feel their passion and pride emanate from them as they read from their works. Their mystique is still not lost on me, years later. But my admiration for them has grown because now, as an adult, I understand all the hours and hard work they put into their writing.

"...attend their next event so you, too, can feel the magic that happens when an author reads from his or her book." 

So what can you do to honour your favourite authors today? Find them on social media or leave a comment on their website and let them know how greatly you appreciate their books. Support them by buying their books, either for yourself or to introduce a friend to your favourite author. Write about them on your blog, if you have one. Or, and I really recommend this one, attend their next event so you, too, can feel the magic that happens when an author reads from his or her book.