This National Authors Day, We’re Celebrating Authors on a Mission to Make Reading Lit Again

Today, on National Authors Day, We Lit Academy is celebrating the storytellers whose work helps bring readers, families, and communities together.

Our mission is to make reading lit again—to help children discover books that excite their imaginations, reflect their lives, introduce them to new experiences, and remind them that reading can be fun. We’re grateful to the authors who have joined us in that mission and partnered with We Lit to help connect young readers with meaningful stories.

Among the authors who have partnered with us are Jessica Nicole McAnelly, Mark Allen Boone, Melissa A. Bent, M. Ann (Machen) Pritchard, Nichelle James St. Helen, Antoine Lunsford, and Jerod Simon. Each author brings a unique voice and creative vision to the world of children’s literature. Their partnership helps us continue building a welcoming space where young readers can explore books, discover new favorites, and grow their love of reading.

This mission is personal for our family, too. My sons, Elijah Smith and Isaiah Smith, are authors and work alongside me in our family business. Their creativity and involvement help bring the We Lit vision to life and show young people that they can be readers, storytellers, and part of a mission that makes a difference.

At We Lit Academy, books are more than something to read. They can spark curiosity, invite important conversations, build confidence, and create special moments between children and the people who care for them. Authors make those moments possible by putting their ideas, experiences, and imagination onto the page.

This National Authors Day, we’re celebrating these authors and all the writers whose stories inspire young readers. Thank you for joining us on our mission to make reading lit again. We’re proud to share this journey with you—and excited for all the stories still to come.