What if there was a free marketing calendar filled with hundreds of promotional opportunities every year?
Do you run out of social media ideas to market your book? Do you spend money on ads that don’t work? Do you struggle to make consistent posts?
Me too! All of it. Then it dawned on me to use the National Day Calendar as a prompt to post something every day, or at least more consistently.
Do you want to join me in the June challenge? It’s simple, just share something related to the National or World Day. You are welcome to link to your post in the comments!
June national celebrations include Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Pride Month, Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness, and many interesting days that I didn’t even know existed.
These days provide opportunities for authors to share stories related to the day. You can also use these special days as a prompt to share a story that helps readers connect with you.
For example, June is National Dairy Month and June 1st was World Milk Day. This reminds me of a field trip I took in elementary school to a milk factory in my hometown of Anderson, Indiana. One of the workers we passed on the tour told me chocolate milk came from black and white cows. I believed him until I repeated the story at home and was told the truth!
Today, June 2nd, is National VW Bus Day. This day reminds me of a big festival I dream of doing that combines the creative arts, a VegFest, and VW vehicles. Doesn’t that sound fun? I’m totally fine with anyone who wants to run with the idea. I would renew my passport to show up at this event!
I plan to post something related to these awareness days on Substack Notes and my Facebook page to continue the example and create consistency; which is the holy grail of success on Substack and social media.
Here is a partial list of National, World, and Awareness Days in June. The number represents the date. There are even more days than the ones listed on National Day Calendar:
World Milk Day, Go Barefoot Day, Pen Pal Day, and Nail Polish Day
Rocky Road Day, VW Bus Day
Egg Day, Repeat Day, World Cider Day
Hug Your Cat Day, Cheese Day
World Environment Day, Doughnut Day, Veggie Burger Day
Drive-in Movie Day, Yo-yo Day, Trails Day, Gardening Exercise Day
Cancer Survivors Day, World Caring Day, Oklahoma Day
World Ocean Day, Best Friends Day
Donald Duck Day, Forklift Safety Day, Earl Day
Ball Point Pen Day, Ice Tea Day, Herbs & Spices Day
Making Life Beautiful Day
Loving Day, Movie Night, Peanut Butter Cookie Day, Red Rose Day, Jerky Day
Random Acts of Light, Sewing Machine Day
Children’s Day, Flag Day, New Mexico Day, World Blood Donor Day
Big Boy Day, Smile Power Day, Photography Day
Bloomsday, Fudge Day, World Sea Turtle Day
Eat Your Vegetables Day, Root Beer Day, Mascot Day
International Picnic Day, Wanna Get Away Day, Splurge Day
Juneteenth, Garfield the Cat Day, Wear Blue Day
World Refugee Day, Hike with a Geek Day, American Eagle Day
Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, Yoga Day, Selfie Day, Smoothie Day, Arizona Day
Kissing Day, World Rainforest Day, VW Beetle Day
Pink Flamingo Day, Hydration Day
Patch Day, National Take Back the Lunch Break Day
Catfish Day, Log Cabin Day, Leon Day
Beautician’s Day, Take Your Dog to Work Day, Chocolate Pudding Day
Summersgiving, Ice Cream Cake Day, Mural Day, Sunglasses Day
Alaska Day, Paul Bunyan Day
Camera Day
Asteroid Day, Meteor Watch Day, Social Media Day
2026 Indie Authors, Book Lovers, & Creative Artists Calendar of Events
Book Marketing, Networking & Selling Opportunities
Do you want to connect with authors, meet book lovers, and sell more books? Check out these opportunities:
Bookworm Orchard Poetry & Prose Open Mic, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 6-8 PM, at Los Amores Cantina, located in the lower level of the Boston Hill Center, 428 S Washington St, Marion, Indiana. Opportunity to recite poetry or prose from your books. You are also welcome to read poems and stories from your favorite books; and share about your upcoming events. Each person at the mic has up to five minutes per round to share.
Sharing this one for local book and music lovers!
Hoosier Books and Media $1 Book Sale and $5 CD Bag Sale, Friday, June 5, 2026 - June 6, 2026, 8 AM - 5 PM. More than 60 boxes of new inventory. Books. DVDs, Blu-Rays, VHS. CDs. Vinyl Records. Donations accepted.Adult Book Fair, Saturday, June 20, 2026, 12-4 PM at the Science Project Brewing Company, 611 North Street, Logansport, Indiana. Join Teresa Keefer, The Freemans (Bob, Kim, Connor), Mona Mehas, and Laura Petrucce for a nostalgic, Scholastic-inspired event for grown-ups!
Indie Author Group Meetup, Saturday, June 27, 10-11 AM, Bookworm Orchard, 428 S Washington St, Suite 101, Marion, Indiana. Join fellow authors to talk shop and learn about upcoming bookish events.
ParaUnity: The Paranormal Convention, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10 AM - 5 PM, Miami County Fairgrounds, 1029 W 200 N, Peru, Indiana. Join Teresa Keefer and the Freemans (Bob, Kim, Connor) to mingle, do mock investigations, see a Vikings demonstration, and check out handmade spooky art, haunted decor, gothic fashion, crystal work, metaphysical crafts, and creepy collectibles.
Bookworm Orchard Halloween Book Event & Paranormal Panel. Join Teresa Keefer, Erin Hayden, and the Freemans (Bob, Kim, & Connor) Saturday, October 31, 2026, 2 - 8 PM for an evening of supernatural fun! If you are an author or vendor interested in setting up at this event, please complete the Author Interest Form.
Check out these resources for other book fairs, author events, festivals, and book marketing opportunities:
Do you have an upcoming book signing or event to share? Post in the comments or email kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
Thank You!
Thank you for reading the June issue of Indie Author Insights (#74). I hope you found it helpful. You can share information about your books, events, and what you want to see in future editions by emailing kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
Special thanks to Indie Author Insights patrons and Indie Authors Association members:
Ashley Gary Johnson of Vita Continuat, Bess Sturgis Chris McWhirt, Christopher Stolle, Fleur Hull, Jennifer Huston Schaeffer, Jill Ebstein, J.J. Devine, Kay Castaneda, Karen Smiley, Leland P. Gamson, Lloyd Mullins, Morgana Shea, Mike Nelson (Michael Deeze), Nancy Nau Sullivan, Paul Cobbin, Sarah Styf, Teresa Keefer, Tina Susedik, and Wendy Mayhew.
Thanks also to the Substack Publications recommending Indie Author Insights! Here are the top three:
Self-Publishing with Dale (Highly recommend for indie authors)
Thank you for supporting independent authors. We appreciate you!
Welcome New Subscribers
Amblka Thompson, Glenna Gill, Greg Lukas, Julie Swanson, Maryelizabeth Hancock, OccultDetective, Pedro Góis Nogueira, and Randy Elrod | Barcelona, Susan Sage
We look forward to getting to know you!
Kathy Gerstorff
WriterKat
Indie Authors Association
Bookworm Orchard
Stories From The Orchard anthology proceeds benefit our Bookworm Orchard bookstore startup.
Thank you for your support!
Still Here?
Check out this post by Jill Cooper. Pure gold!
