Who says you can't declare your own national holiday?

Hello, reader friends!

Every year for my best friend's birthday, I send her a pound of coffee and a few books I think she'll enjoy. (Two years ago, it was Gone With The Wind, while this year I sent her the first three Flowers In The Attic books by V.C. Andrews -- remember those????) Every year, it gives me absolute, pure pleasure to choose books for her, and I know I love receiving books as gifts, too, and ... somewhere along the way, I thought, "There oughta be a holiday...."

Well, now there is. Last year, I boldly declared June 15 National Give A Girlfriend A Book Day. I and 500+ Facebook friends decided that on that day, we'd give a copy of one of our favorite books to a girlfriend. This year, I invite you to join us.

Here's the pitch:

Which stories have you loved that a girlfriend might love, too?

Has your best friend read Gone With the Wind yet?

Which book would you grab in a fire if you could only grab one -- and which friend should know this about you?

A book is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give. Whether a classic, a favorite from your shelf, or a hot bestseller, when you give a girlfriend a book, you're being an AWESOME friend.

June 15 is give, give, give a book day. It doesn't matter if it's a new book or a favorite from your shelf. The point is -- When you give a book to a girlfriend, you're also giving her permission to relax...to take it easy...and to escape into a good story where there are no dishes for her to wash, no laundry for her to do, no little kids to get to bed. Give, give, give a girlfriend a book!

Make a girlfriend super happy - give her a book on June 15!

That's all for now. Hope you're having a lovely summer.