Unusual November holidays for book promotion: 27 you didn’t expect, but will love

Want to add a little sunshine to your book marketing next month? Use these fun, quirky, and unexpected November holidays for book promotion.

November might be my least favorite month.

Our signature stunning fall leaves in the Northeastern U.S. have dropped.

It gets dark early – too early – so I have to add extra post-work walking gear that includes a reflective vest and a beanie with a built-in light.

And it’s just plain cold.

Yuck.

Still…. I’ll admit it’s not all bad.

I mean, I can use my wood-burning fireplace again. It’s also a good time to bring out the candles I tuck away during warmer months when open doors and windows fill my home with my favorite scent: fresh air.

I’ll spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family, too. Amen for that!

November also brings authors a remarkable assortment of unexpected and unusual holidays to link your book to in fun and creative ways.

November book promotion opportunity inspiration

What’s the best way to take advantage of so many unusual November book promotion opportunities listed below?

Be open-minded and creative!

Here are a few examples to get you started. No matter what you do with the calendar dates you choose, find a way to connect the holidays to your book so your content serves a promotional purpose.

November 2, Look for Circles Day

Are you a children’s book author?

Do you write about relationships?

Do friendships play a significant role in your novel?

I know people who are always on the lookout for something specific – a “lucky” penny, heart shapes, a specific number with meaning for them.

Let’s add circles to the options for just one day.

Here are a few ideas:

• Create a shape-search worksheet for children as a lead magnet or to distribute during author visits. (See “Unlocking the magic: 10 tips for crafting irresistible children’s book freebies” by Chelsea Tornetto.)
• Write a long-form social media post about a specific “circle of life” you’ve experienced. For example, I might write about how moving my oldest daughter into her first college dorm room generated immediate flashbacks to my college move-in day so many (many) years ago.
• Write a newsletter article about the role friendship circles play in your life.

November 15, America Recycles Day

Did you write a crafting book?

Does one of your characters like to buy used clothing at consignment shops and online?

Does your book touch on environmental topics?

I’m a big fan of recycling, whether we’re talking about trash or content I create. It makes the world a better place.

• Write and distribute a tip sheet-type press release that defines “wishcycling” and lists the most common items people try to recycle, but can’t. Include those they can recycle but often don’t.  
• Create and share an Instagram carousel that quizzes followers on recycling best practices.
• Create a video tutorial on how to recycle a commonly discarded item into something useful. My mom repurposed 1-liter plastic soda bottles into finch feeders that dispensed thistle seed, for example.

November 16, Button Day

Did you write a nonfiction book about fashion, or is does your fiction include a fashion-focused character?

Did you write a crafting book?

Does one of your characters have trouble keeping their lips buttoned?

This one’s for my creative cousin Sylvia, who wrote Haiku for Button Lovers and creates award-winning button art.

• Write a blog post about how sorting and counting buttons helps young children learn their numbers and develop fine motor skills.
• Fill a jar with buttons, post a photo of it, and challenge your followers to guess how many there are. Give the winner your book as a prize.
• Invite friends to your home or a community center to create button art. Document all of it with photos to post on social media.

Get suggestions for three other quirky November holidays here, too.

Your unusual November holidays for book promotion

Here’s a partial list of the November marketing opportunities you can add to next month’s book promotion calendar.

Get the full list at Holiday Insights – and be sure to look ahead to coming months, too.

• November 1 World Vegan Day
• November 2 Look for Circles Day
• November 2 Plan Your Epitaph Day
• November 3 Cliché Day
• November 4 Use Your Common Sense Day
• November 5 Men Make Dinner Day
• November 7 National Bison Day
• November 8 Cook Something Bold Day
• November 9 Chaos Never Dies Day
• November 13 Friday the 13th
• November 13 World Kindness Day
• November 14 Loosen Up Day
• November 14 Pumpkin Destruction Day
• November 15 America Recycles Day
• November 15 Clean Your Refrigerator Day
• November 16 Button Day
• November 16 International Tolerance Day
• November 17 Homemade Bread Day
• November 17 Take a Hike Day
• November 19 Have a Bad Day Day
• November 20 Absurdity Day
• November 20 False Confession Day
• November 25 Blasé Day
• November 25 National Jukebox Day
• November 27 Pins and Needles Day
• November 29 Square Dance Day
• November 30 National Mason Jar Day

Be sure to check out the list of book-related occasions during November in our 2026 literary calendar, too. (Coming soon: our 2027 literary calendar.)

Which of these fun and unusual November holidays can you connect to your book? How will you use this list next month to create engagement while calling attention to your book in a lighthearted way? Tell us in a comment!