I always get so many happy comments and emails when I run these wacky holiday lists that I’m going to try to do it more often. These unusual special occasions give you a chance to get creative – and smile.

The goal is to find one or more wacky May holidays from the short list below or the expanded list on HolidayInsights that relates to your book. Use that occasion as a starting point for any number of book promotion tactics.

Winning ways with wacky May holidays

If you haven’t done this sort of thing before, here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Write a blog post that connects the holiday to your book. Do you write mysteries? Use May 11, “Twilight Zone Day,” to reminisce about the episode that scared you the most. The author of a book on how to get organized can use “Lost Sock Memorial Day” to write about how to avoid honoring that holiday by using a simple trick that prevents lost socks.
• Host a contest. Ask your readers to nominate their favorite school nurse for May 9, “School Nurses Day.” The winner you select will receive a copy of your book as a thank you gift. As part of the nomination process, require people to do something specific, such as like your Facebook page or follow you on Pinterest or Instagram.
• Write and distribute a tip sheet related to a holiday with a connection to your book. Is your book about wealth management? Create a tip sheet for “Be a Millionaire Day” that provides advice on how to do that for longer than a day.

May’s wacky days

Let these wacky holidays inspire your creativity.

• May 1 Mother Goose Day
• May 3 Garden Meditation Day
• May 4 International Tuba Day
• May 6 Beverage Day
• May 6 No Diet Day
• May 8 No Socks Day
• May 9 Lost Sock Memorial Day
• May 9 School Nurses Day
• May 10 Clean up Your Room Day
• May 11 Eat What You Want Day
• May 11 Twilight Zone Day
• May 12 Limerick Day
• May 14 Dance Like a Chicken Day
• May 17 Pack Rat Day
• May 18 No Dirty Dishes Day
• May 20 Be a Millionaire Day
• May 25 National Brown Bag It Day
• May 25 National Towel Day
• May 25 National Wine Day
• May 25 Tap Dance Day
• May 28 National Hamburger Day

Don’t forget to use the more traditional May occasions such as Mother’s Day, college commencements, and high school graduations as jumping off points, too. Reporters and producers in particular are always looking for a fresh approach to an old favorite.

Have you ever used a holiday to help promote your book? What did you do? Tell us in a comment.