Former Bedford resident Michelle Medlock Adams is helping to promote a new holiday that will be celebrated on Nov. 15.

Adams, now a freelance writer and inspirational author living in Fort Worth, Texas, is helping to promote I Love To Write Day. She was named Writer of the Year at the annual Write To Publish Conference, which took place in June in Illinois.

Among Adams's books are Living the Love Chapter; Why I Love You, God; Little Lessons From a Big God; Sister for Sale;and United We Stand: Real Kid Heroes.

Adams is one of two national authors quoted in a news release from John Riddle, the founder of I Love To Write Day. The focus of the news release is on what media personality would be the "perfect choice" to tell the country about I Love to Write Day.

Riddle reported, "Oprah received 1,846 votes, and Letterman was a close second with 1,845 votes."

Riddle, a writer from Delaware, travels the country presenting at writer's conferences. Adams was one of more than 7,000 writers and authors Riddle polled to see what media personality they would like to see "spread the word" about I Love to Write Day.

Adams said, "I think Oprah would be the perfect person to tell America about I Love to Write Day because of her journalistic integrity and her devotion to esteemed writers such as Maya Angelou. Oprah has been inspiring America for years, and this would be another great opportunity for her to do it again.... Every time she speaks, she writes on the hearts of men and women across this great nation."

After Letterman's 1,845 votes, Regis and Kelly finished third with 1,004 votes, followed by Katie Couric with 817. Rounding out the list were: Phil Donahue, 502 votes; Jay Leno, 336 votes, Conan O'Brien, 281 votes; Barbara Walters, 278 votes; Don Imus, 245 votes, and the self-proclaimed "King of All Media," Howard Stern, last with 114 votes.

On Nov. 15, one million authors, writers, editors, reporters, journalists, teachers, librarians and other volunteers are expected to help mark I Love To Write Day. On that day, people of all ages will be encouraged to write a poem, a love letter, an essay or a letter to the editor or to start a novel or finish a novel.

Volunteers will assist at schools, libraries, bookstores, community centers, senior centers, malls and other places in helping people discover the joy that comes from writing.

More than 4,500 schools have signed up to offer activities, and a number of publishers are donating books to classrooms that come up with the most creative way to participate in I Love To Write Day. Jane McFann, an English teacher at Glasgow High School in Delaware and an author of 15 books, including Hide and Seek is supporting I Love To Write Day.

McFann said, "Writing is wonderful because it is a great skill to take into any career, and it has a way of clarifying one's thoughts. It is amazing how one skill can touch so many aspects of a person's life."

Interested individuals are encouraged to visit www.ilovetowriteday.org for more information about the Nov. 15 observance.