Who are your favorite modern day authors and why?

Hmmm... lemme see. Well, as my wife & I peruse through all the books on my shelves and stacked in our tiny apartment with our 2 dogs, I am kinda addicted to technical books; books on the Elements of Writing (Strunk & White), Steps in (any type of) Art (Boris Vallejo/Stan Lee/Joe Kubreck/William Hogarth) and the like. I do read my Bible, and many classics such as Plutarch, Hemingway, and many others in too many places to mention.

But, the ones with the worse spines that I cherich dearly:

* Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson (R. Steadman's art says SO much about the written chaos!)

* The English Patient by Michael Ondaajte

* Guilty Pleasures by Laurel K. Hamilton

* Jarhead by Anthony Swofford

* Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

* The Plot by Will Eisner (a amazing graphic novel)

* Sin City by Frank Miller (waaaaaaaaaaay before it was a movie I loved the images created and the hard-boiled story telling)

I have dreams to also be published and to smile at the people as they chat or ask or want to know more. That's my own personal vanity; I think the hardest part of writing it telling the story in your heart and head, and letting your soul help you feel the page and the words.

Good luck with your dreams!

Jaime

I love Dean Koontz. His books are captivating. They really hold my attention, although I was just a little disappointed with the ending of "Cold Fire". Nonetheless, I love him, and I am looking forward to his next book that is awaiting me, "Velocity".

I am currently reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. This is the first time I've read her work. She is very good. I love her style...really brings the characters to life...gives you a good visual of what is occuring.

I also love anything by John Grisham. I love the suspense and intrigue. He is brilliant!

PS...I hope to become a great author, like yourself. I am currently working on a book that I hope to publish the beginning of next year. I am almost near completion...on Chapter 11 of a 14 Chapter non-fiction book. I am going to self-publish using Xulon Press.

I wish you must success in your writing endeavors!

Well, when it comes to modern authors, then I must say I just love Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell. The first time I read their books, I immediately fell in love. Great story-tellers, always with original ideas.

Right now I'm collecting their books, so ... yeah, I'm busy ^_^

Quick note: Lois Lowry does NOT write horror (though she did write The Giver). Joan Lowery Nixon writes YA mystery/horror-ish stories, perhaps that is who the one answer-er was thinking of in that sense? I, also, recommend "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, as well as the sequels "Gathering Blue" and "Messanger." By L. M. Montgomery: Most people think "Anne of Green Gables," but I say "Emily of New Moon," "Emily Climbs" and "Emily's Quest." I also did a book report on "The Blue Castle" when I was in 7th grade, but had read it first in 6th. For a fantasy lover, "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman is really good - there are two other books in the "His Dark Materials" series, "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass." Also, he has some mysteries that feature Sally Lockheart, which I read at some point in middle school, but I can't remember if it was early or late. The first one is "The Ruby in the Smoke." If she likes mysteries, she's probably about old enough to start reading books by Agatha Christie and definitely Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Cynthia Voight books - Homecoming, Dicey's Song, the Callender Papers, etc. Hope this helps!

Omg there are soooo many writers that I love!

Robert Jordan-The Wheel of Time series.

Anne Rice-The Vampire Chronicles

Trudi Canavan- Priestess of the White,Last of the Wilds...

James Patterson

Patricia Cornwell....nd loooads more!!

Sidney Sheldon. He always leaves you wanting to get your hands on a sequel of the book because the stories are so great. Every one is full of twists and keeps you glued to the book.

Eoin Cofler (Artemus Fowl series) and Jonathan Stroud (Bartlemaeus trilogy).

Both have crafted a rich fantasy world with compelling stories to go along with it

Anne Rice and Paulo Coelho. :)

Why? well, for me all their works are the BEST!

:)

i dont read