Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Top 10 Authors I'd Like to Meet (Top 10 Tuesday)

It's that time of the week again: Top 10 Tuesday with The Broke and The Bookish. This week's theme is Top 10 Authors you want to meet. 

Seeing as I live in the backend of nowhere, I haven't met a lot of big time or international authors. On the other hand, I have a bunch of Michigan author meetings. Regardless, most of the authors I really want to meet are dead, which is slightly more backend of nowhere than West Michigan.

Well duh

I'm still waiting on the TARDIS, so while the Doctor is off saving the universe, I'll just content myself with a list of living authors I want to meet.
 If any of you have read previous top 10s of mine, you can probably name at least two of them. So I'll start with one that is not Neil Gaiman or Robin McKinley (though their inclusion is inevitable):

1. Matthew Pearl

If you can't actually time travel, there are a few authors that make you feel like you can. Matthew Pearl is one of them. I love his historical fiction. I'm reading The Last Bookaneer right now and it's really good. I am so impressed with his ability to incorporate historical figures and events into his story without changing or contradicting them. The Dante Club is my favorite.

2. Erik Larson

Larson is Pearl's nonfiction equivalent. Erik Larson writes about history like it's a first-rate thriller, weaving events together in a way that only a master of research and words can do. With my keen interest in the past, I love any book that makes you feel there, and Larson's books always do. I would love to learn about all of the things he's researched for his books. (My favorite is Devil in the White City)

3. J. K. Rowling

Do I have to explain? Is there a reader/writer out there who wouldn't like to pick Rowling's brain? Frankly, I'd like to know more about her rejection letters, some of the responses she got from publishers, and why she kept plugging on. I know she's under a lot of popular pressure now that she's crazy famous, and it would be interesting to know if she ever misses anonymity.
This is an awesome Zelda cosplay, btw

Naturally, my favorite is Harry Potter.

4. Marissa Meyer

When I randomly picked up Cinder (confession, it was the cover) and saw that it was a cyborg Cinderella, it was a rare insta-buy moment for me. I hadn't heard anything about it, but you can't get more up my alley than a cyborg, fairytales, and space combo. The anime influences were a bonus. I'd like to meet Marissa because we like a lot of the same things, and she seems like such a cool person, so open and fun. I'm not sure which one of the Lunar Chronicles I like best, but I am very excited about Winter, and I can't wait to see what Meyer comes up with next.
Awesome picture credit here
I envy every one of you that lives in a major city, because you've probably had a chance to meet Neil Gaiman. Honestly, I'd rather have tea and chat with him than most authors. He is fabulous on the radio, so funny and engaging. I love his novels, and I would be honored to "talk shop" with him. But I'd settle for just meeting him and telling him what an impact his words have had on me (I'm sure that gets old, but what can you do?).

This picture is epic
Jonathan Maberry convinced me to read not one, but 5+ zombie novels. I liked every one of them. That was a major accomplishment. The mixture of action, thrills, philosophy, humor, heart, and wonderful characters in his novels got me (even though I don't care for zombies). I would like to hear more about why Maberry likes zombies (who knows, he might convince me?), his thoughts on real-world Bushido and samurai history, and I'm not sure if I want to thank him or curse him for Tom Imura.* 
Even if you are a very casual Robin McKinley reader, I dare you to not enjoy her blog. She is a fabulous writer, and her wry sense of humor is in full force on her blog. 
As for her novels, there isn't much I haven't already said: I love them. They are lifelong favorites, and I'd love to tell her that in person. My favorite is still The Hero and the Crown, although Chalice is a close second.

8. Susanna Clarke

Susanna Clarke, of course, wrote one of my all-time favorite novels, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. If no one has convinced you to read it, then read this lovely BBC article and reconsider. Susanna Clarke is funny and smart, well read, loves magicians, and is very interested in history. Why wouldn't I want to meet her?

For more of his work click here

9. D. M. Cornish


Though he is currently in between projects (I think), I love the layered world of Cornish's Monster Blood Tattoo series.

In addition to writing a fantasy series with a rich world and fascinating characters, D. M. Cornish can draw. The series ( a bit like Oliver Twist with monster hunters and the moors of a Bronte novel) is completely illustrated by Cornish. Which is awesome.


I don't really know much about Megan Whalen Turner besides the basics. What I do know is that she wrote one of my favorite series in the history of the world: The Queen's Thief series. I love her characters, her writing style, and again, her love of history. I'd like to sit down and get all the details on the series, the characters, and her inspiration. 

So that's all for this week. Did you have any of the same authors, or have you met any of them? Which authors would you like to meet and why?

Cheers!

Footnotes:
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18 comments:

  1. Love your top four! I read The Last Bookaneer and enjoyed it. I love that when authors can pull in real people from history and make it work with their story. I want to try more from him. And Devil in the White City was fantastic! I wish Erik Larsen had been my history teacher in school, I would have learned so much more. :)

    I used a TARDIS in my list for two of my authors.
    http://hiddenstaircase.net/2015/05/12/ttt-top-ten-authors-i-really-want-to-meet/

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    1. I know! It is amazing how much more history you retain when you have a good writer/teacher, and when they draw all the connections for you.

      Thanks for stopping by, and I'll head over to check out your list.
      (My gut says there will be a lot of TARDIS mentions today!)

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  2. I like your list! I would also add Tolkien. :)

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    1. Tolkien would actually be my number one if he were alive (or if I didn't make rules for myself this time around). He is my number one most influential author, for sure!
      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  3. I've met Marissa Meyer and Jonathan Maberry! Fun people! I want to meet a lot of the authors on your list!

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    1. Lucky you! I love both of their unique twists on their subjects, and they do seem like a lot of fun.
      Thanks for dropping by!

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  4. I'd love to meet J.K. Rowling and Marissa Meyer, too. Hopefully one day it'll happen for both of us! I'm in Ireland, and authors from the States don't visit that often :( (And, if they do visit, I usually find out about it AFTER they've left! *sobs*) Great list, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  5. Ireland, awesome! It is on my top 10 countries to visit list, (when I do that list). Likewise, authors from Ireland, Scotland, or even England don't really make it to Michigan! We're basically a giant peninsula sticking out of the US, so it's not really on the way to anywhere. (There's easier roads to Canada, for example!)
    I usually find out about everything after its over. Story of my life.
    Thanks for stopping by in return :)

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  6. Megan Whalen Turner is a good choice. I loved The Thief; I really should attempt the rest of the series again...

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    1. Confession: I haven't read the 4th one yet. However, I did read her original 3 repeatedly, and "The King of Attolia" is actually my favorite.

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  7. I was sold at Cyborg Cinderella too ;)

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    1. It is the best hook, isn't it?
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. Oh yes I have JK Rowling on my list too. Would love to meet her.

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  9. Omg I completely forgot Neil Gaiman!!! Great list :D

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    1. I felt like that whenever I saw Harper Lee! I had been planning on putting her in for number 9, but then I got distracted . . .
      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  10. Great list! And thank you for stopping by my TTT!

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