I think a lot of us have that author who is an “auto buy” for us: We don’t read the reviews; don’t read the book blurb or the jacket copy. We just buy. We know this author will never let us down. …
For me, my most consistent auto-buy is Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I like her romantic comedies better than her “movie star books” (I call them), but either way, she never lets me down. She has a great blend of humor and sweetness in all her books, and the writing is always excellent. Her sentences always manage to surprise me with a great turn of phrase or a fun way of expressing something, and her writing is always creative and well-crafted — never cliche or repetitive.
Not only is she an auto-buy for me, but I always know what book she’s working on next (because I eagerly read her web site!) and always know its release date. I’m totally one of those standing in Borders, buying it the day it comes out. …
Who is your favorite “auto-buy” author?
I used to have “auto-buy” authors but too often I find their repertoire inconsistent so I have stopped doing that. For example, my most favorite books are The Sparrow and Children of God by Mary Doria Russell – but since then she’s been writing historical fiction that doesn’t come close to measuring up to these two so I’m hugely disappointed every time I read one of her new books. Or I’ve had a few Richard Powers books that I love but them some of his others are so bizarre and difficult to get through. I used to buy/read every Jodi Picoult book but lately I’ve grown bored of her.
But I do have a dozen or so authors that I follow regularly and anxiously await a new release – the newest one being Yann Martel (Life of Pi author has a new release). Then I try to assess whether or not I want to read the new release. And if I find a book by an author that I’ve never read before and I love it I try to read some of their other previous works to see if they’re a ‘must read all’ author.
Stephanie Laurens, Jayne Krentz, Nora Roberts, Laurell K. Hamilton, Christine Feehan (mostly), Jan Karon, Mercedes Lackey are the authors that come to mind… I have a very diverse book collection.
.-= Kyra´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Definitely Joan Didion … but unfortunately, her books (in our generation) are too few and far between. If I was a book-buying adult in the 1960’s and 1970’s, she would definitely be on my autobuy list. (Though we wouldn’t have had the autobuy concept yet, huh?!?!)
Lauran — Yes, that’s the bummer part, huh, when your “auto-buys” start disappointing you sometimes and slowly become “sometimes-buys”? I feel that way about Margaret Atwood. I used to automatically pick up anything new she had, but the dystopia stuff just doesn’t move me, so she’s been shuffled off my “auto” list. (Now I simply prefer to re-read her old stuff!) Interesting that Mary Doria Russell moved into historical — I didn’t know that! And Yann (’cause, you know, he and I are on a first-name basis!) is coming out with a new book? Great — we may have to add that to the book club list!
Kyra — That’s a long list! You must spend a fortune in books! Some of those I haven’t read — I might have to write you and get some specific recommendations. …
Adam — You’re a Joan Didion fan?!? Very cool. I loved “Salvador” in the ’80s, but I didn’t really read anything else of hers until recently (“The Year of Magical Thinking,” which was so beautifully written, but almost so sad I could hardly make it through). What’s your favorite Didion book?
Iris Johansen, Linda Howard, Nalini Singh, and Nora Roberts. Hands down. But for the record any friends of mine who get published… they are a given, yes that includes you.
There are probably more, but I’m a bit fuzzy today. 🙂
.-= Crystal Posey´s last blog ..Painful Reading =-.
Oh, Crystal! We must discuss Nalini Singh! Because I’ve heard her recommended on many, many blogs and websites now, but I need to know which book I should start with. If you don’t respond here, I’ll touch base with you on Twitter about this. …
And P.S. thank you ahead of time for making me an “autobuy” if/when I get published! (Will you remember that comment when your pain meds wear off?) 🙂
ROFL Of course I’ll remember! The meds weren’t THAT strong. LOL Funny. It’s been an interesting four days.
Nalini Sing has two series, both of which I’m addicted to. In fact her newest one the Guild Hunter Series… the main couple is slowly becoming one of the best in my fiction world. I love, love, love them.
Psy/Changeling Series (There wasn’t a desciption on her site for some reason, this was the best I could explain it.)
The Psy are a race of people that chose to silence their emotions rather than face the insanity that their psychic powers tend to drive them to. They are all connected mentally to the Psy-Net, something they can’t live without. It’s the psychic feedback that keeps them alive. If they give into emotion they are considered flawed and rehabilitated (stripped to a walking vegetable basically). On the other end of the spectrum are the Changelings who live from the heart. Emotion and touch are their foundation. The Psy and Changelings do not like one another and are almost always on the brink of war… but sometimes they fall in love with each other. Emotionless, stone-like, psychic power-filled beings and dominate, touchy-feely, half human, half cat creatures falling in love… Oh yeah, good stuff.
Guild Hunter Series
A dark new world where lethal, beautiful archangels hold sway over immortals and mortals both, with the Guild Hunters caught in between, tasked with retrieving those vampires who break contracts with their angelic masters.
For the reading order go here: http://www.nalinisingh.com/books.html And let me know if you have any questions.
.-= Crystal Posey´s last blog ..Painful Reading =-.