Top Ten Tuesday: Authors on my auto-buy list

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week the participants post their top ten to a specific topic.

This week is about authors that are so amazing and that we trust so much, we'd buy anything they wrote.

There are only a few authors from whom I'd buy absolutely *anything*. I mean, if I read the book description and it's about an issue that just doesn't interest me, or if they suddenly go into another genre, or if their new book is about a topic that is a trigger for me, I'd stay away, or at least not buy the book immediately. But there are many authors that I trust and whose writing I am totally in love with so that I preorder their books.

1. Melissa Marr
   I love love love her writing style. I've read all her Wicked Lovely stories including the mangas, many stories she has in anthologies (though not all because there are so many and I only have so much money and time) as well as Carnival of Souls. However, not sure about that middle grade series she has coming out soon... but that's because at this point I'm just not into MG.
   
2. Holly Black
   Her. Writing. Is. Magic. I've loved it since I read (and reread and reread and re-borrowed so I could re-read before I had my own copy) Tithe. I'm so excited about The Coldest Girl in Coldtown coming out in the fall! And the Curseworkers books just blew my mind.
   
3. Kim Harrison
   The Hollows series. Rachel. Jenks. Ivy. Al the coffee-loving demon. Kisten. Enough said ;)
   
4. Jeaniene Frost
   Cat and Bones are among my favorite couples :) Also, I love how she combines fun writing and banter with action and creepiness. She creates memorable characters that come to life on the page!
   
5. Richelle Mead
   Fun, action, heartbreak, redemption... I've read all her books apart from the Dark Swan ones because I haven't gotten to them yet. Her style is just so readable for me, I don't want to stop and just dive into the worlds she creates :)
   
6. Kelly Creagh
   Her writing is just sooo beautiful! I love how she brings the Poe elements to life in her books but also twists them and makes them her own! I read her books slowly just so I can savor them. I'm very curious about what her next project after the Nevermore trilogy will be!
   
7. Rachel Vincent
   Her writing is just so gripping and real! And I love the characters she creates. She doesn't shy away from letting them make risky decisions and facing the consequences. Very strong heroines. No sugar-coating the bad things. I'm very curious about that new YA project she's been hinting at!
   
8. Erin Morgenstern
   She's only published one book but seriously I loved The Night Circus so much I couldn't even review it because I have no idea how. It's a masterpiece. I'll buy whatever she releases next without thinking twice about it.
   
9. Kate Griffin
   What an imagination! I love her version of urban fantasy. So magical! Gives me a book high and lets me see the world with fresh eyes. Also, reluctant heroes that don't want to do heroic things by default. Love it :) Oh Matthew Swift...
   
10. a tie between Julie Kagawa and Sarah Rees Brennan and maybe Cassandra Clare
    Yup. Julie because I was hesitant about trusting her with the vampires but she was amazing at it, and I also loved her adult story in the 'Til The World Ends anthology. If she decides to go for adult horror next, I'm in.
    Sarah Rees Brennan because her writing is jus so fun and addictive, but also heartbreaking! She sure loves to torture us poor readers :P I loved the Demon books and Unspoken, but I haven't bought Team Human yet. I just don't know if I want to. I'm sure it's funny but... I dunno. The co-authoring bit might also play into my decision...
    Cassandra Clare because I don't know if she can do anything non-Shadow Hunters. I love those novels, the Infernal Devices even more so. But another trilogy? I mean, I'll certainly read it, but I'd also like to see her branch out a bit. I read a non-nephilim short story of hers in an anthology once but that one didn't really do it for me...

There are quite a few authors I feel sort of bad about not including but yeah... there can only be ten. And unlike for other people, J.K. Rowling is not an auto-buy for me.

What do you think of my list? Anyone you'd like to chuck out? Someone you also picked? Also, leave a link to your own list, I'm curious about maybe discovering new authors :)

Know Me Better: meeting authors, movies, family, snacks

Know Me Better is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader Not A Writer to learn new things about your fellow-bloggers. Each week, she chooses 5 questions from her author interview list that the participants then answer.


This week's questions are:

Is there anything you would like to say to or ask your favorite author?
Are you a dreamer or a realist?
Theater or Rental?
Share a family tradition.
Favorite late night snack?


Is there anything you would like to say to or ask your favorite author?
Oh God. I'm not even sure who that would be! I have so many of them ^^' I would probably just stand there and either stammer or gape like a fish or blurt something really stupid. I just feel like everything I could say has already been said. Things like 'your book really helped me / touched me / made feel / made me cry / made me re-think my life'... they must hear it all the time. I would want to find better words to express what I mean, but I don't think I could just come up with them on the spot. I'm not even sure they exist.
As for asking them things... I wouldn't want to know where their inspiration comes from. I would probably have more craft-related questions, or ask for advice they could give, or ask them what they do about fear and discouragement when they strike. I don't really know. I'd hope that a conversation just... develops.

Are you a dreamer or a realist?
I think I used to be a dreamer, but now I think I'm becoming too much of a realist. Though not completely. But I'm veering in that direction, and it scares me a bit. I think I should take more risks. But I guess that what growing up does to you...

Theater or Rental?
Um, are we talking movies? *oblivious non-American person*
I never rent DVDs, it's super expensive if you want to keep them for more than a day. I usually buy them a while after they came out, when they're cheaper.
I love movie theaters! I love how it's all big and quiet and the sound and image quality are amazing! I'm also one of those strange people who like the break in the middle. Helps me digest what I saw if I can get up and go buy another coke and start discussing the movie with whoever went with me. I also find it hard to ever sit through a movie from beginning to end without at least one break. But I'm not sure you do breaks in America? I've heard something like that, anyway.

Share a family tradition
Um... *thinks really hard*
The only thing I can come up with is Christmas stuff. On the 24th, we always have dinner at our place with my mum's side of the family: her brother & his wife & my two older cousins. And well, my grandparents when they were still alive... It's always really fun! We usually get talking and forget all about the presents until it's suddenly 11 pm. We've been doing this for about 20 years.
On the 25th, it's dinner (lately it's become brunch) with my dad's side of the family, which means a lot more people. 6 cousins! Also all older. One of them has 2 kids of his own already. Plus my dad's two brothers, my grandfather, and sometimes a few of the people who work on their farm. And my cousin's boyfriends/girlfriends. It's also always a lot of fun and we all like to play card- and boardgames. With presents we always do a secret santa kind of thing. Everyone draws a name and only gives that one person a present, and only receives one present of their own. Makes it easier for everyone :)
So yeah, Christmas to me is completely family-related and for catching up. Never been to church on Christmas Eve.

Favorite late night snack?
I have strange eating habits anyway... and what's your definition of late night? ^^' Anyhow, it'd probably be some fruit, or maybe some of the sugarfree candy I sometimes buy, if I haven't eaten it all by that time. Plus of course lots of coffee and coke zero. Or maybe some type of cereal, if I have any. I avoid buying it because I usually binge-eat the whole box in like two days >.<


*ahem* I might have over-shared a little here ^^'' Any reactions on your part? Things that surprise you, things you would do differently? If you're participating in the meme too, leave me a link :)

Here is the linky with the other participants:
 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 New-to-Me Authors I read in 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week there is a new topic the participants list their top ten for.


This week deals with the top ten authors I read for the first time in 2012.


I'm not big on hierarchy, so these are in no particular order!

1. Susan Dennard - Something Strange and Deadly
   I really love her book and she's such a nice person on Twitter and her blog! Her writing pulled me right in and her characters were awesome! So stoked for the sequel.
   
2. Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone
   Beautiful, lyrical writing. I was whisked away! Can't wait to start my copy of Days of Blood and Starlight! Also, she has pink hair. I love unnatural hair colors ^^
   
3. Lia Habel - Dearly, Departed
   I read this book recently, starting with some trepidation. Zombies. Hm. But I ended up enjoying it so much more than I thought! Her writing flows so easily, her characters have recognizable voices and despite all the death, her writing was really fun, too! Awesome snarky comebacks.
   
4. Kendare Blake - Anna Dressed in Blood
   I loved Cas' voice. He was amazing! Anna was an amazing girl sort-of-villain. I really loved the world building and the writing. It was very direct and honest and hard to put down.
   
5. Marie Rutkoski - The Shadow Society
   Her writing was wonderful, at times poetic. I loved the way she found new, refreshing ways to describe people and sceneries, atmospheres. No used-up clichés. And she put one of my favorite poems into the book, too!
   
6. Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus
   Loved everything about this book. Everything. Characters, setting, narrative structure... it breathed magic and love and tragedy. The ending was genius. The book made me think. If you mistrusted the buzz about this one - please do pick it up! It truly deserves all the attention it got!
   
7. Jennifer L. Armentrout - The Lux Series
   Another case of deserved hype! Great writing, great characters, new ideas, swoon-worthy love interest, and absolutely awesome and hilarious banter!
   
8. Jus Accardo - Touch
   Kick-ass heroine, fascinating male lead, lots of action and suspense! Can't wait to see where this series is going with the sequel.
   
9. Gina Damico - Croak series
   So. Much. Fun!! Love the sarcastic death humor XD I loved out loud so much while reading her books, nevermind the other train passengers! Also, she keeps surprising me with her plot twists. Her book trailers and blog are also super-fun.
   
10. Wendy Higgins - Sweet Evil
    I had high expectations for this debut and they were fully met! I loved Anna. I loved Kaidan. I really enjoyed the secondary characters, too! The world building is really interesting and I can't wait to dive into it again in the sequel. The writing was amazing, I felt as if I was right there in the middle of it all.

I could also have chosen: Jessica Khoury, Elizabeth Richards, Darynda Jones, Bethany Griffin, Scott Tracey, Katie McGarry, Wendy Higgins, Samantha Young, Ally Carter...

I read a lot of great new-to-me authors this year! I also explored and caught up on old favorites but I got into many, many new ones. I hope next year will be the same! It was really hard choosing a top ten. It might also to an extent coincide with what I've read most recently and what is therefore freshest on my mind, but I tried not counter that element as best I could. It's simply a fact that I read a lot of books lately that deserved 5 stars from me on goodreads.

What do you think of my top ten? Have you read them? And who made it onto your list?