Inspired by my friend Debbie Cranberry Fries and an Internet meme I’ve seen on Twitter today, I’m sharing a couple of my favorite authors.

To be honest, I don’t spend a lot of money on books. Libraries are my friend 😉 . But there are several authors that I know are worth my money every time.

Tana French

Tana French writes mystery/suspense novels set in Ireland. That was enough to get me to read the first one, In the Woods—but it’s her plotting and flawless writing that have kept me reading everything she’s written. (There’s some language and adult situations—and, you know, murders—in these novels, so be warned if that’s something you avoid.) Hard to pick a favorite, but In the Woods might be it.

Ally Carter

I’ve gushed here recently about her two YA series, Gallagher Girls, about an all-girls’ boarding school for spies in training, and Heist Society, about a family of storied thieves. I first started reading her books because I followed her agent’s blog, and I’m so very glad I did 😉 . Again, it’s tough to pick a favorite among her books, but I think Heist Society has to take the prize.

Stephanie Black

Stephanie writes keep-you-up-all-night suspense novels with LDS characters. I actually met Stephanie by sitting next to her at my very first writers’ conference, and I didn’t know who she was. She was up for an award, and ended up winning, so I immediately read her books, and every one that’s come out since then. If I had to pick a favorite, I think I’d have to go with Cold As Ice, but it’s hard to go wrong!

Edith Wharton

Okay, so maybe there’s not a whole lot of new material coming from this Pulitzer Prize–winner (seeing as how she’s very, very dead), but I love her works exploring the themes of the repressive Golden Age society and love versus obligation. I don’t think I’d like to be one of her characters, though. Favorite? Ethan Frome.

Melanie Jacobson

Melanie writes humorous romance with LDS characters. I love her voice and I find her books hilarious, cute and fun. I read one of her books from the library and liked it enough that I bought her next two. My favorite so far is Not My Type, but I think I have some catching up to do!

James N. Frey’s writing craft books

I honestly wouldn’t care if I were reading the same advice over and over again, and although it does sometimes bug me that a large proportion of his craft books go into detailed examples (then again, it’s super helpful), I can’t stop reading them. I don’t know if I could pick a favorite, since they cover such different areas, but I like that his genre-based books (mystery and thriller) cover the broad strokes from his other craft books and a step-by-step novel construction.

What do you think? Who are your favorite authors? Who would you automatically buy a new novel from? Come share!