Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where each week we are given a new Top Ten theme to blog about. You know those authors: the ones you’re crazy about, the ones that make you salivate for their next book. They are the “auto-buy” authors, whose new books you don’t even have to think twice about buying.
After compiling this list, I was surprised to find that most of these authors are not best-selling or “big name” authors, and for some reason that makes me very happy. I’ve never been the kind of reader who gravitates toward the bestsellers section of the bookstore. In fact, I tend to shun bestsellers, or at least I want to have read them before they became bestsellers, LOL! I’ve deliberately left Stephen King off this list, because honestly, although I’m a huge fan, I haven’t bought or read the last five or six books he’s written (sadly). But these ten authors have my undivided attention, and I can’t wait for their next books:
1. Daryl Gregory
My first Daryl Gregory book was We Are All Completely Fine, but it was Afterparty that sealed the deal. After finishing it, I immediately went online and ordered the three backlist books of his I haven’t yet read.
2. Chuck Wendig
The Blue Blazes was my first Wendig (OK, this post is beginning to sound x-rated!) and I haven’t looked back since. I was thrilled to finally meet Chuck at Comic Con this past July, and I’m even more excited that he’ll be self-publishing the sequel to The Blue Blazes this year. If you aren’t reading his blog terribleminds, you should be.
3. Max Gladstone
Max is the loveliest person! I got to meet him a couple of years ago, and he’s so down-to-earth. And boy can he write! I’m sure I don’t have to tell many of you how amazing his Craft Sequence series is. I’m also curious to check out his newest venture with Serial Box, a digital publisher that will be publishing a serialized novel called Bookburners next month.
4. Jason M. Hough
Jason is my newest obsession, after reading his book Zero World, I’m absolutely hooked. Now I need to go back and read his Dire Earth Cycle, which I understand is pretty damn good.
5. Jay Kristoff
Oh you guys, Jay Kristoff is a heart-breaker! His books kill me, but I can’t stop reading them. I adored his Lotus War series, and I’m super excited to read the upcoming Illuminae (co-written by Amie Kaufman). Just don’t get too attached to his characters, because well…just don’t:-)
6. Victoria Schwab
Vicious is still one of my all-time favorite books, and so how could I leave Schwab off this list? She’s such a prolific writer, too. She’s in the middle of a series with a new one coming up next year (Monsters of Verity). She’s even writing a middle grade series!
7. Alice Hoffman
Hoffman never fails to delight and surprise me. She’s been writing for years, and has many books under her belt, and yet, she seems to get better and better. I’ll be reading her newest release very soon, and anxiously awaiting the one after that. If you haven’t discovered the magic that is Alice Hoffman, I challenge you to try her out. There’s a lot to choose from, and I’m happy to recommend one!
8. Ben Tripp
I’m so glad I decided to read The Fifth House of the Heart! My love for Ben Tripp is sealed forever:-) Now I need to go back and check out his YA series The Adventures of Kit Bristoll and his zombie series Rise Again.
9. Wesley Chu
Wesley Chu’s amazing Tao series is, well, amazing. And you really should read it if you haven’t. Chu is also up for a Hugo Award this year for Best New Writer (and frankly, if he doesn’t win, there’s going to be some uproar!) His latest novel Time Salvager was so much fun, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
10. Robert Jackson Bennett
I’ll admit I’ve only read one of these books (City of Stairs) but after finishing it, I knew at some point I would be going back and reading Bennett’s backlist, including the highly rated American Elsewhere. The Sequel to City of Stairs comes out next year, and I couldn’t be happier!
Are any of these authors on your auto-buy list?
Wow, Chuck Wendig is on the list! Yay! Some of your authors look great. I’ll have to read The Troupe by Robert Jackson Bennett. Have been meaning to read the book for some time now but never manage to around to reading the book.
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I couldn’t make a list like this without mentioning Wendig:-)
Great List Tammy!
Thanks Stephen!
I have noticed you put 2 authors I really like in (Wesley Chu and Chuck Wendig) – I am going to find out about the others. BTW, I have done my Top Ten too this week, before realising 8 out of 10 on my list are British…not intended, obviously, but this made me wonder a lot about the state and flavours of SF today. Worth exploring!
Stephen P. Bianchini recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday (August 18) – Top Ten Autobuy Authors
None of them are on my auto-buy list, BUT I have Jay Kristoff’s Stormdancer in my (literal) TBR pile at home. I’ve also been meaning to check out Victoria Schwab’s work.
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Oh, I think you would love Jay Kristoff! And you even have a copy of one of his books:-)
While I really like all the authors I’ve read on your list, I have to admit the only one that might be on mine is Wesley Chu (and now I am tempted to go make my own list today to find out for sure!). Let’s see if it happens 🙂 I do want to read more Daryll Gregory. And I really need to catch up with Fifth House of the Heart!
Lisa @TenaciousReader recently posted…Audiobook Review: A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall
I wish everyone would read Daryl Gregory! But I feel like no one knows about him:-(
I love how different your list is! Very varied 🙂
I hadn’t noticed that, but you are right! My tastes are very strange…
I am having fun reading everyone’s top 10! I am finding different authors 🙂
I’m finding a lot that I forgot about, LOL!
The only book I’ve read on your list is We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory, and then a short story by Max Gladstone. But I am familiar with all the authors on this list! And all of them do have books that I want to read 🙂
For me, I’d have to put King #1 on my list, although I haven’t bought Finders Keepers yet.
I’m kind of surprised I didn’t put SK on my list, oh well!
Oh I was looking forward to seeing your list! I added Blue Blazes to the TBR and will have to check out the Lotus War series because Illuminae was fab and Jay Kristoff seems like a very nice author on twitter. Bonus points for him. And I need to read more Victoria Schwab, I’ve just read The Archived and I think her adult stories will be up my alley too.
Good list!!!
Anne @ Lovely Literature recently posted…TTT: Authors we will automatically buy or read
I agree, I love authors that answer you back on Twitter, they are the BEST:-)
AH! I’ve finally found another Alice Hoffman fan!!! I discovered her work this year, and have absolutely adored her books.
Hannah recently posted…BLOG TOUR: A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J Maas
Yay! She has so many great books, you can keep busy going back and reading them all. Have fun!
Nice picks! I think I have at least one book by all of these authors in my TBR as we speak!
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Oh cool! Thanks for visiting, Becky:-)
Yep, a great list – I also had Chu.
I’m literally staggered that I didn’t have Bennett – I can’t believe it – I want to go and amend my list. I love that guy and I’ve read all his books! What is wrong with my tiny brain!
Lynn 😀
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Interesting list. Quite a few authors here with whom I’m unfamiliar. Not surprised to see Daryl Gregory and Chuck Wendig, though. 🙂
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Ahaha, love your X-rated comment. I know what you mean though, sometimes you get hooked on a series and then you’re just going to have to pick up the author’s backlist as well as all their future books. It’s that way for me and a lot of the names on this list.
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Audiobook Review: The Alchemist and the Executioness by Paolo Bacigalupi, Tobias S. Buckell
Loved Jay’s latest! It was EPIC! Had me on the edge of my emotional seat the whole time! WOW! I have got to try the Lotus War series now! Happy reading.
Top 10 @Libby Blog
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I hear ya, I tend to shun the bestsellers as well. Gladstone, Kristoff, and Schwab are all authors I own more than one book from but I can’t say they’re my top auto-buys. My top is probably Kelley Armstrong, which I’m sure comes as no surprise to anyone. 😉
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Oh nooo I’m worried about Jay Kristoff’s series now, I’ve only read the first one but I’m looking forward to Illuminae. Completely agree with V.E. Schwab, I’ve read Vicious and man that was excellent!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Giveaway (AUS) & Review: The Bit In Between by Claire Varley
I love Vicious so much. I never reread books, because there just isn’t time, but Vicious is one I might make time for:-)