Are you kidding me? I’d LOVE to meet every author whose books I adore. They’re my brand of celebrity (of course, I wouldn’t say no to meeting Benedict Cumberbatch or Tom Hiddleston or John Barrowman or David Tennant or anything like that…). Thankfully, authors are certainly a bit more accessible, and the ones I’ve met were certainly more forgiving when I bumble around trying to tell them how much I admire their work (which is probably something they hear a lot from fans, but that doesn’t make it any less true!).
Top Ten Authors I REALLY Want To Meet
Tamora Pierce – I am eagerly awaiting her next Tortall book (one about Numair, yaaaaaay!), because I am almost sure one of her book tour locations is going to be in NYC. If not, I might cry for the times I missed the opportunity to meet her (and there have been many).
Books include: Tortall series, Circle of Magic series
Neil Gaiman – He does constant talks around the globe, so I’m surprised I haven’t gone to see him in any capacity. I do know exactly what book he’s going to sign for me if I ever do find a way to see him at a signing.
Books include: The Sandman series, Neverwhere, American Gods, Stardust, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Laini Taylor – I hear she’s super-nice, at least that’s what my friend–who’s met her at a Sirens conference–said. I don’t doubt it.
Books include: Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, Lips Touch: Three Times, Blackbringer series
Brandon Sanderson – Love listening to his writing lectures. Seriously, he’s super-talented and I do not blame the folk who insist he’s a robot.
Books include: Mistborn series, The Stormlight Archive series, Steelheart
Gail Carriger – I was kind of sad that she’d canceled her appearance at the one Dragoncon I showed up to, because I’d totally been looking forward to a) her steampunk getup–because I KNOW she’d come in full steam regalia–and b) her steampunk panel–in the likelihood that she would have been in one, which, let’s be honest, is pretty darn likely considering.
Books include: Parasol Protectorate series, Custard Protocol series
Juliet Marillier – Not sure if she ever goes to the U.S. for a signing, but I would totally love to meet her someday. Only so that I can blame her for every time her books made me cry (re: ALL the time).
Books include: Wildwood series, Sevenwaters series
Patricia Briggs – She doesn’t seem to head to the East Coast often–if at all. Maybe I should carefully plan my trip to northwest US when her next book comes out.
Books include: Mercy Thompson series, Alpha and Omega series
Pip Ballantine – I’ve listened to a couple of podcasts with her in them, and she sounds like a hoot and a half. I’d totally love to meet her.
Books include: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, Book of the Order series
Patricia C. Wrede – I occasionally follow her blog posts. And I love her worldbuilding outline on the SFWA site.
Books include: Sorcery and Cecelia series, Enchanted Forest Chronicles
Bill Willingham – Well, I don’t have a terrible desire to meet him as much as want to sit in on a panel with him. I love the Fables series he created, and I know he has a couple of other works (Fables spinoffs and a steampunk series) that I’ve been eager to read.
Books include: Fables and Fairest series, Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure
Story and Somnomancy 
Amazingly, there are some that you list that I’d want to meet! (Strange, innit.)
I would include:
Robin McKinley for The Hero and the Crown / The Blue Sword)
Tanya Huff – The Silvered / the Keeper’s Chronicles
Charles de Lint – Moonheart / Someplace to Be Flying / Jack of Kinrowan
Kristin Cashore – Fire / Graceling
Emma Bull – War for the Oaks / Territory
Eckart Tolle – A New Earth / Stillness Speaks
Oh, and there are my 10 if I include some from your list. I could go on, actually …
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……ACK. I FORGOT CASHORE AND MCKINLEY. HOW DID I DO THAT.
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I love the charisma Sanderson brings to his lectures (I’ve only seen the ones on Youtube). They’re so engaging and fun to watch haha.
Cheers,
Joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts.
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They really are! A critiquer sent me to his lectures on Write About Dragons (http://www.writeaboutdragons.com/brandon_w2012/). I usually have him on the background when I’m on a writing slump.
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You’re my new best friend because you listed Juliet Marillier. I’m in love with pretty much everything she writes.
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I’m almost afraid to pick up another Marillier book only because I’d probably cry again, lol! I’ve only read her Wildwood series and the first of the Sevenwaters series. Maybe I should try the Blackthorn and Grim book, or her Shadowfell series, but I haven’t decided yet…
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I’ve read her entire Sevenwaters series and it is fantastic. Son of the Shadows, the book that follows Daughter of the Forest, is one of my favorites. I love her Wildwood duology so much! I’ve read the first and second book in her Shadowfell series and like both very much. I actually didn’t like the first Blackthorn and Grim book, but it’s the only one of her books that I can say I didn’t like.
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I’ll probably continue Sevenwaters, though the first book, at some points, did prompt me to put it down a few times (still, by the end, I was all weepy and fangirly). And yes! The Wildwood duology is easily my favorite of her books so far.
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Marillier’s books can be very detailed, can’t they? Wildwood Dancing was my first JM book and it was so enchanting.
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Bill Willingham! I really love the Fables series as well so I’d be interested to here how his ideas for it evolve and what his relationship to the original fairy tales are etc…
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Yes! I definitely have a number of questions for him regarding his entry into fairy tales and how he’s basing his story on so many different ones.
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Gosh, Gail Carriger would be lovely to meet (I really need to read the spinoff series of Soulless.) I also babbled about how much I loved Heart’s Blood when I got my book signed from Juliet Marillier. I’ve resolved to be more prepared when I meet authors. I probably prefer seeing/hearing at them at panel talks because those are fun. I don’t know if I’ll ever meet my favourite US authors unless they come to Oz lol – that’s how I met Laini Taylor – one of the rare travelling authors.
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