Virginia Woolf – she had an incredibly unique insight into the human condition, and way of exploring the conflict between identity and the world. She was also one of the few people who could string a single sentence across three pages, using only a few commas and semi-colons, and still keep me engaged! My favourite works are Orlando and The Waves.
Charles Dickens – humorous, entertaining, emotional, epic story telling that has something for everyone. My favourite work of his is Great Expectations.
Katherine Mansfield – you can smell the air and feel the dirt as she describes a scene. The stories and characters are so real, and evoke such emotions. My favourite work are Bliss and The Garden Party.
Anais Nin – very evocative and sensual. And her own history provides for an interesting journey into her writing. My favourite work is Henry and June.
Cormac McCarthy – extremely talented in using structure to portray the story as much as the words. So dark and bleak, but not overly pessimistic. My favourite work is The Road.
Stephen King – one of the ultimate yarn spinners around. Yes, his stories may seem familiar and formulaic, but they work! I’m a huge fan of a bit of horror and he delivers each time. His dramatic fiction is also riveting, and his fantasy writing is absorbing. Such a talent. My favourite works are It and the Mr Mercedes series.
Cassandra Clare – Queen of the YA fantasy novels! Love, adventure, family, emotion, hormones, all wrapped up in fantastical plot. Too hard to put down! My favourite works are the Lady Midnight series.
Matthew Reilly – a wild ride, with non-stop action, no matter what you read. Excellent holiday books for on the plane and by the pool. My favourite works are Ice Station and The Four Legendary Kingdoms.
There are many, many other authors I enjoy, and books I just pick up and read on a whim. This list is about the writer I come back to again and again, re-reading their works and discovering something each time (even if it’s just a reminder of what I like about their writing).
David McK Writes 