Tuesday 12 May 2015

Top Ten Authors I Would Really Like to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful folks over at The Broke & The Bookish
There are so many authors I would love to meet, whether it would be an in passing fall at their feet and tell them how much I love their books, or an in depth conversation over a cup of tea and cake. All of these authors are people that if given the chance, I would sell pieces of my soul to talk to.

1. Deanna Raybourn. I adore Deanna's books and I would love to sit and have tea and just talk about books, her writing and the research she does for each of her novels. I would also love to have a look at the books she has for research and reading - I'm nosy about other people's bookcases!

2. Maggie Stiefvater. I cannot get enough of Maggie's books. The Scorpio Races is one of my all time favourite books, and The Raven Cycle is utterly magnificent and poised to break my heart in the final installment due out later this year. I would love to know more about Maggie, her process, her ideas, and to be a passenger in one of her amazing cars...

3. J. K. Rowling. I think she may be someone who crops up on a lot of lists. So many of us owe so much to Rowling and her incredible books, most notably Harry Potter and Hogwarts, and once I got over the part where I stammered incoherently and probably burst into tears, she seems like she would be a really fascinating person to sit down and talk to.

4. Sarah Rees Brennan. Confession, I did meet Sarah at a signing she did with Cassie Clare on my 23rd birthday. I got to give her some birthday cake and stammer around the words I wanted to say about how much I loved her books and how she had inspired me and shown me that writing was actually something I could (and should) pursue. This time I would love to meet her for longer and be somewhat more coherent because anyone who has met Sarah/read her books/followed her social media accounts know that she is utterly brilliant and hysterical, and an afternoon spent in her company talking about everything from books to tv shows as well as everything in between would be incredible.

5. Kristin Cashore. Her books are amazing and her writing process seems utterly fascinating. She gives sneak peaks into her process on her blog and I love all the little insights and the methods she uses for each book she writes. Her blog is fascinating and I highly recommend checking it out for sneak peaks into how her writing comes together, the different processes and other little glimpses into her life.

6. Belinda Jones. I love Belinda's chick lit books, they always take me to some fantastic and wonderful destinations around the world, and you're guaranteed to learn some interesting history about the places she writes about too. So the chance to tag along on a research trip and to find out about all these amazing places? Yes please.

7. George R R Martin. His mind fascinates me. I'd want to wait to meet him until after all of the Song of Ice and Fire books are released, partly because I'd feel horribly guilty stealing any time that could be used writing, and partly because I imagine I am going to want to talk a lot about these books when the series is all out...

8. Neil Gaiman. Gaiman's books are incredible, his imagination both a terrifying and wonderful place to be, and his books are works of brilliance. I've been to several of Gaiman's talks and readings and he is endlessly fascinating and I would love to just ask an endless array of questions and hear his thoughts on a little bit of everything.

9. Terry Pratchett. A good portion of the book community adores Terry's books and I know that I am not the only one who would love to have sat down and talked to him about Discworld, his writing, his incredible characters and imagination. And to say thank you. For sharing his gift with us, for giving us these amazing stories and people, and making life that little bit funnier, brighter and more brilliant.

10. Anthony McGowan. Not for any fan purposes, or a love of his books. I would love to meet Mr McGowan to ask him why on earth he felt writing those tweets was a good idea, and why he thinks that Book Bloggers are pointless. And then I would love to show him just how incredible Book Bloggers can be and how sadly misinformed and caught up in his own importance he is.

So there are my ten authors I would love to meet (for a variety of reasons.) How about you? Are there any on my list that you would love to have a conversation with? Share your author loves in the comments below and link me to your own top tens!

53 comments:

  1. Interesting selection of authors, especially that last one :)

    ...I've met a couple of these authors. One in particular who I was able to sit down and have a nice long chat with and it was lovely. I wish there were more opportunities for this!

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    1. Ha! Yes the last one would not be quite such a fun fan-ish meeting... I love meeting authors, and more opportunities to sit down and talk with them would be incredible!

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  2. Your post made me giggle. I love your comment about Anthony McGowan! We should all group together and show just how awesome we can be :D I love book blogs, everything about them. I don't think anyone would have chosen an author for them reasons, but I think it's great! It's honest and different :D
    I'm glad somebody had George R. R. Martin and Terry Pratchett on their list, I love both but just didn't have space. I think both would have very tidy minds, maybe like an encyclopaedia!
    Great post!
    Amy x

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    1. Thank you so much! I was tempted to just go with authors I love, but his comments have definitely caused some outrage, and I've felt quite frustrated at his dismissive attitudes to bloggers. Bloggers are fab, and they do so much when they throw their support behind a book.
      I would be so fascinated to sit down and talk to Martin and Pratchett. Both have created such incredible and imaginative worlds and their minds must be very interesting places!
      Thank you so much for reading!

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  3. Oh my gosh! Seeing Terry Pratchett on your list about made me cry!

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    1. I got quite teary when I was writing about him. It's just so sad to have lost such an incredible mind.

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  4. So many good authors on your list!

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  5. Great list! I would love to meet Maggie Stiefvater. I loved her Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

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    1. Her books are just incredible! She just seems so kind and funny and interesting and I've heard nothing but good things about her!

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  6. Ooh, you have such an interesting list. I have to admit I only know (of) a few of these authors, Maggie Stiefvater, J.K. Rowling, George R. R. Martin and Neil Gaiman. I've definitely seen Rowling on a few of these lists already. :) Without surprise, of course. I haven't read anything of theirs. Lol, minus Martin, I did start Game of Thrones (love the show) before though. Ha, I hadn't heard of this Anthony McGowan's tweets (or him).

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    1. Thanks so much for reading and commenting! JK Rowling is definitely on a lot of lists today!

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  7. I almost wanted to put Martin on my list but didn't because I was afraid I'd take his focus away from writing the next installment in the Song of Ice and Fire series. :)

    Mine over at www.nashvillebookworm.wordpress.com

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    1. Ha! Yes I'm with you on that! Poor guy isn't going to be allowed to do anything but write until we get the rest of the series! His mind fascinates me though, so I'd love to talk to him after it's done!

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  8. What a fantastic list! Neil Gaiman would definitely be an interesting one to meet. x

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    1. He is fantastic at talks, really funny and interesting, and the imagination that goes into his books is just incredible. I'd love to be able to have a proper chat with him!

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  9. Awesome list! Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling are on my list too. Maggie Siefvater seems like she would be super cool to talk to! Also Terry Pratchett :(

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    1. Still so devastated about Terry Pratchett :( And I' in equal parts in awe of Maggie's genius and imagination and her amazing cars...

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  10. omg I WOULD LOVE TO MEET NEIL GAIMAN! one time, I visited my friends at a bookstore and he came in later AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME. I was so upset!! SO CLOSE YET SO FAR.

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    1. NOOOOO! That is TRAGIC. I feel your pain! He is truly awesome, if you ever get the chance to go to one of his talks, do it, he is brilliant!

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  11. Maggie Stiefvater was one of the first authors who came to my mind when I made my list. She's not only one of the bestest writers in my opinion but she seems so funny based on her tweets. Meeting with her would be a dream come true. Also, J. K. Rowling is a great choice too. :)

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    1. She is just incredible. Funny and brilliant and with such an incredible imagination. Her books blow me away no matter how many times I read them I always take away something new from them. Plus, yes, her social media presence is fab!

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  12. Great list! And thanks for the link to Kristin Cashore's blog - I see lots of procrastination in my future. :)

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    1. Excellent, my work here is done! Her blog is so interesting - pictures and discussion and musings and she seems to have a very unique writing and drafting and editing process which I am fascinated by.

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  13. Great list! I agree about JK Rowling. I didn't know that about Anthony McGowan.

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT at http://tinyurl.com/mdg6zx3 !

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    1. You're welcome! Yeah, it all kicked off around those tweets a few weeks ago and I am still grumpy at points!

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  14. Oh, man...how could I have left Neil Gaiman off of my list? I'd also like to meet Maggie Stiefvater and JK Rowling. Maggie is definitely more likely. Great list!

    Michelle @ Michelle's Minions

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    1. There are so many incredible authors, it was tough to narrow it down to these! Maggie would be incredible to meet, I really hope to manage it one day!

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  15. You have some amazing authors on your list! I thought about putting Martin on mine, but I'd honestly have no idea what to even say. Probably stuff like "why on earth did you make me sit through Catelyn Stark chapters?!", lol.

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    1. Baha! Yeah, that's fair enough :) I think I'd just want to have a long rambly conversation with him, the scope of the world he has created with all of the backstory and characters is utterly phenomenal and he always seems so thoughtful and measured in interviews.

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  16. Great list - J.K. Rowling would be an awesome one to meet! :)
    Thanks for stopping by at my blog earlier!

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    1. She really would be incredible! I love interviews with her and to have the chance to talk to her (once I got past the sobbing and hyperventilating part) would be incredible!

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  17. Such an amazing list! George R.R. Martin would be very fascinating indeed :)
    My TTT

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  18. Maggie is an amazing author. I just love what she does with her characters. They feel so real. Did you hear, though, that the last book in the Raven Cycle series was postponed until February of next year?

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    1. NOOOOOOOO! Where is this devastating news? I hadn't seen Maggie post anything about it yet?!

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    2. I came across it on her Tumblr. Here is the link to her post: http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/117429398431/i-have-bad-news-and-good-news-bad-news-first-1

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    3. This is tragic. I somehow completely missed this, so thank you for pointing it out. Otherwise I would have been outside the bookstore in September waving my little Raven King flag and sobbed when the book wasn't there. Having read the post I am now slightly less devastated, because good reasons for the delay. But still. Huge, epic sadness.

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  19. I would love to meet Sarah Rees Brennan. I love her writing! Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier. :-)

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    1. She is so funny and brilliant and absolutely lovely. I have the most terrible author crush on her I must confess!

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  20. Totally agree about Anthony McGowan, I was so disappointed by the things he said.
    I would like to meet GRRM! ASOIAF was very important to me when I was going through some tough life things, and I would like to say thanks. Also, my friend saw him a few years ago (and got me a signed book!) and said he was really interesting to listen to.

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    1. In all of his interviews he seems like a fascinating guy, it would be amazing to sit and talk with him. Still can't get over McGowan's tweets - bloggers are most definitely not pointless and useless! And I don't just think that because I am one :P

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  21. What a great list. Rowling is on a lot of lists this week. Lovely to see Pratchett too.
    Lynn :D

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    1. There are so many fans who would sell pieces of their soul to get to talk to Rowling -myself included! It would be incredible to meet her! Thank you so much for reading!

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  22. This is a great list! I have to say, I LOVE your reason for the last one. Seriously, some people need to think before they speak (or Tweet!), and it would be kind of fabulous to have him think some kind of fan was coming in and seeing a blogger ready to defend the community!

    Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight

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    1. He's just been so arrogant and awful in some of the things he's said about book bloggers. By all means wonder about the number of sales we help to garner, but calling us pointless and useless etc. was a bit much! I would love to tell him precisely what I thought of his tweets and why I disagree! Thanks so much for reading :)

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  23. I love your list! Deanna Raybourn and Maggie Stiefvater are both great; I've been to talks by both of them. Gaiman and Rowling were both on my list, and I would dearly love to have met Terry Pratchett! As for your last guy - I hope you get the chance!

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    1. Oh wow! Incredibly jealous that you've met Deanna Raybourn and Maggie Stiefvater. One day! I have everything crossed that I'll meet them at some point! Gaiman is fab - funny and thoughtful and has so many wonderful insights. I'd love to spend longer talking to him at some point. One of my friends has had a proper chat with him as she was stewarding one of his events and he was so lovely. Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  24. Nice list! I've not read any George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett yet but I'm definitely planning to hopefully get around to them by the end of the year.
    Thanks for visiting my blog
    Lauren @ myexpandingbookshelf.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. I recommend all three - they're all brilliant writers in very different ways and have produced such an incredible array of books. I'd love to know what you think of them :)

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  25. I think that George R.R. Martin would be fabulous to talk to. He seems so snarky and fun in his interviews.

    C.J.
    Sarcasm & Lemons

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    1. I LOVE his interviews! He seems like a really interesting person and the world and backstory and characters etc that have come out of his head are incredible. I'd love to get to talk to him more about it all.

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  26. So I'm pretty sure I have not read anything by Deanna Raybourn and I don't know why because her books look amazing and right up my alley! Do you have any recommendations of which book to start with (she seems like a prolific writer)? Ahem... Back to the topic at hand. If I could get over my shyness I would be very interested in probing George R.R. Martin's mind as well and having a chat with Neil Gaiman would be interesting to say the least.

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    1. Gah! Deanna Raybourn's books are AMAZING. (Also, if you like them I highly recommend the Lady Darby mysteries by Anna Lee Huber, the first one is The Anatomist's Wife.) I would start with the first Lady Julia for Deanna, 'Silent in the Grave'. Her stand-alones can be read first, but she ties in all her different stories beautifully, and my favourites will always be Lady Julia, so I definitely recommend starting with her. I'd love to know what you think of them!

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