Just for fun, let's talk authors. What's your favorite author? I have read so many books I could never choose. It's like looking at thousands of various, beautiful flowers and asking, "Which one is the most beautiful, the most unique?"
Well...there's no answer to that. They are all beautiful. They are all unique. But they differ in that beauty and uniqueness.
A favorite author of mine is C.S. Lewis. Narnia is his world, completely from his mind. I love him because he wrote so many diverse things. From the Screwtape Letters to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this man was a literary genius. His writings always have some moral, some lesson, and are always told in a creative, fascinating fashion. Till We Have Faces is a particularly deep, thought provoking book. Told in first person, which I found somewhat unusual but intriguing. Something I have found interesting is that he and T.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit, were friends.
Now, let's move on to the authors of the present. Who can read a book by Karen Kingsbury or Francine Rivers and remain untouched? These authors possess the power of words. Which they use for the glory of God. I admire that greatly. They touch lives through their writing and I know that most authors must dream about becoming like them.
Another author whom I enjoy greatly and also possesses the power of words is B.J. Hoff. She is perhaps lesser known, but she creates poignant, sweet (and often tragic) stories with memorable characters. She is not afraid of emotion, that I know for certain. And her characters are often deep, complex beings who come alive on the page.
Some other personal favorites of mine are Karen Witemeyer, Tamera Alexander, Lynn Austin, and Laura Frantz. All authors who use similar themes, historical times, and yet have variegated writing styles. Karen Witemeyer creates awesome rescue scenes. Tamera Alexander can be quite poetic. Lynn Austin’s characters feel just so…human. And Laura Frantz…the heroine’s love interest is always so very, very dreamy! Not to mention her way with words!
Let’s not forget our Amish authors! Beverly Lewis has a gentle, flowing way of writing. She always has a steady equanimity and, from what I’ve read, gentle, warm characters. Beverly Lewis, Cindy Woodsmall and Wanda E. Brunstetter have done their research and have all the wonderful little details of how the Amish way of life works. Quite interesting to read about.
Now, last, but not least, childhood authors. What little girl hasn’t read The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett? And what would all those mischievous little boys be without the influences of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer? Peter Pan is an especially favorite of mine. And I can still remember reading Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland. That’s not to mention, Jungle Book, Hans Brinker, Heidi, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Treasure Island…well, you get the picture. What’s your favorite childhood author? Or authors as an adult?