Barb W
Jennifer Chiaverini
Lauren Willig
Meg Cabot

Ray Palen
Stephen King
George Pelecanos
Donna Leon

Melodie
Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books
Robert B. Parker's Spenser books
Robert Crais's Elvis Cole books

BS Miers
John Sandford, James Lee Burke, Robert Crais

Gord
Jeffrey Archer
Nora Roberts
A lot of ties for third place.

C. Flayer
Luanne Rice
Nicholas Sparks
Janet Evanovich

Cindy Kirk
Stephanie Meyer
Jodi Picoult
Joshilyn Jackson

Ron
William Goldman
Robert Crais
John Sandford

Linda M. Johnson
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Brian Jacques
Mitch Albom

Karen Haney
James Patterson, Sophie Kinsella, and Kristin Hannah

Karen Haney
James Patterson, Sophie Kinsella, and Kristin Hannah

Lori Furan-Schultz
Janet Evanovich
Stephen King (usually)
J. R. Ward
James Patterson (must read but don't always buy since I read them so fast.)

Suzanne Seifried
I always buy books by Nicholas Sparks and Barbara Delinsky....always!!

Gale Schexnayder Moch
Janet Evanovich
Charlaine Harris
Laurell K. Hamilton

Barbara Boik
David Sedaris
Anne Lamott

Kay
Anne Rice
Sophie Kinsella
Sara Ban Breathnach
Most autobiographies

Barbara Boik
Almost forgot about J. K. Rowling!

Bonnie Szul
James Patterson
Lisa Jackson
Karen Robards

Sheila English
Lisa Kleypas
J. D. Robb
Christine Feehan

Laurie George
Daniel Silva, John Grisham, and Patricia Cornwell

Michele L.
My top three authors are, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson and Vicki Lewis Thompson.

Rosalie
Adriana Trigiani
Penny Vincenzi
Maeve Binchy

Jerri Patton
John Grisham
Jean M. Auel
Alexander McCall Smith
Ken Goddard
J. Arthur Rath

Debbie
Robert Crais
James Lee Burke
John Sandford
Michael Connelly

(I know that's four...but I just couldn't choose --- and I have a couple more)

Ann Rierson
Diane Chamberlain
Penny Vincenzi
Marcia Willett

Mary Champagne
Even if I am out of bread and milk and gas goes to $10 a gallon, I will still buy books by Jodi Picoult, Chris Bojhalian and Sue Grafton. I just have to do it.

Sharon
There are no authors whose books I have to have, no matter how tight my budget. There is always the library and books lent to me by friends.

jhcpeterson
Barbara Kingsolver
Wallace Stegner
Ferrol Sams

Jolene Connelly
Stephenie Meyer
Juilene Osborne-McKnight
Diana Gabaldon

Lisa
Stieg Larsson
Rex Stout
Marcus Zusak

Kellie
Elizabeth George, Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly

Dorothy
Michael Connelly
Lee Child
George Pelacanos

Scott Schneider
Ken Bruen, William Gay, and John Connolly.

M McDermid
Linda Hogan
Karen Tei Yamashita
Willa Cather

Ann
Jodi Picoult, Chris Bohjalian, and Sophie Kinsella

Angela Kermack
Janet Evanovich
James Patterson
Mary Higgins Clark

Marilyn Denington
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Nicholas Sparks
Max Lucado

Whitney
Lee Child and Carl Hiaasen

Kathie
Steven King
Dean Koontz
J. A. Jance

Debi Newsome
Stephen King, Jodi Picoult and Anita Shreve

Corky Mayo
J. A. Konrath
Janet Evanovich
James Rollins

JSC
Stuart Woods, Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, and Debbie Macomber

Sheila Macklin
Wilbur Smith
Grant McEwan
Sid Marty

Beverly
Mat Johnson
Toni Morrison
L. A. Banks

Dianne
John Sandford
Carl Hiaasen
David Sedaris

Dena
Christine Feehan, Bertrice Small, and Brenda Novak.

Pamela Dildine
J.A. Konrath
Janet Evanovich
Lois Greiman

Debi
Janet Evanovich
Carolyn Haines
James Lee Burke

Miriam
P. J. O'Rourke
Nora Roberts
Martha Grimes

Dorothy Cowling
Margaret Duffy
Patricia Sprinkle
Philip Yancey

Christine
Alice Hoffman
Anne Tyler
Amy Tan

Cathy Doyle
James Rollins
Steve Berry
Dean Koontz

Mary Dropkin
Daniel Silva
Brad Meltzer
Linda Fairstein

Lynn Hackenberg
Kathy Reichs
Robert B. Parker
Steve Berry

Margaret LaDue
Jodi Piccoult
Eileen Goudge
Dorthea Benton Frank

Kathy Jund
Nora Roberts, Lisa Gardner, Sherrilyn Kenyon

Mary
Elizabeth George

Joan Myles
Anne Tyler
Janet Evanovich
Sophie Kinsella

Val
J. R. Ward
Toni McGee Causey
Laura Anne Gilman

Vicky
Christine Feehan
Nora Roberts
James Patterson

Joline
Robin Cook
Tess Gerritsen
Stephen King

Martha E.
Catherine Coulter
Iris Johansen
Mary Balogh

Stacia Helpman
Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong.

Linda M. Williams
James Lee Burke
James Patterson
Jonathan Kellerman

Susan
Beth Gutcheon, Jodi Picoult, Chris Bohjalian, and Jennifer Haigh.

Juli Guyer
Jodi Picoult
Sandra Dallas
Diane Mott Davidson

Robin Weiss
Debbie Macomber
Susan Wiggs
Brenda Novak

Donna Tanner
Only Jodi Picoult.

Melissa
Stephen King
Lisa See
Jodi Picoult

Kathryn Riley
Nora Roberts/J. D. Robb
Barbara Delinsky
J. A. Jance

Betsy Woodruff
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Rita Mae Brown
Maeve Binchy

Monnie Bayles
John Sandford
Jonathan Kellerman
Anne Rivers Siddons

Elizabeth V
Ian McEwan
Harlan Coben
Richard Preston

Judith Mroz
I have to have Louise Penny, P.J. Tracey and Linda Nichols.

Gail B
Richard Montanari
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Jeffery Deaver

Fran
Jodi Picoult
J. K. Rowling
Tracy Chevalier

Jennifer Baker
Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King, and Stephenie Meyer

Linda Reitberger
Harlan Coben
W. E. B. Griffin
John Grisham

Tom Barrington
Michael Connelly
James Patterson
John Sandford

Tom Barrington
Michael Connelly
James Patterson
John Sandford

Adrienne Bowman
James Patterson, Susan Wittig Albert, and Diane Mott Davidson.

Kay Martinez
DAMAGE CONTROL by J. A. Jance
FRACTURED by Karin Slaughter
THE PRODIGAL NUN by Aimee & David Thurlo

francine
Laurie R. King (Sherlock Holmes series)
Elizabeth George
Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs novels)

M. J. Trauth
Michael Chabon
Rick Bragg
Harry Turtledove

Mary Q.
Sue Miller
Marisa de los Santos
Anna Quindlen
(It was really hard to narrow it down to three. I needed it to be about 10!)

Nikki
Jodi Picoult, Stephen King, and Elizabeth Berg

Peggy Kincaid
Terry Brooks, Michael Connelly and Alafair Burke

Judy Titzer
Dean Koontz
Nora Roberts (J. D. Robb)
Anne Rivers Siddons

Loretta Wysocki
David Baldacci
Nelson DeMille
Janet Evanovich

Teresa
I have to have the new Jodi Picoult novel and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I could never wait for the books to be available at the library.

carol
Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child
Jennifer Fallon
James Rollins

Stephen Hughes
John Grisham
Mark Spragg
Ivan Doig

kim
Jude Deveraux
Nora Roberts
Diane Gabaldon

Mickey Spencer
Charles de Lint
Celia Rivenbark
Katie MacAlister

Edith Worobe
Suzanne Brockmann
Nora Roberts
Diana Gabaldon

Kelli Williams
1. Laurell K. Hamilton
2. Stephen King
3. Kelley Armstrong

Michelle
Danielle Steel
James Patterson
Debbie Macomber

Geri Dosalua
Eoin Colfer
Jerry Spinelli
Markus Zusak

Michael Ferrin
Anne Rice
J. K. Rowling

Michele Goodman
Margaret Atwood
Lynne Sharon Schwartz
Francine Prose
Kate Christensen

Melissa
Jodi Picoult
Chris Bohjalian
Harlan Coben

Heather Johnson
Robert Jordan (or his final book, being completed by Brandon Sanderson)

Diane
It's hard to limit it to just 3, but here are my must-haves:
Christopher Bohjalian
Barbara Kingsolver
Elizabeth Berg

Laurie Weatherlow
James Patterson
Janet Evanovich
Nelson DeMille

Rachel Cropper
Linda Howard, Diana Palmer, and Brenda Jackson.

Trez L. Brooks
Stephen L. Carter
Preston Douglas
Faye Kellerman

Sharon Margolin
Debbie Macomber
Danielle Steel
Barbara Delinsky

Theresa Holm
Daniel Silva
Michael Connelly
Robert Crais

Brenda G.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
John Grisham
J. A. Jance

Mickey Z.
J. K. Rowling
Lisa Gardner
Amy Tan

Dru Ann Love
Nora Roberts
Janet Evanovich
Tess Gerritsen

Karen Terry
Chelsea Cain, Dean Koontz, and Tom Rob Smith

Annie
Nelson DeMille
Janet Evanovich
Elizabeth George

Michellle
I just have to have :
1) Michael Connelly
2) Harlan Coben
3) Jeffery Deaver

They are the most awesome authors out there.

Debbie
Rosamunde Pilcher, P. D. James, and Elizabeth George.

James Keith
David Morrell
Michael Connelly
Joel C. Rosenberg

Patricia Cantrell
Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz.

Danelle Drake
Jodi Picoult, Toni Morrison, and if she ever wrote another book, Charlotte Culin.

Susan
Janet Evanovich
Sue Grafton
Marcia Muller

Harriet Stay
Michael Connelly
Michael Robotham
Karin Fossum

Ron Green
Stephen King
Tess Gerritsen
John Grisham

Kathie
James Patterson
Iris Johansen
Kay Hooper

Julie Siemek
John Sandford
Iris Johansen
Carla Neggers

Julie Siemek
Perri O'Shaunessey
Nicholas Sparks
John Grisham

Ronnie
Stephen King
Dean Koontz
John Saul

Paul
Terry Pratchett
Eoin Colfer
D. J. Machale

J. J. Farris
James Patterson
Clive Cussler
Sue Grafton

Topaz
I need, must have:
1) Michael Connelly
2) Jodi Picoult
3) John Connolly

I also invest in Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, Harlan Coben and John Sandford.

Emily
Jim Butcher, Stephenie Meyer and J. R. Ward

Edwina Robertson
Nicholas Sparks
Richard Paul Evans
Mary Higgins Clark

Lisa
Stephen King
Richard Russo

Rita Carter
Jack Higgins, Kay Hooper, and Nevada Barr

Sonia Zaffiris
Anne Tyler

Sue
Jodi Picoult

Phyllis
Jodi Picoult
Chris Bohjalian

Robert
Clive Cussler
John Sandford
Daniel Silva

Michelle Stein
Nora Roberts/J. D. Robb: Should I count her as one, or two?

Diana Gabaldon: I love the Outlander series and am hooked on Lord John.

Elizabeth Lowell: I have enjoyed everything I have read by her.

I usually get the hardbacks from the library, and then buy the paperbacks when they show up in thrift shops or used book stores.

Jay Taylor
I only have one...John Scalzi.

Monica Jordan
Three authors whose books I have to have are Lee Child, Philippa Gregory, and Jeffrey Archer.

Charlotte Zimmerman
Wendy Corsi Staub
Iris Johansen
Kay Hooper

Rebecca Booth
Karen Kingsbury
Joan Medlicott
Danielle Steel

Dorothy Lechmanick
Jan Karon
John Grisham
Ian McEwen

Sandy Greathouse
Deanna Raybourn
Chelsea Cain
Beverly Lewis
Wanda Brunstetter
Kate Jacobs
Laura Childs
Dean Koontz

Shannon
Janet Evanovich
J. A. Konrath
Jodi Picoult

Dolores Purzycki
Jonathan Kellerman
Jeffery Deaver
Dean Koontz

Janet Kent
John Grisham
Craig Johnson
Margaret Maron

Marion Peterman
Joanne Fluke
Michael Connelly
Dorothea Benton Frank
T. J. MacGregor

Booksjammer
Luanne Rice
Sue Grafton
Kristin Hannah

Freda McNulty
Ann Rule
Mary Higgins Clark
Carol Higgins Clark

Sierra
Steve Berry
Daniel Silva
David Baldacci

Mary
Pat Conroy
Dorothea Benton Franks
Anne Rivers Siddons

Kathryn McNamara
Marian Keyes
Jodi Picoult
Pat Conroy

Janice Halinar
Jodi Picoult
Philippa Gregory
Nelson DeMille

Kathie Hackney
Dean Koontz
Steven King
J. A. Jance

T. Semidey
Three authors I have to HAVE no matter what are: Jodi Picoult, Nora Roberts and J. K. Rowling

Sheila Connolly
Nevada Barr
Lisa Gardner
Vicki Lane

Beth
Katie Fforde and Sylvia Browne

Vee
Stuart Woods
Eileen Goudge
Harlan Coben

Wanda Blake
Jodi Picoult
James Patterson
Ken Follett

Gail Perryman
Scott Turow, Martin Cruz Smith, Nelson DeMille

Jeanine Pappas
Jodi Picoult
Anne Tyler
Elizabeth Berg

Cam Grizmala
Charles Martin
Jodi Picoult
P. D. James

Beth
Nelson DeMille, Brad Thor, Harlan Coben

Rosemary
Maeve Binchy
Jodi Picoult
David Baldacci

(BUT I also MUST have Richard North Patterson and Alexander McCall Smith too!)

I am now using the library for my other favorites but will always buy these authors.

Dawn Nyht
John Sandford, Jim Butcher, Terry Pratchett

Vivian Watts
James Patterson
Jodi Picoult
Patricia Cornwell

Tom Carrico
Anne Tyler
Michael Connelly
Ken Follett

Tamara
Gregory Maquire
Kate Mosse
J. K. Rowling

Debbie Beigh
Robert B. Parker
Janet Evanovich
Tony Hillerman

LuAnn Morgan
David Guterson, Stephen King, and Barbara Delinsky

Marcia Hodge
Sue Grafton
Nevada Barr
Janet Evanovich

Jery
Diana Gabaldon
Stephenie Meyer
Lee Child

Jane Hixon
Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell

Eileen Held
David Sedaris
John Irving

Karen Terry
Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and Chelsea Cain

Rosemary Simm
J. A. Jance
Stuart Woods
Sylvia Browne

John Stover
James Lee Burke
Michael Connelly
Janet Evanovich

Andrea Arbie
Alice Hoffman
Elizabeth Berg
Stephen King

Kathleen
Jodi Picoult, Mitch Albom, and Janet Evanovich

Nicole Hulst
Always have to buy the new books by J. D. Robb, Patricia Briggs, and Julia Quinn.

Brigette
James Patterson
M. C. Beaton
Lincoln Child

William P. Therrien
Michael Crichton, Nelson DeMille and Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child.

Roseann
J. K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, and Vince Flynn

Jackie Houchin
Michael Connelly, Earlene Fowler, Aaron Elkins

Jean Hogue
Jacqueline Winspear
Deborah Crombie
Margaret Maron

Freda
Robert Crais
Nelson DeMille
Michael Connelly

Freda
James W. Hall
Archer Mayor
Jame Lee Burke

nmc
Jasper Fforde
Wally Lamb

Ali
Mary Higgins Clark
Alexander McCall Smith
Anita Shreve

Kathy Vieira
I would have to say, Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve and Alice Hoffman.

Ana Ferrés
Dick Francis, Rosamunde Pilcher (starting from THE SHELL SEEKERS --- not the small novels) and Maeve Binchy (same connotation --- not the small novels).

Ana Ferrés
I have just submitted my first choice, but given the chance without canceling the first one, I would like to add:

Wilbur Smith, especially the first one in the Old Egypt series, WARLOCK
D. E. Stevenson - I have been looking --- no luck so far --- for the Barbara Buncle series
Georgette Heyer

Jackie Crucil
James Patterson
Mary Higgins Clark
Ann B. Ross

Cynthia Scott
Joseph Finder
Lee Child
Stephen White

F Tessa Bartels
Sandra Dallas
Alexander McCall Smith
Isabel Allende

M. Archer
J. K. Rowling
Alexander McCall Smith

Shyeyes
Dean Koontz
James Patterson
Harlan Coben

Louise
Brenda Novak
Susan Wiggs
James Patterson

Angela Hedgepeth
Dorothea Benton Frank
Luanne Rice
Nicholas Sparks

Lareeta
Beverly Jenkins
Brenda Jackson
Francis Ray

Archie
I just have to have:
1) Michael Crichton
2) Diana Gabaldon
3) Clive Cussler

Laurie
Anne Rice
Stephen King

Angela Satalino
Nelson DeMille
Jodi Picoult

Susan Maranto
Janet Evanovich
Erle Stanley Gardner
Anne George

Jane
Carl Hiaasen
David Sedaris
Jim Kokoris

Maureen O'Donoghue Dooley
Harper Lee
Rachel Carson
Lisa Margonelli, author of OIL ON THE BRAIN

I look forward to further investigative/analytic writing on other vital topics.

Also, have added Lily Koppel, who wrote THE RED LETTER DIARY. It is an ideal book on the persistence of research and the sensitivity to circumstances needed by an authentic writer.

MaryD
Stephen White
Greg Iles
Joseph Finder

Teri Hammock
Joanne Fluke
Jan Karon
Mary Higgins Clark

Lindsey Hedrick
Jodi Picoult
Adriana Trigiani
Debbie Macomber

Natalie Powell
Tess Gerritsen, Greg iles, and Emily Giffin

aklady
Cormac McCarthy
Diana Gabaldon
Christopher Moore

Sheri
Jean M. Auel

Bonnie Marshak
Daniel Silva
Nora Roberts
Dan Brown

Barbara Bocan
Anita Shreve
Rita Mae Brown
Jean Plaidy

Jean Vierig
Janet Evanovich, Robert B. Parker, Lisa Scottoline, & Michael Connelly