What author would you like to have join you for a holiday meal?

Maureen
Jodi Picoult --- my favorite author.

Rebecca
Salman Rushdie and David Mitchell

Steven Schwindt
David Baldacci

Margaret Herrin
Janet Evanovich --- her writing is such a hoot!

Jan Kochmeister
Stephen King

Diana Flanary-Bray
Michael Prescott --- he is my favorite writer, and he is an absolutely wonderful person, too.

Sandra Greathouse
Beverly Lewis

Cheri
John Grisham, Joan Hess and Sue Grafton

Kate Stiffler
Ray Bradbury

Krystal Shrader
Meg Cabot

Ann
Without a doubt, Nelson DeMille!!!! He strikes me as a down-to-earth person with a great sense of humor. He would make a holiday meal more festive and fun!

Patty Blackwell
Patricia Cornwell - after reading through the cookbook a couple of years ago, along with the food/meal descriptions in her novels, I would think it would be fun.

Mary Ward
I would love to have Maya Angelou over to celebrate a meal with. Her words just stir you to such great heights. I would love to just sit at her feet and listen to her speak.

Freda
Steven Womack

Freda
Nelson DeMille

Nancy Venters
Mary Kay Andrews

Connie Everson
Janet Evanovich

Peggy Kincaid
So many choices, but I think it would be Michael Connelly. I love Harry Bosch and I think Mr. Connelly and I would have a lot to talk about given his books, being a reporter, and crime. I work in a police department.

Jane
Isabel Allende

Barbara Shaw
I would like to share a holiday meal with Nora Roberts.

Louise Pledge
Brenda Novak

Danna Lambert
I would love to entertain (and be entertained by) Ray Bradbury.

I love the way his mind works.

Robyn Hawk
James Patterson

Margaret Franson
Sara Paretsky

Chris Starling
Kurt Vonnegut

Jen Wilbanks
Joanne Fluke- author of the Hannah Swensen mysteries.

Michelle Miller
Stephen King

R. Honey
Anna Quindlen... because we are of the same age and each of us has three kids. Also, it has always been my secret fantasy is to have gone to college, majored in journalism and become an author. I enjoy all her books, fiction and nonfiction.

Pat Hoel
I would invite Stuart Kaminsky, versatile author of so many different characters and series, each different and wonderful. He would have to be a fabulous guest!

Billie McHam
Terri Blackstock

W
Carl Hiaasen or Lee Child

Cathy Doyle
James Rollins, Jeremy Robinson (& family), Steve Berry. These are all authors I have had some contact with (through e-mails), and they are wonderful and kind and I think it would be a great party. Also, I'd like to invite Charles de Lint --- just because I love him to death --- along with Dean and Gerda Koontz, and, of course, Trixie.

Mary Chanpagne
Jodi Picoult

Dorothy Gordon
Lawrence Block

Rushelle
Stephen King

Susan
John Grisham --- he's a fabulous story teller, so the dinner would certainly not be dull. He is obviously a very giving person who is committed to his Southern roots and steps right up to help when needed (as evidenced by his generousity after Katrina). He oozes Southern charm and just seems like a really nice guy. My family would welcome him at our home anytime.

Brenda Broadway
Dean Koonz would be my first choice of author to join us for a holiday meal. Although, there are so many wonderful authors of so many different types of books that the question would become quite difficult to answer. If I had to list my top five, in order of preference, I couldn't say.

Isabelle 
David McCullough

Ann Bowen
I'd love to have dinner with Kris Radish (author of ANNIE FREEMAN'S FABULOUS TRAVELING FUNERAL, THE ELEGANT GATHERING OF WHITE SNOWS, and DANCING NAKED AT THE EDGE OF DAWN). She is a really special lady and has a great sense of who she is and what her readers want. She's got a wonderful sense of humor too!

Barbara
Jodi Picoult

Robert E Brown Sr
I would like Stephen King to join my family for a holiday meal. I just love his books and most of my family does too. I am collecting his books to reread again.

fran schroeder
Bernard Cornwell

Sarah Thorn
Larry McMurtry

Ray Palen
Dead - Charles Dickens

Alive - Stephen King

Loretta sanford
Nelson DeMille, so we can talk about theories on Flight 800 and our distrust of government operatives like the CIA.

Ruby Meredith
Stephen King

Donna Tanner
Alice Hoffman

Cindy D.
I would love Nelson DeMille!

Lisa Marie Garrison
I would like to have Douglas Clegg (and his partner!) at my holiday meal. My partner and I DEVOUR his books and are very happy he is so available to his readers through his website. It is a pleasure knowing an author is so happy with his fan base and communicates with it on a regular basis --- even personally!

Lisa Marie Garrison
Maya Angelou would be the author I would enjoy a holiday meal with. She is so inspirational, and wise beyond her years. I could learn a lot from her, and would digest every word she said.

Bev
Maeve Binchy

Jack Quilllen
Thomas Pynchon

Sandi
Diana Gabaldon

Lindy
Friedrich Nietzsche

Kym Lucas
Bill Bryson --- his books are so funny and educational, and he just seems like a great guy.

Alternatively, Jimmy Buffett, author and singer.

Kim Lowe
Naomi Shihab Nye or Jennifer Crusie

Linda Ford 
Mary Higgins Clark

Harriet Stay
Either or both David Ellis and Ridley Pearson. I've met them both and they are very personable and outgoing.

Ellen
James Lee Burke

Irene Prokop
Anne Lamott

Janet Gleason
Richard Paul Evans

Andi
This year, I'd have to say Christopher Moore. He's even funnier in person than in book --- and his books are so wonderful. It's not my favorite time of year, so I would appreciate his presence at our table, even if I suspect a fair amount tacky behavior (spit-takes, snorting) might result. 

I'd also pick Jasper Fforde, Terry Pratchett, or my friend Cornelia Read --- so we could catch up!

D.L. Stewart
Karen Marie Moning

Martha
Any myster/thriller author would be fine with me.

Andy Crews
Dean Koontz

Susan Curtis
Jodi Picoult

Teri
John Saul

Freda
Steven Womack

S. Weber
Charles Dickens...I would like to hear about the era he wrote about with such brilliance. I would like to ask him how "A Christmas Carol" came to him.

Michelle Stein
Nora Roberts

Dorothy Sexton
Nora Roberts

Joan Siegel
Diana Gabaldon

Jen Deja
Jasper Fforde, author of the Thursday Next and the Nursery Crimesseries.

Billie McHam
Lisa Scottolini

Bob Hartzo
Max Lucado

Mary Angela Young
Debbie Macomber

Barb Broberg
Fanny Flagg

Jay Johnson
Lorna Landvik would be my choice for a dinner guest --- she writes about real people that I'd want to know, and she's so darn funny!

Judy Rossa
Donald Harington

Patti
I would like to have Sue Monk Kidd join me for a holiday meal.

Kellie DeMaio
Alice Walker --- I'm reading a book by Evelyn White on her life, titled ALICE WALKER: A LIFE. Excellent reading.

Marja Nikkila
Jeffery Deaver

Janice Smith
Janet Evanovich, no question.

Marcia Fram
Mark Haddon --- I LOVED his blend of reality and sense of humor in A SPOT OF BOTHER.

Tamara
Erma Brombeck

Kathleen Prouty
Mary Higgins Clark

Linda Estrin
Alice Walker

Geri Bennett 
Nelson DeMille...he is not only a fascinating storyteller, his sense of humor is delightful.

Mary M.
Doris Kearns Goodwin

Dena Walton
Christine Feehan

Carol Ritson
James Patterson

Lorie Gregg
John E Cother, southern author of FEAR OF SPIDERS. He is relatively unknown, but has an intensely loyal small core of readers.

Trish Thomas
Thomas Pynchon --- The conversation would be fascinating, and I could tell people I had met him. Maybe you are sworn to secrecy about what he looks like. Maybe he would come wearing a bag over his head. Maybe I see him every time I go to Pegasus (my local independent bookstore), who knows?

Marg 
Barack Obama

J Strache
Michael Connelly

Lynn 
James Frey or Chelsea Handler

Lynn Ketelsen
I would love to have Lorna Landvik over for a holiday meal. She is funny, thoughtful, well-read and well spoken!

Mary M.
Barack Obama

Cam
I would like to have Jodi Picoult join me in a holiday meal.

MarilynS
Only one? Impossible! Susan Mallery, Roxanne St. Claire, Lucy Monroe, Sandra Marton, Jane Porter, Kate Walker.

Tom Joseph
Nelson DeMille

Karin Rhodes
I would enjoy just an hour over great food with Denise Mina. I love her irreverance for just about everything.

Donna Kaspersen
Stephen King because he is imaginative, always evolving, and unpretentious.

Helen
Nelson DeMille, because his newsletter shows that he has a wonderful sense of humor and a self-deprecating personality.He seems like an honest man whom one could believe.

Sunny
Stephen King for sure. Oh wait, maybe Nelson DeMille. Or Anne Tyler. No, Susan Isaacs...

Timothy Selig
James Patterson

Linda M. Williams
Without a doubt, James Lee Burke!!

Mark van Oord
Christopher Moore

Kimberlie Harris
John Grisham