13 Authors We Love on National Author’s Day

Patrick deWitt

I first discovered Patrick deWitt’s darkly funny literary writing in THE SISTERS BROTHERS, his take on a spaghetti western following two hit-man brothers on a picaresque journey to take down their last mark. I was so impressed by the suave satire wrapped in gloomy humor and surprisingly poignant characters in deWitt’s first book that I rushed to buy a copy of his newest, the folk-tale-inspired UNDERMAJORDOMO MINOR, the day it came out. Only two things to say on that novel: 1) there’s an entire side scene dedicated to a wheel of cheese tearing a marriage apart, and 2) read this book. —Elizabeth

Edward Rutherford

As many OTS readers know, I love to binge read, whether it’s an author, a series, or a subject. I first discovered Edward Rutherford’s historical novels when I was in high school, and he’s the only author whose books I’ve ever deliberately spread out reading because I love them so much and don’t want the experience to end. He writes epic, beautiful, multigenerational novels that revolve around a place—New York, London, Paris, Ireland—weaving together his fictional characters with real people and events. I recently devoured PARIS while visiting the City of Light, and it was absolutely magical finding myself in the same neighborhoods and on the same street corners as his protagonists. Now, my only question is: WHEN IS HIS NEXT ONE COMING OUT!?!? —Julianna

Harriet Doerr

Harriet Doerr published three books in her 92 years, 600 beautiful pages in total, and you should read every one of them. Born in 1910, she met her husband at age 16 and transferred from Smith College to Stanford University to be near him. They had two children and moved to Mexico in the late 1950s. After she was widowed in 1972, she finished her degree and began to write full-time. Her first novel about an American couple who move to Mexico when the husband takes a position running a mine, STONES FOR IBARRA, came out when she was 73 and won the American Book Award for first fiction (now called the National Book Award). Ten years later, she published CONSIDER THIS, SEÑORA which brought new ex-pats to central Mexico. Her final book, THE TIGER IN THE GRASS, is a collection of personal essays and stories that encapsulate her life story—from her privileged childhood with her beloved governess to her many years living in Mexico with her family to her middle-aged son dying of cancer. Her language is spare and poetic—watercolors not oil paints—deeply observed and compassionate. —Wendy

David McCullough

My first day at Simon & Schuster, I walked into the lobby and saw a dignified portrait of David McCullough hanging among the likes of Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Stephen King. McCullough’s ability to present richly detailed history in a way that makes you feel like you’re reading a thrilling novel has kept me coming back to his great works like 1776 and THE GREATER JOURNEY over and over again. I even got to meet him when he came for a celebratory toast after THE WRIGHT BROTHERS became a #1 New York Times bestseller. You can imagine my embarrassment when my boss introduced me and said, “This is Amy. She has a huge crush on you!” I think my face is still red. —Amy

Chris Cleave

Chris Cleave is perhaps one of the single most warm, interesting, and talented people I have ever come across. His novels are filled with heart and imagination, and inspire empathy in all who read them. Whenever I finish one of his books I have a moment of silence and think, I am so glad we have authors like this who write books like this living in our world today. If you are ready to feel all the emotions, I suggest picking up a copy of LITTLE BEE today, and if you have already read that one or want something completely different, I suggest EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN. Either way you are in for a beautiful, moving, wonderful ride. —Stu

Read the full review of EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN.

M. F. K. Fisher

I've read everything M. F. K. Fisher ever wrote and everything that was written about her. Although my feelings for her are complicated, her books, essays, and biographies are what I come back to again and again. She writes about food, as sustenance and metaphor, about hungers, but it's much more than that. Perhaps it can be summed up like this: she writes about our souls' connection to the pleasure and pain of the physical domain. And then some. —Allison

Read the full review of THE ART OF EATING.

Karen Russell

Ever since I read Karen Russell’s debut novel, SWAMPLANDIA!, I’ve been an avid fan of her work. She manages to spin tales that are quirky, fantastical, nightmarish, and wholly unique. Her mesmerizing short story collection, VAMPIRES IN THE LEMON GRAVE, features some of the most unique stories I have ever read—each one a strange and wondrous gem. You can’t go wrong with any of her books! —Sarah Jane

Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini was the very first author I met. While on tour for his majestic novel AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED, Hosseini did a reading with Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. To this day, it remains one of the best author events I’ve ever attended. Hosseini was so smart, well-spoken, and kind. He took his time talking to every person in the signing line, listening to strangers tell him how much his books meant to them and answering every question. It was like meeting a famous celebrity and discovering that he is even more amazing in person than you had imagined. —Taylor

Ruth Ware

Being Ruth Ware’s book publicist is a dream job. Perhaps it’s because Ware started out as a book publicist herself and knows the ropes, or perhaps it’s just her charming personality and whip-smart sense of humor. She is one of my favorite authors because not only does she write intriguing, page-turning, bestselling books but she is also thoughtful, kind, and attentive to her readers, editors, and publicists. —Meagan

Read the full review of IN A DARK, DARK WOOD.

Beverly Cleary

I wrote my first fan letter when I was eight and my mom warned me not to expect a response. Imagine her surprise when I received a handwritten postcard from Beverly Cleary—the author of the Ramona Quimby series and DEAR MR. HENSHAW. Had I just read her books, I would’ve been a lifelong fan. That she took the time to write back to a young girl demonstrates Cleary’s understanding and deep appreciation of her audience. More than a century old, Beverly Cleary deserves all the respect. —Kerry

Kate Morton

I read Kate Morton’s THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN a few years ago and was instantly hooked by her creative stories and ability to immerse the reader in the past. Morton expertly blends her present-day characters with glimpses into their families’ histories. As a lover of historical fiction, I look forward to escaping into the often glamorous estates and mysterious dramas of her books. —Amy

Read the full review of THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN.

Jeffrey Toobin

I’m a sucker for good narrative nonfiction, and I highly recommend anything by Jeffrey Toobin, whose career was launched with his New Yorker coverage of the O. J. Simpson trial (the recent hit FX miniseries was based on his book from the time, THE RUN OF HIS LIFE). His books read like novels, with strong characters and well-paced action that will have you turning pages at record speed. About a year ago, my friend and I attended an event for Mr. Toobin’s newest book, AMERICAN HEIRESS, which recounts the 1970s exploits of Patty Hearst, and agreed that we would try to make it through the rest of his canon together. We called it a #Toobinge (not-so-registered trademark), and it was the best kind of reading experience, seeing the versatility and wide-ranging interests a nonfiction author can have—from Patty Hearst to O.J. to the Supreme Court to the Clintons—while still doing what he does best: tell a thrilling story. —Julianna

Celeste Ng

I loved Celeste Ng before I even read her books. Her Twitter feed is glorious (@pronounced_ing). That said, her books are even better. I’ve read both her debut novel, EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU, and her recent novel LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE. I highly recommend reading them both, but especially LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE—a riveting novel tracing the fates of a picture-perfect family and the enigmatic mother and daughter duo who upend their lives. You, too, will fall in love with Ng’s beautiful storytelling. —Taylor