By Tanya E. Williams
What do Lisa Genova, Steve Martini, Kristin Harmel, Hazel Gaynor, and William Kent Krueger have in common?
They are all auto-buy authors for me; authors whose novels I will rush out to pre-order, purchase, or request from my local library as soon as I hear about a new release. Their books never disappoint, always entertain, and, more times than not, give me something to ponder long after the last page.
Choosing a favourite is like asking me to pick water over air. I need both to survive. Just like I need more than one auto-buy author to keep me reading throughout the years. So, in case you are looking for a new obsession, here is a little more about each author and why they’ve become auto-buy worthy to me.
Lisa Genova is not only an exceptional author who captures true humanity with the creation of her characters, but she is also a neuroscientist who uses her powers to educate readers while entertaining them. I once posted that if Lisa were to publish her grocery list, I’d probably buy it.
I was introduced to Lisa’s storytelling with her debut novel, Still Alice, which she originally sold from the trunk of her car before reaching acclaimed status in the publishing world with both the book and its movie adaptation. It is however, her title, Left Neglected, that captured my heart and made me feel understood. A mild-traumatic brain injury forced me to redefine my life and abilities over a decade ago, so reading Left Neglected provided confirmation that life goes on, just not always how you expected it would. Spoiler alert… sometimes, life turns out even better than you imagined it would.
Though Steve Martini hasn’t released a new book in several years, he remains on my list. I am hoping another Paul Madriani legal thriller is still coming my way. I own most of his books in hardcover and refuse to part with them. If you want to escape the doldrums of winter, cue up this 19-book series and settle in for a wild ride. Once you start, you won’t be able to put them down.
Kristin Harmel is a thoughtful author who writes beautiful stories that are incredibly impactful. Most of her work focuses on World War II / present day dual timeline stories, but it is her unique approach to the events throughout the war that warrant your time. You’ll be asking yourself if called to do the challenging, would you?
Hazel Gaynor captured my attention with The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter and I haven’t looked back since. Hazel’s novels are immersive, historically accurate, and deeply emotional. Through her own work and words, Hazel has taught me that a story can be emotional as long as there is a thread of hope woven throughout. It is that glimmer of hope that keeps me reading into the wee hours every single time I pick up a Hazel Gaynor novel. Be sure to check out Hazel’s novels co-authored with Heather Webb. The two are a dynamic team who create memorable stories.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger caught my attention with its hauntingly beautiful cover. Though a recent addition to my auto-buy list, I have devoured two of his historical novels and found myself swept away by both. I have yet to read his award-winning Cork O’Connor novels, but thankfully, there are 19 of them to catch up on. Oh, how I love a good backlist!