It is indeed an honor to be asked by Nelda Vogel, the lady who keeps up the website at Comer Library, to write something about my favorite authors for Comer Library's users to see via the Internet. It is also an honor to follow a great reader like Mrs. Eleanor Collins who recently shared some of her favorite books on the library's Reader's Advisory site on the website....

I am ashamed to admit that I did not begin to ENJOY reading until six or seven years ago, but now I am just about always reading, and 98% of my reading is fiction. I noticed that Mrs. Collins listed her eight favorite writers in order; however, my selection of eight (8) authors are those that I have specially enjoyed reading and they are listed in no particular order of favor. I will admit, even in my reading choices, I am pretty much a male chauvinist.

Tom Clancy is the first author on my list, and his writings are all suspense type books, many of which feature a main character, John Ryan. Several of Clancy's books have been made into movies, and Harrison Ford plays John Ryan. Books filmed include Red Storm Rising, Patriot Games, and Executive Orders, but my most favorite Tom Clancy book has not been made into a movie and I really would like to ask him why since that book, Without Remorse, is excellent and as a matter of fact is the only book that I have read twice. I guess it was a long time between Clancy books and pulled it out to read again. This book is one I would tell you to be sure to read!!! I'm always amazed at what authors find to think about and to write about, but then real life sometimes comes into play! I think at times Tom Clancy has been called before government subcommittees who wanted to know how much he knew about the subjects about which he has written.

Lee Child is a fairly new author, and he is one that I met at a book signing in Birmingham several years ago. He took questions that day and a couple of his answers surprised me; one being that he writes the ending of the book first and then works to that point, and also that he finds it difficult to name the lesser characters in his books. At times, Childs uses names of personal acquaintances for his characters, and he once took bids on having one of his major characters named after the high donor for some charity. This author's books are murder or suspense and he has a main character Jack Reacher. I personally like books in which an author uses the same character or has a main man or woman. Lee child has written five books that I have read---Die Trying, Killing Floor, Tripware, Running Blind and Echo Burning. I haven't read his new book, Persuader, but I understand that Comer Library has it on the shelf.

I will have to say that the books and authors that I mention are easy reads, but they take me a little longer than they might some other readers. I am convinced that every author tries to come up with 8-10 words you don't have a clue the meaning, so I keep a dictionary close at all times.

Clive Cussler is another author that I enjoy. Once again, this author employs a main character, Dirk Pitt. Actually this Dirk Pitt character reminds me a lot of myself??? Cussler has a large number of books in print, and if you have never read his books, I would suggest that you start with some of his early books. I'm not sure of his first title but would suggest Vixen 03, Deep Six, or Pacific Vortex. Dirk Pitt's girlfriend is a congresswomen and she appears in most all of the books. Cussler's books center around the sea, and he uses NUMA---the National Underwater and Marine Agency---as his main focus with bad guys vs the good guys in the setting. Cussler always includes himself in his books as a character who loves old automobiles. I know you will enjoy this author's books, which include Fire Ice, Shock Wave, Valhalla Rising and Atlantis Found.

John Grisham, another favorite author of mine, is extremely popular with other readers also. He is from the South and that area is usually the setting for his books. Grisham's second book, The Firm, put him on the map as an author, and it was later made into a movie. After Grisham gained fame with The Firm, his first book, A Time to Kill, was widely read and also made into a movie. This author is mighty prolific! At times I think he is trying to see how many books he can get out while he is hot with readers. Since Grisham is an attorney, he has moved around in the circle of law and his books usually reflect that legal knowledge. His books number about thirteen, and of those books, I have personally enjoyed The Client, Pelican Brief and The Brethren. John Grisham's new book, King of Torts, is good---real good!

John Sandford is another author that I enjoy. Some of his books, like those of Lee Child, often contain a great deal of killing and violence. But Sanford's books are good! They are fast paced and keep your attention. This author's main character is Lucas Davenport. Lucas invented a computer game, sold it, and has money to do whatever he pleases in the line of police work--detective, consultant, etc. (As a matter of fact, Sue Thrash is a reader who has most of Sandford's books, and she pretty much told David (her husband) that if Lucas comes to Sylacauga, he (David) is history.) All of this author's books are set in the Midwest in and around Minneapolis/St. Paul. Naked Prey is a recent book of Sandford's, and most of his books end with the word, "prey." His books are what you would term "page turners," and they usually get the reader's attention in the first few pages. John Sandford's books are right at the top of my list of favorites. I can't wait until a new book by this author pops up!!

Stuart Woods is an author that Buster Carlton mentioned to me when I first began to get into this reading thing. I think his first book was Chiefs. Woods' books are similar to the others that I particularly like---murder mysteries, suspense, and real page-turners. I find that if a book is super, I do not want it to end! Many of this author's early books took place in South Georgia. Woods makes up his towns; for example, there is no such place as Delano, Georgia. So you might be frustrated with the idea of  a fictionalized place if you like geography and you want your author to have "real" towns, cities, and  rivers so you can identify "where" everything is happening! Stuart Woods has written many books, and I find them all good. I think of all his titles, my favorites are Imperfect Stranger and Worst Fears Realized.

I suggest that if you have not read an author's books, you should be sure to start with the first title and read them in sequence. Now you might change before you finish a whole series---just to have a different read. Many authors are providing the change of pace with different roles for a main character. For example, Stuart Woods' books have Stone Barrington as ex-cop--ex-attorney as the main character. Besides being a good detective, Barrington does ok with the ladies. Stuart Woods' new book recently out is Dirty Work and it is a Stone Barrington thriller...I am only about four chapters into book, but can already see it is going to be a "good'en."

As a side note...one thing that I have enjoyed about reading is learning about new authors from other readers. As soon as they find out that you enjoy reading...they will ask, "Have you read so and so yet?" and of course other readers will mention "their" author. Ms. Eleanor (Collins) told me about Greg Iles. Of course Ms. Eleanor liked him even more when she learned he was from her home state of Mississippi. A new couple to Sylacauga--Jerry & Pat Price (their daughter is Lisa (Mrs. Van) Wilkins)-- told me about Lawrence Block. See...if you get into reading for the first time or you've always had other interests...you find that there is no limit to various authors with similar taste. The librarians call these "read alikes," and they can actually recommend authors similar to one that you like!

The authors that I have mentioned are all pretty much the same type. Now I will mention a different type of author that I like---Nicholas Sparks. He is another author that I had the privilege of meeting. Sparks looks just like his book cover---except 10 years younger. This author has written five (5) books with a new one just out. Sparks is different from other authors that I usually enjoy, but I think that you will really like his work!! His first book was the Notebook in which Sparks takes a situation  (love-lost-and-found-again) that he knows about and plots the story around true facts. Which brings to mind, Ms. Connie (my wife) is always saying, "Oh when something happens to me, Sam will marry one of his high school sweethearts." Really, she doesn't believe that, but she does like saying it! Do you know anything about Ashville, Alabama?

Back to Nicholas Sparks; he has two books that have been made into movies--Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember, but all of his books are real good. The Guardian, which is his last one, is great! His books are easy reads. Nicholas Sparks is from North Carolina and his books are set around the general area of the Outerbanks.

Shirley Spears, Chief Librarian at B. B. Comer Memorial Library, introduced me to my next three favorite authors and I will sort of lump them together:

David Baldacci is a super author and, like the other two, has enjoyed his share of time on the bestseller list. His books are the page-turner,  suspense types. I had never heard this author's name; however, I am now always looking to see if and when he has a new book coming out! Absolute Power and Last Man Standing are my Baldacci favorites. He is one of the best-kept secrets around! Invariably, I will mention his name to someone, and they will say :Who?"-- probably like I did when Shirley mentioned him to me. Try his books! You will be glad you did!

Vince Flynn was another new author for me, but now I have all of his books, which are super suspense novels. Flynn has had several books made into either movies or movies for television. His best book is--oh heck all of his are great--Separation of Power, Term Limits, The Third Option and Transfer of  Power. The librarians over at Comer Library say that Flynn's new book, Executive Power, is in but they tell me that Tommy Hebson's name is already on the waiting list!

The third author that was new to me that I really like is Steve Martini. This author--like the other two--writes fast-paced fun to read books. His main character, Paul Madrianai, is a corporate-turned criminal lawyer. Martini's settings vary; they are sometimes as exotic as the Yucatan Peninsula, and his plots can be as extreme as a serial murder case. This author specializes in nail-biting encounters in courtrooms, and titles that I recommend are Critical Mass, The Judge and The List.

James Patterson would be hard to leave off of a list of top authors! He has a fairly large number of books in print and he uses two main characters, Detective Cross, and then a young lady detective whose name I can't recall? Of course this failure of memory has nothing to do with my male chauvinist taste that I mentioned earlier! Several of Patterson's books have been made into either movies or television films. You will definitely enjoy his books.

And yes, I do read lady authors and, for example, I thoroughly enjoy Mary Higgins Clark, Patricia Cornwell, Catherine Coulter, and Sue Grafton who writes the famous alphabet titles. I also recommend a lesser-known female author, Bonnie MacDougal, who has a good book that you will enjoy--Angel of Impact.

Robert Parker is a real favorite of mine for a number of reasons. Like all my other favorites, he's easy to read! ( I have a cousin that is way too brainy to like some of the books that I read!) Parker is the writer for the television series, "Spenser for Hire," and his books are all this same type with a main character and a sidekick named Hawk. I love this author's one-liners that are found throughout his books, and I often have to stop, re-read them, and laugh. Parker's books are set in and around Boston, and he is a Boston Red Sox fan. His lady friend and her dot Pearl are found throughout the books. Parker has a large number of books, so if you haven't read one, there is no particular place to start---just grab one and enjoy!

Thanks again to the B. B. Comer Library staff for asking me to participate in the Reader's Advisory program on their website. I don't  know how this will turn out, but hopefully my recommendations will entice a few readers to try some new authors that they had not thought about reading? I think that we all like to read books that get our attention at the "get go," and I offer the above selections for your reading enjoyment. I encourage you to visit a library near you! They are in big cities with 5 or 6 to choose from; in a tiny 'burg like my hometown of Ashville; there are rolling libraries for the rural areas; and then there are libraries located at cross roads like the one at New Hope in Northwest Alabama. Reading is a great pastime! Get your kids to read---and your grandchildren; that is a group that I am working on.... and I have seven!