Pay it Forward
I recently posted about my experience meeting the author Catherine Ryan Hyde and how lucky I was to have her as my mentor at a writers conference. She graciously agreed to let me interview her on this blog, and I loved the interview and the encouragement she gave to other writers. To honor her, I am participating in the giveaway hop (see photo above) hosted by Adam at http://roofbeamreader.net.
When I asked Catherine which book of hers I should read first, she suggested ‘Becoming Chloe’. I bought that book at the conference where we met. I cannot part with that book, but I definitely want to share the message of paying it forward. As an aspiring author myself, I would like to support other aspiring authors who are trying to get their work out there. Here is my contest: post in the comments about an author who’s work you would like to see more of and why. If possible, suggest a book by that author. The contest is open until June 30th, at which time I will pick a winner from all of the entries. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Amazon.com to buy the book of his or her choice. I will also personally buy a book from the author the winning entry recommends. Easy enough? I can’t wait to hear your suggestions.
noblevalerie.com 
I have to recommend Del Shannon. I recently read his book Kevin’s Point of View and loved it. I had originally skipped over it several times because well, the cover just didn’t appeal to me. But when I finally did read it, I truly enjoyed it. I hope that it gets more attention because it really does deserve it.
Thank you for the comment and recommendation. The book looks like a great adventure. Also, I liked your comment about the book cover…they are so important!
I would say Roald Dahl (however childish that makes me sound). I remember reading Charlie and The Chocolate Factory when I was six or seven, and I fell in love with it. I’m pretty sure I’ve read his entire children’s book oeuvre at age nine ..and then his adult works as I got older. His wit, and humor is so unique and completely magical to children. He made me fall in love with reading…and I’ve grown to read more and have a plethora of other favorite authors, no one beats the first, right?
If a writer can inspire a group of elementary students to sit still for an hour to devour a story, he is doing something right.
And I would love to see more of his work for children…partly because the draft for the sequel to Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator was left unfinished. It’s such a pity that he died 2years before I was even born.
Lilian @ A Novel Toybox
lilianxchengATgmail.com
You don’t sound childish at all! I love Roald Dahl too. Matilda was one of my favorites (both book & movie). I loved your comment, thank you for entering.
John Stephens is a YA fantasy writer (actually – he started as a television writer: Gossip Girl, The Gilmore Girls, The O.C.) whose first book, The Emerald Atlas, came out last year – I loved it and I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in the series, which I believe comes out in October. The book was well-received but it is relatively under-read/unknown for some reason. I read mostly literature/classics, but this is a YA Fantasy book that I can’t seem to stop recommending. Looking forward to more of his work! 🙂
roofbeamreader(at)gmail(dot)com
I will check out that book for sure! I love YA Fantasy/ Sci Fi (it’s what I write too!). Thank you very much for entering and for the suggestion.
I would totally recommend Tracey Garvis Graves. She is a new author with a fantastic debut book called On the Island. It made the NYT Best Seller list as a self published book. I am waiting patiently to get my hands on her upcoming book Covet whihc will be out this fall as well!
I love to hear those kinds of success stories! Thank you for entering, great suggestion.
I love Kristin Cashore. Her characters are very strong and unusual women. She only has three books out right now, and the first in the series is Graceling, so start there.
I have to go with Catherine Ryan Hyde, would LOVE to read “Becoming Chloe”. I just finished reading “Don’t Let Me Go”, and that is a book I would definitely recommend if you haven’t read it yet.
I’m reading “Don’t Let Me Go” right now. Glad to hear you liked it and very glad to see you like Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books in general. Thank you for entering!
I love her books too! Great suggestion. I’ve read ‘Graceling’ and ‘Fire’, but not the third one. Thank you for entering.
Sherrilyn kenyon is my all time favourite author, I do have many though. The book Acheron is an amazing book, the pain and anguish if abuse then to find that one true one who understands you. This book made me cry .
Ahhh, thank you for the heartfelt suggestion and for entering.
I wish I could see more of L.A. Banks’ work. I don’t think the books she had pending will be finished or ghost written ever so that might be a high hope of mine. I’m still sad that she passed last year. Her work was exceptional.
I’ll have to look her up, I haven’t heard of her. Thank you for the suggestion, and for entering.
I love Ellen Hopkins. I’ve read all of her books so far and I’m always blown away by her amazing writing. My favorite was Identical because I’ve read it 3 times and I love it more each time.
Great recommendation, thank you! And, thank you for entering.
Tate Hallaway! Her Vampire Princess of St. Paul series rocks! I want more of that series.
Thank you so much for entering and for the suggestion!
Thanks for this amazing giveaway! I would like to see more of Lois Lowry. I read and loved The Giver which was such a quick read but stays with you long after the book is closed! I have recommended that book to so many people and I can’t wait to read more of her books!
susanw28 (at) mindspring (dot) com
Thank you for entering! My daughter had to read ‘The Giver’ this year, I wish I would have read it with her. Great suggestion.
Layton Green, author of The Summoner and The Egyptian. I think he’s self-published. Kind of reminds me of Dan Brown and Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston.
Anne
acm05atjuno.com
Thank you so much for entering! I will check him out for sure and I love hearing all of these great author suggestions.
I read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and it was so much fun! I hope that he publishes something else fabulous soon.
akreese at hotmail dot com
Thank you so much for entering!
John Green. I’ve only read Looking for Alaska so far, but I already know he’s an author I’ll want to read for the rest of my life.
Thank you for entering. I’ve read one of his books too and really enjoyed it.
I’d love to see more work by an author named Rebecca Rasmussen who wrote “The Bird Sisters”. In her novel she writes about Milly & Twiss who are sisters, and the whole book takes place in the span of one day, and pretty much in a flashback. Her style is simple, but not simplistic. Her prose is beautiful, yet not ostentatious. And her characters, oh…that is what makes this book so special, is that all the characters are real, believable and complex – each as flawed as the next, and yet endearing. I cannot WAIT until she writes her next novel, so that I can get my hands on it. I’d definitely recommend her to anyone, and everyone out there.
Thank you so much for this giveaway opportunity.
Name: Hira Hasnain
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you so much for entering and for this thoughtful recommendation. I am loving this contest and hearing about so many new (at least to me) authors!
I recently read the YA novel, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. I’m not a vampire-crazed teenage girl and stood firm against anything Twilight. Once I read this novel, however, I enjoyed the action-packed plot and Julie’s writing style. I’m also a huge fan of dystopias. I’m counting down until the next book in the Blood of Eden series. Thanks for participating in the giveaway!
katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for entering! I love your suggestions.
Charles Dickens remains one of my favorite authors. I love the fact that he wrote about social issues and was not afraid to speak the truth. I also like the fact that he was not always about happy endings. I love the story that goes along with his writing of Great Expectations. People were up in arms about his having an ending when the two main characters did not marry. So he wrote an alternate ending to appease the people. But I prefer the original ending, and I know he did, too. Haven’t time changed?
Ahhhh, an oldie but goodie, I agree. Thank you so much for entering. I love your suggestion.
I’d have to recommend Paul Crilley, I scored and ARC of his first book, Rise of the Darklings, a couple of years ago. I probably never would have picked the book up otherwise, because i really don’t like the cover, but after reading it I found it a fascinating, well written, YA/middle grade fantasy.
jlynettes @ hotmail . com
Thank you so much for entering and for the recommendation!
J.M. Tohline is my favorite author, and recommending one of his books is easy, there’s only one — The Great Lenore, that was released last year (and immediately became my favorite read. Ever.).
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
Wow- that is a stellar recommendation! Thank you for entering!
Mary Beth Whalen. I read her book She Makes It Look Easy and love it. She has a new book coming out and I can’t wait to read it.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Thank you so much for entering! Another great suggestion!
I always recommend Aimee Bender, she is definitely one of my favorite authors. She writes magical realism…The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is her newest book. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Ooohh- I’ve heard of that book but never read it. Thanks for entering and for that recommendation. I love the title!
I’d recommend Fahrenheit 451 because I enjoyed reading it when I was younger and thought it had an interesting message.
I really liked that book too. It was pretty cool how he predicted ‘reality’ tv, long before its existence. Thank you so much for entering.
One of my favorite authors, who in my opinion, doesn’t get enough attention outside of the genre & in libraries, is Ilona Andrews. It’s actually a husband-wife team that writes urban fantasy, set in an alternate Atlanta. I love their characters…they are full of depth, and unexpected things always happen. Plus, I’m a big fan of a heroine who’s full of snark & sarcasm. Everyone I know that has read their books has loved them, but a lot of people haven’t ever heard of them. My favorite series of theirs is the Magic Series, featuring Kate Daniels. New book out end of July 🙂
Sounds wonderful! Thank you so much for entering.
Okay everyone, I know the contest officially ended last night, but I had a lot to think about here. You all gave me such wonderful recommendations! I wish all of you could win, but that’s not in my budget 🙂 After thinking on it for a long time, I am picking Hira Hasnain’s entry. It was a tough choice because you all gave great recommendations. I’m going to try and read them all! I hope that counts for something and I will spread the word on all of books suggested and continue to try and ‘Pay it Forward’. This was a lot of fun…maybe I’ll do it again sometime.