[ Edgar Allen Poe | Anne Rice | William Golding | Madeliene L'Engle | Herman Hesse | Douglas Adams | James O'Barr | Lewis Caroll | A. A. Milne | Friederich Nietzsche | Aldous Huxley | Bram Stoker | F. Scott Fitzgerald | Robert M. Pirsig | Jim Morrison | Oscar Wilde | Tom Robbins | George Orwell | Sylvia Plath ]

Edgar Allen Poe I can bet that even after he and his works changed my life so, I have misspelled his name. But even so, he has had nearly THE most profound effect on me as a writer. He is the master of horror and suspense fiction, a veritible lord of dark fiction. He had that pre-Victorian mastery of the written word that few before and few since have ever achieved or will ever acheive. My personal favorites are "The Sleeper", "The Conqueror-Worm" and "Ligea". Truly, all writers are endebted to this man.

Anne Rice If Poe has had nearly the most profound effect on my writing, then Anne Rice has truly had the most. Her prose, thick with detail, atmosphere, lilting language and story-telling ability, has been the model for many of my stories. To this day, I think her screen adaptation of her novel Interview With the Vampire was what ushered me into this world, this life, whatever it is. She has a knack for making me consider-- and desire to master-- my darker side. I will be a devoted Rice fan till my dying day-- perhaps even longer.

The Vampire Chronicles: Interview With The Vampire The Vampire Lestat Queen of the Damned Tale of the Body Thief Memnoch the Devil Lives of the Mayfair Witches: The Witching Hour Lasher Taltos And others...

William Golding I read Lord of the Flies after seeing the movie in Civics class, and I was captivated. Golding really has a gift for story-telling, and this is a classic tale. It's entertaining, thought-provoking, and not a little disturbing. There's a reason why some novels are immortalized as classics; this one deserves it fully.

Lord of the Flies Pincher Martin Free Fall The Inheritors And more...

James O'Barr Never has a more honest or moving love story than "The Crow" ever been written-- or drawn. O'Barr is not only a talented writer, he is a marvelous artist. He holds an understanding of people and their emotions only learnt through experience-- of which I am sure he has had more than his fill. "The Crow" is a story of infinite intensity, honesty, inertia and beauty not often paralleled- or even approached- by other authors in this genre (graphic novel).

Madeiline L'Engle Now I know I spelled that one wrong. I remember reading two books by her when I was relatively young-- probably fifth or sixth grade-- and being taken aback by the concepts L'engle described in her novels A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door, concepts on which I have only recently begun to think once more. She blends science fiction with fantasy tactfully and seamlessly, as few modern writers can. I cannot speak more highly of her and her work.

'Time' Series: A Wrinkle In Time A Wind In The Door A Swiftly Tilting Planet Many Waters And others...

Tom Robbins A cousin of mine gave me Jitterbug Perfume and I have to say I've never read a more entertainingly intelligent book. Or is it intelligently entertaining? Oh, I don't know; it doesn't really matter. What matters is that this man is one of most interesting modern writers I've had the good fortune to come across, and I guarantee you a little fun-- if not a little food for thought-- will come from reading his work.

Robert M. Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence) I finally finished this book and it is most definitely one of the best I have ever read. It is the autobiography of a man who was once a rhetoric professor, but was driven mad by his philosophical obsessions and the blindness of the people around him. So he was reinvented-- as a technical writer. He elaborates on his current and former selves' philosophies during a cross-country motorcycle trip with his son. Truly original, concise and thought provoking. Read it, damnit!

Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) This work has been criticized and praised by countless critics and other notable men. I can only say it is what all good literature should be-- piercing and relentless.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) Fitzgerald shares Anne Rice's ability to tell a story with just enough detail and inventive vocabulary and grammar to tantalize, to hold my interest infallibly. This is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. And I've always been partial to the Roaring 20's.

Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar) This is one of my favorite books of all time, unapproachable in emotion and empathy. I can honestly say it changed my life, in a way. A must-read for all intelligent, sensitive women.