I think one ‘best of the best ‘would suffice but nothing like a bit of overkill…

This week at the Broke and the Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is :

‘Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors’

What a terrible list to have to make!  It’s bad.  Very. Very. Bad.  But, I will choose 10 authors – they will more than likely be the most recent read (although maybe not all).  And, yes, of course I will think of 10 others as soon as I commit – but, pffft, time to stop prevaricating and put a ring on it:

1. JRRTolkien – I had to go there – Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.  I have read his other books but these are the two stand outs for me.  He’s not for everyone but I just love these stories.
2. Scott Lynch – The Gentleman Bastards.  This is a great series that I love.  And, frankly, I’m not kidding anyone here – any author who comes up with Jean Tannen goes on my top 10 best authors.  That is all.
3. Alice Hoffman – I love her books.  They’re just absolutely lovely to read.  I definitely recommend Practical Magic, The Story Sisters and Dovekeepers – and, well, let’s face it – lots more!
4. Sarah Pinborough – is a fairly new to me author but I love her works, her writing is gorgeous and she’s impossible to pigeon hole – she just totally refuses to get stuck in a box.  You never know what to expect because her writing is so diverse.  I absolutely loved her fairytale retellings Charmed, Poison, Curse (sorry, that’s probably not the right order).
5. Robert Bennett – I love his books.  Again, a fairly new to me author introduced to me via a bloody good blogging buddy (Little Red Reviewer – for which my deep thanks!) and my first book being The Troupe which I loved so much I immediately backtracked and read Company Man and Mr Shivers – both really good.  Then he came up with American Elsewhere and then blew my mind with City of Stairs. What next!
6. Joanne Harris – I’ve not read all her books but it’s probably not for the want of trying.  She has a lovely magical way of writing.  Chocolat – which everybody knows thanks to the film and the rather lovely Johnny Depp, Blackberry Wine, Coastliners, Holy Fools and The Gospel of Loki – I could go on but nobody wants to read an essay when they’re expecting a list!
7. Neil Gaiman – my list would simply not be complete without him.  His writing makes me sink, into the chair, through the carpet and straight into the world that he’s writing about. I totally (in an unstalkerish way) love him.  The Graveyard Book, Stardust, Neverwhere, the Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Sandman graphic novels, and on and on and on!
8. Mark Lawrence – my first introduction into grimdark fantasy and what a fantastic place to start – in fact I don’t think it can get much better.  Prince, King and Emperor of Thorns and now from the same world Prince of Fools and the Liar’s Key.  If you haven’t read them then what are you waiting for!
9. Kate Atkinson – I’ve been reading her books over the years and she’s a great and versatile author.  She doesn’t get bogged down in one particular style but always comes up with something fresh.  I loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Case Histories and Life After Life.
10. Daphne DuMaurier – my list wouldn’t be complete without her on it – I haven’t read all of her books but I’ve given it a good try!  Rebecca, Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel – just read them.