The bloggers at The Broke and The Bookish are trying to kill me this week. Somehow they want me to reduce all books to 10 that I am thankful for. They want me to reduce the fact that there are people in the world who are willing to bleed onto a page so that I can have perfect worlds and loves and adventures to 10. Really, REALLY? OK I will do my best.

AUTHORS:

Anne McCaffrey – For introducing me to fantasy and a lifelong love of dragons.

Neil Gaiman – For showing me that comics and graphic novels are not the same and for giving me so many of my favorite stories in so many genres.

Stephen King – For often making character more important than plot.

Holly Black – For reminding me that fairy tales come in all forms and magic can be as subtle as the touch of a hand.

Christopher Moore – For making me laugh out loud when I read.

Gregory Maguire – For opening up a world of retellings which give me so much joy.

Jane Austen – For Mr. Darcy, need I say more.

J.K. Rowling – For being my daughter’s Anne McCaffrey. And for Snape.

Edgar Allen Poe – For my love of gothic horror.

Franny Billingsley – For reminding me that Young Adult can contain beautiful language as well as powerful storytelling.

And if I had to list books here are 5 that I am thankful for today.