As a writer, being a reader comes naturally often.  I am no exception.  However, that was not always the case for me.  I loved listening to stories and using my imagination with playmates and during recess times.  Yet, reading actually words on a page was a struggle.  Phonics was never my forte.  I had to go to special reading classes in second and third grade after school, but I had the sweetest teachers and always had fun games to play; it never felt like work.  In Intermediate and middle school, I deeply enjoyed The American Girls (Samantha and Felicity are cherished by me) series, Royal Diaries books from Scholastic, and trying to read all of the Mark Twain book nominees for those years.  Still, I did not hit my stride with reading until my freshmen year of high school.  Discovering a few special authors and becoming a library aid got my passion for reading and dream of being a writer rolling.  Now, with years of experience, I have read thousands of books, including my precious manga volumes, been on endless adventures, grateful for all these creative wizards of words, dreamers of the pen.

Here is a list of my very favorite.  <3  If you click on their name, you can go to their website.  I owe them more than I can properly express and I hope you will be transported into their incredible worlds as I have. ^-^

My Top 12 Favorite Authors (website links/list of books):

• Rick Riordan (“Percy Jackson,” “Heroes of Olympians,” “Trials of Apollo,” “The Kane Chronicles,” and “Magnus Chase.”

• Lurlene McDaniel (“One Last Wish” series, “Angels of Amish” series, “Don’t Die, My Love,” and many others)

• Richelle Mead (“Vampire Academy,” “The Bloodlines,” “Soundless,” “Age of X,” and “The Glittering Court.”)

• Stephanie Meyer (“The Twilight Saga,” “The Host,” and “The Chemist.”)

• Susanne Cosalanti (“City Love” series and also writes wonderful modern romance novels)

• Claudia Gray (“Firebird Saga,” “Constellation series,” “Spellcaster” series, “Evernight” series, “Fateful” book, and she also writes official “Star Wars” books/manga)

• Kiera Cass (“The Selection” series, “The Betrothed” series, and “The Siren” book)
• P.C. and Kristen Cast (“House of Night,” “Sisters of Salem,” “Goddess Summoning,” and “The Key.”)
• L.J. Smith (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Night World” series, “Dark Visions” series, and “The Secret Circle” series)

• Peg Kehret (Amazing middle-school author. Some include ones about natural disasters, ghosts, and pets)

• Phillipa Greggory (Writes historical fiction novels, especially about the “Tudor” line)
• Carolyn Meyer (“Young Royals” series, wrote three of the “Dear Royal Diaries” books. Also, writes middle school/YA about historical fiction from different countries and time periods.)

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Explore a new world! Fall in love through the pages of a book! Stay geeky! 🙂

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Educator of young minds by day, super nerdy savior of justice, and cute things by night, Morgan Straughan Comnick has a love for turning the normal into something special without losing its essence. Morgan draws from real-life experiences and her ongoing imagination to spark her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys doing goofy voices, traveling to new worlds by turning pages, humming child-like songs, and forcing people to smile with her “bubbliness.” It is Morgan’s mission in life to spread the amazement of otaku/Japanese culture to the world and to stop bullying; she knows everyone shines brightly.

For more information about Morgan and her works, check out her website, which also has links to all her social medias: http://morganscomnick.com