Ever wonder what your favorite author likes to read?
We stopped to chat with some of your favorite fantasy, romantasy, YA and thriller authors at this year’s New York Comic Con. They were eager to share their current reads and lasting favorites and gush about the books they love that inspired their own work.
You won’t be surprised to learn that authors are devoted fans and readers, just like the rest of us. It seems like the cooler weather has crept into everyone’s reading list, and these authors can’t help but turn their attention to fantasy, Gothic novels, and horror stories.
Thanks to all of these authors, who took time out of their busy New York Comic Con 2024 schedules to chat with BookTrib!
Without further ado, it’s time to check in with some of your favorite authors and find out what they’re reading.
TJ Klune, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea
“One of my favorite authors is Stephen King. He released a collection of short stories not too long ago called You Like It Darker. I’m a huge fan of his work and it thrills me to see him still writing stories. It’s one of my favorite reads, and I’d read anything by King. I’m not only a big fan of his, but I enjoy reading short stories.
“I’m currently reading They Lurk by Ronald Malfi, a collection of horror novellas.”
Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six series
“A book that I’ve reread many times, even recently, is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The style and mood of that novel is something that I love and has inspired me when it comes to writing.
“Also, one of the recent books that I wrote, Twelfth Knight, was inspired by Shakespeare adaptations in the 90’s and 00’s. My personal favorite Shakespeare play that I’ve read is Twelfth Night, and I wanted to create a contemporary remix of it.
“I am a Nightfire fangirl (I know I’m in danger of coming across as a company man — in this economy! — but I think the imprint’s curation is so very punk and cool) and CJ Leede’s American Rapture really hit the spot. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it didn’t disappoint! I felt so many feelings and delighted in every single one.”
R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series
“You know what’s funny, I was always more of a funny author. For example, I had a magazine that ran for 10 years called Bananas. It was all about writing joke books for me at the time. I started writing scary books when an editorial director for Scholastic got into a fight with a writer and told me, write this horror book, it should be called Blind Date. I then realized how popular it was for kids and kept on writing horror stories from then on. I love being scary.
“While I always enjoyed the horror genre and would not miss reading any comic from the Vault of Horror and Tales from the Crypt series, an author that made me love reading books was Ray Bradbury. He’s great at surprising readers with many surprises in his novels.
“When it comes to tastes in books and writing advice, I, for example, always see authors visit schools and talk about their own writing advice. I think my biggest advice is just to sit down and write. And just like we all like reading what we like to read, we should let others read what they want so they can enjoy reading and continue reading.”
Carissa Broadbent, author of The Crowns of Nyaxia series
“I can at times love a book and then be like, wait I have not read the second one! When I’m writing, I read a lot of things that are not Romantasy, because I get bad impostor syndrome. And then when I read one, I am like, omg my career is over, my book is the worst book that I’ve ever written! I’ll read nonfiction, women’s lit, thrillers or literary fiction, things that are completely outside of my genre.
“Right now, I’m about to read the second book of Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire series, Empire of the Damned, which is a great example of me setting aside the second book of a series when I look at it and go ‘it’s so long!’ so I’m looking forward to it and finally reading it.”
Brigid Kemmerer, author of The Cursebreaker series
“I recently read and loved The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard. For anyone who is a reviewer, I think it’s on Net Galley right now, so definitely request it. I loved that one and highly recommend it. Right now, I started reading and I cannot put it down, it’s a book by Evie Marceau and it’s called White Horse Dark Nights. It is so good, it’s on Kindle Unlimited, I am loving this book and cannot put it down.”
Elise Kova, author of the Married to Magic series
“I’m currently reading The Ashes and the Star Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent. I’m so bad at finishing series and seeing Carissa on [a] panel was the best motivation to pick up the second book in Crowns of Nyaxia.
“A book that I read recently and loved was Twisted Throne by Danielle L. Jensen. It’s set in her Bridge Kingdom world which is just peak romantasy! Also, the new covers are stunning.”
CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly
“Right now, I’m reading Johnny Compton’s Devils Kill Devils and Theodore Van Alst Jr’s Sacred Folks, and they’re both amazing. These guys just really know how to write, and I feel like I’m learning so much from them as I read. And of course, also the new Sally Rooney (also amazing!). I just finished Nat Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home and reread Rachel Harrison’s So Thirsty. Nat’s creative mind is unmatched, and So Thirsty is one of the best friendship stories I’ve ever read.”
Johnny Compton, author of Devils Kill Devils
“I’m currently reading Tracy Cross’s upcoming A Gathering of Weapons, her follow-up to Rootwork. Both are short reads with memorable characters. I loved The Ghost That Ate Us by Daniel Krause. From concept through execution, I thought it was excellent. Hit me right in my soft spot for mockumentary horror.”
English (US) · 