The most recommended books about authors

Kornei Chukovsky, leading Russian children’s poet, in his book From Two to Five, describes children’s “whimsical, elusive thinking—original, picturesque, amusing speech.” "Children two to five are earth’s most inquisitive creatures with questions evoked by the mind’s tireless need to comprehend its surroundings.” I know of no other author who so brilliantly captures children’s own words. I read this book over and over for inspiration.

This is a love story with a real twist – because it starts with an older couple splitting up, and then works backwards to find out why.

You’ve probably realised by now that I love a love story that plays with convention, and sets itself apart from the straight-forward girl-meets-boy, and this definitely did that.

It could have been confusing, but it was brilliantly written and honestly one of the best love stories I’ve ever read, with one of the most satisfying endings. 

Writers often struggle to think of themselves as “writers” because the world has us believing that we can only carry that title if we are successfully published, and of course words such as “success” and even “published” can be fraught with subjective controversy. One of the lessons I learned from Brenda Ueland, among other great thinkers, is that we need to focus first on our own authenticity and only much, much later dare we think about what the world might have to say. This allowed me to let go and move on and trust myself on my writing path. It wasn’t easy, but as emphasized in If You Want to Write, we will be all right if we believe in our inner richness.  

I love this book! The author has studied world-class performers in every field to find trends and share his insights across nine landmarks. After reading, you will feel confident that you have the potential to be one of those high achievers he speaks about! Koch has successfully identified the steps to achieving success and provides a blueprint for how to go about it. This book is full of ideas, insights, and inspiration that will help you realize your own unreasonable success. It's an invaluable resource to anyone looking to make a big impact.

Barbara Belford’s 1996 book is one of the classics in its field, next to the Stoker biographies by Harry Ludlam, Daniel Farson, and Paul Murray. With a background in journalism, Belford created a very readable introduction to Stoker’s life. Her book still is an invaluable source for fans and scholars trying to understand the making of Dracula. It is a good stepping stone for readers who would like to dive deeper later on, e.g., by studying David Skal’s more recent work, Something in the Blood. For me personally, it gave me a very colorful image of Stoker’s life and helped me better understand him as a person and an author.

Dr. Faith G. Harper does not hold back in this short and sweet guide to boundaries.

What I love about this is how straightforward she is: If you’re mad about someone crossing your boundaries, she is too. If it’s an upsetting subject, then her writing style reflects that.

It’s validating as well as educational!

Like the thousands of other readers who’d been haunted by Harriet Jacobs’ 1861 autobiography Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl when it resurfaced during the civil rights era, I had questions.  Were the horrific events of her enslavement and escape really true?  Did Jacobs herself write the book, or was it the work of the white abolitionist she identified as her “editor”? In this biography, we’re given answers based on the documentary evidence Jean Yellin unearthed over 30 years of research. We learn that Jacobs’ stranger-than-fiction slavery narrative is factually accurate and that it was the work of Jacobs herself. In our present age of exploded myths, there’s something breathtaking about that discovery, and about Yellin’s masterful rendition of the life of an icon of Black female resistance.

The Treehouse series of books have got thousands of reluctant readers hooked on books, so all the books in this series are winners, in my view. With the fun premise of characters living in a multi-layered treehouse, making books and having fun adventures, who wouldn't love these stories? The books are a perfect blend of a page-turning story and fantastic illustrations that will keep children turning the pages. 

I love hearing about how other writers work, what shaped their way of seeing the world, and what inspires or enrages them. I want to learn from their approaches and their stories. And who better to learn from than Malorie Blackman, one of the best storytellers for children and young people around and a champion for libraries, reading for pleasure, and diverse books that reflect their readers?

This book is written as if she is talking to you. Among other things, she talks about her childhood, vividly describes experiences of homelessness and poverty, calls out racism and sexism as she sees it, and explains how she responds to abuse and doesn't give up.

It's a great read, not just for aspiring writers but for anyone who loves a good story.

I was a bit afraid to read this book because I Loved Kristin Ward’s Daughter of Erabel series. What if this book didn’t live up to that? Let me tell you, there was no reason to fear being let down.

Ward is an exceptional author. Her characters are real, her landscapes are stunning, and her plots are well-thought-out. I couldn’t put this book down until the last page was turned, and then, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.