In an article for Time magazine, Lev Grossman says, “Literature is the realm of the ineffable and the unquantifiable; lists are the realm of menus and laundry and rotisserie baseball. There’s something unseemly and promiscuous about all those letters and numbers jumbled together. Take it from me, a critic who has committed this particular sin many times over.”

Nevertheless, when inspiration calls, I must answer. I have decided to compile a list of the top ten authors who have made the greatest impact on my life, as a writer and as a person. These are not the greatest authors of all time, just the ten who have made an impression on me, personally. A brief explanation of each one will follow.

1. Stephen King — The first author who fascinated me and possessed me. Since ninth grade, his work has inspired me to write. In his book On Writing, he says:

“Talent renders the whole idea of rehearsal meaningless; when you find something at which you are talented, you do it (whatever it is) until your fingers bleed or your eyes are ready to fall out of your head. Even when no one is listening (or reading, or watching), every outing is a bravura performance, because you as the creator are happy. Perhaps even ecstatic.”

Stephen King’s work, style, and inspiration has had more impact on me than any other writer. He is the reason I became a writer.

2. Kurt Vonnegut — No writer has made me laugh so hard or shown me that cynicism can be okay when it is justified. I started with and loved Slaughterhouse-Five until someone recommended the funniest book I have ever read: Breakfast of Champions. In an article about style, Vonnegut gave some of the best advice I have heard:

“Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.”

3. Sylvia Plath — Her autobiographical novel The Bell Jar was the first book I read more than once. I fell in love with her and consumed her poetry the way you consume the words of a trusted friend.

“I felt like a race horse in a world without racetracks or a champion college footballer suddenly confronted by Wall Street and a business suit, his days of glory shrunk to a little gold cup on his mantel with a date engraved on it like a date on a tombstone.”

“If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I’m neurotic as hell. I’ll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days.”

“There ought, I thought, to be a ritual for being born twice - patched, retreaded and approved for the road.”

4. Ernest Hemingway — I think every guy who has read Hemingway would say he was a favorite. And I don’t think there is a writer out there who does not at least consider him as an inspiration. Hemingway’s simple but profound stories touched hearts, turned stomachs, and gave thousands of boys a taste of African adventure.

5. Ray Bradbury — Other than Stephen King, I have read more work from Ray Bradbury than any other writer. Diving into a Bradbury story is like transporting to a different world. Bradbury became my escape through high school and college. If you’re new to Bradbury, try his collection of stories The Illustrated Man. This book amazed me. Just read it.

I have also found that you can never go wrong reading a good Bradbury story to a group of students.

6. Katherine Paterson– Her novel Bridge to Terabithia was the first book to make me cry. My first year as a teacher, I wrote her a letter thanking her for being such an amazing writer. I did not expect a Newbery winning author to write back, but she did. She even took the time to write a post card to my students, encouraging them to “read more and more books from many different authors.”

Thank you, Katherine, for helping me remember that famous authors are people, too. :-)

7. Denise Giardina — Some of you have not heard of Denise. She was the first published author I met. Shortly after taking one of her college courses, I bought and read every book she wrote. And I was lucky enough for her to sign every one of them. She gave me a lot of hope that West Virginia authors have a chance to be heard and she encouraged me to have more faith in my abilities and to always push myself to become better and better with each day. Check out her books: Storming Heaven, The Unquiet Earth, Saints and Villains, Good King Harry, Fallam’s Secret

8. Belinda Anderson — The first author I met to also become one of my best friends, my mentor, and taught me more about writing than anyone. I spent three days of an unforgettable summer talking to Belinda about writing, life, childhood, marriage, and anything else that was on our hearts and minds. She taught me that everyone has a story to offer and we all deserve a chance to tell it our way. Her two collections of stories, The Well Ain’t Dry Yet and The Bingo Cheaters are must reads.

9. Dolly Withrow — Dolly is possibly the funniest grammar goddess I have ever met, the kind who would argue over the difference between nauseous and nauseated. She is a writer whose work inspires you to enjoy life and look out for important moments, and to laugh, laugh, laugh. She was also one of the first authors to agree to visit my students and read some of her essays to them.

I thank Dolly for being a mentor and a great friend.

10. Brad Barkley — Another West Virginia author I had the pleasure of meeting during a summer writing workshop. Brad’s humor and wit is sometimes dry and harsh, but always honest. But humor, Brad taught me, is sometimes the writer’s way to a reader’s heart. He also taught me to carry a notepad and jot down funny or interesting things that I experience every day.

Check out Brad’s two novels, Money, Love and Alison’s Automotive Repair Manual.

So, there you have it. My top ten. Did it feel sinful? Not really, because I am proud to say that I know four of the ten personally.

Can you come up with your top ten most influential writers? Post it in my comments.