Harper Lee
Her work focusing on Civil Rights came at a time when a voice like hers was important, especially because she as a White Southerner. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorites.
Agatha Christie
She was one of the first authors I fell in love with, thanks to my mother. Her mysteries are fantastic page turners and I have a cat named Marple after one of her most famous characters.
P.D. James
P.D. is another fantastic mystery writer. Cover Her Face is a book that I can read over and over and it never gets old.
Edgar Allan Poe
Poe is one of those great writers that makes me want to be a better writer. His classic stories stick with you and his poetry is beautifully melodic.
Sharon Olds
Olds’ poems are so beautiful and heartbreaking. They tell such a story and she is masterful at conveying emotion through her words.
Marielle Songy is a writer living in New Orleans. She’s a small-time journalist by day, but specializes in writing poetry and fiction.