F - Authors from A to Z Challenge

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by 

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  For more info, click the photo!

How I'm participating in the challenge:

I am trying to highlight at least three authors (YA or otherwise) per letter, some current favorites, others future favorites. If I cannot come up with three, I will substitute favorite books that start with the letter of that day. If that doesn't work, then just for fun I am going to list songs that start with the letter of that day. And if that doesn't work, well, it will be a surprise!

Today's Letter: F

Dick Francis

My high school library was rather small, but it had kind of a random sampling of books from the outside world.  One such book was To The Hilt by Dick Francis.  I've already mentioned how much I like mysteries, and Francis writes mysteries set in the UK and having something to do with horses.  Anything to do with horses.  It could be a murder or bombing happened at a horse track, or one of the victims of a crime was a horse trainer, or something.  Not only is Francis' style clean, crisp, and witty, but his main plots are interwoven usually with at least one or two other side mysteries, and each book has kept me on the edge of my seat.  There is plenty of action and intrigue and a wide array of characters with spunk.  And the horse aspect always makes me wonder, "How is he going to get it in there this time?"

Beth Fantaskey (Future Favorite)

When I first saw Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, I thought someone had actually written a tongue-in-cheek how-to book for those wanting to snag their own Edward Cullen or Lestat.  I had to peek into it to see that it was actually a novel.  And I liked what I saw.  Instant voice, clear writing, little details that pulled me in.  So I perused the little sample on Amazon.com for Jekel Loves Hyde and was again intrigued.  So now all of Fantaskey's books (which include two and a half books in the Jessica series plus JLH) are on my to-read list.

Aimee Friedman (Future Favorite)

Sea Change was, once again, one of those books that I wasn't all that interested in until I read a sample.  From the very beginning there was a clear voice and atmosphere.  I felt like I was crossing on a ferry through heavy fog to find an adventure awaiting me.  It felt like the kind of book I wanted to read while curled up next to a fire while it pours rain outside.  I'm hoping I get the chance soon!