M - 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: M

Rebecca Maizel

I was fortunate enough to win a copy of Maizel's debut YA novel Infinite Days from Goodreads before it hit shelves.  And man, is she an amazing writer or what?!  Her prose was sweeping and lovely, and the story was pretty awesome as well.  She made flashbacks as interesting as forward motion and there was just such beauty and emotion on every page.  I can't wait for the sequel, Stolen Nights, to come out.  If you like paranormal romance with a big dash of uniqueness and intrigue, or if you simply love vampires, Maizel is the author for you.

Stephenie Meyer

Oh, the controversy surrounding this very name!  I am one of those readers who has a love/hate relationship with Meyer's first foray into YA literature (The Twilight Saga, in case you've never heard of it).  I love bits and I cringe at bits.  Overall, I was swept up into the story and couldn't wait to find out what happened, even if I was wanting to tear my own hair out at some of the choices/actions of the characters.  I mostly listened (and still listen) to the audio books, and more and more I find lots to roll my eyes at, but overall, I still am willing and able to go along for the ride.  Meyer is an amazing storyteller with quite an imagination, which she proved with The Host.  Not only did she improve as a writer with this book (which will wind up a series, so I've heard...with a movie currently in the works as well) but I really have no idea how she came up with some of the things her alien character describes.  It was vivid and unique and amazed me.  I think, no matter how she got into the business, Meyer will be around a long time with many flocking to read whatever new paranormal novel she publishes.  But she is taking her sweet time on that, isn't she?  How long has it been since Breaking Dawn?  Three years?  Well, no matter when her next thing makes its way into the hands of readers everywhere, I'm putting my money on her next new project having to do with mermaids.  ^_^

Myra McEntire (Future Favorite)

Not only is this awesome new YA author from my home state of Tennessee, she is also tons of fun in a tiny package and has a big, big heart.  And she is a Charlie Bewley fan and caught the exact same move of his that stole one of the last Volturi scenes in Eclipse (the movie) from Dakota Fanning and Co.  Gotta love a girl with good taste!  Okay, on to her work...her new novel Hourglass (which came out yesterday!) sounds amazing.  Time travel.  Romance.  And a cast of characters that I can't wait to get to know.  I'm so excited to get this I might actually buy the hard cover.  I so don't do that.  But for Myra, I totally will.