Authors Who Inspire

Hi friends, and happy Wednesday! Today, I was thinking about authors who have paved the way before me and my peers, who have inspired me with their words, filled me with stories of hope, and even changed me as a person—helping me to see things in a new light or to deepen my walk with the Lord. Today, I thought I’d share two authors who inspired me deeply, along with a short list of my peers who continue to inspire me both with their stories and the examples of their writing lives. 

Agatha Christie: 

I first read Agatha Christie when I was gifted Murder on the Orient Express on my eighth birthday. Little did I know the impact it would have in directing me in the genre that I both love reading and especially writing. To me, there’s nothing like a whodunnit. I love how Austen set up her stories. How everyone was stranded there, and all were suspects. It’s amazing how she deftly wrote an assembled cast and yet realistically made each person a suspect. Made each person a distinct and fleshed-out individual. I read the book in one sitting, and to this day, I love to go back and read or watch them again (thanks to the movies with Kenneth Branagh). If you haven’t seen the movies, I highly recommend them, but Murder on the Orient Express remains my favorite both in print and film. 

Jane Austen: 

What list of influential authors could exist without Jane Austen on it? I’m amazed how Jane’s keen observations of society and masterful storytelling continue to captivate readers over time. Her stories are read, made into films, and adapted by a plethora of authors to this day. This shows the depth of her stories and the lightness of her pen. My favorite aspect of Jane’s writing, and it’s hard to choose just one, is her dialogue. Who doesn’t adorer the witty banter of Elizabeth and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, or the playful matchmaking of Emma Woodhouse in the aptly named novel Emma. While Pride and Prejudice remains my favorite, Sense and Sensibility runs a close second. It’s brimming with emotion that grinds at the heart in the tissues-handy way. 

Many of you have certainly heard this before, but Jane Austen was truly before her time, writing on topics such as social class, love, hardship, and hope. She has had the most impact on me to strive to explore themes of love and hope, to attempt to write dialogue in a way that flows so naturally (still working on that) and to explore and examine human nature, relationships, and character growth. 

Modern storytellers that have impacted my short list:  

I’ll send book covers to go with each author if we can do a thumbnail size. Except for my pic with Deb. 

Dee Henderson:
Her stories stretch my faith. 

Deb Raney: 

A glowing example of everything a writer should strive to be. 

Katherine Reay: 

Delightful stories that run deep. 

Kristy Cambron: 

Elegance in writing at its best. 

Terri Blackstock: 

The stories that keep me flipping pages late into the night.

And can we tag the authors in my social media post?  

How about you? Who has inspired you as a writer and/or a reader? 

Thanks for spending time with me today! 

Blessings, 

Dani