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2025 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


10 / 30 bookish books. 33% done!

2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

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34 / 50 books. 68% done!

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama
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International:
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My Progress:


27 / 51 states. 53% done!

2025 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

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15 / 50 books. 30% done!

2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

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26 / 50 books. 52% done!

Booklist Queen's 2025 Reading Challenge

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28 / 52 books. 54% done!

2025 52 Club Reading Challenge

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28 / 52 books. 54% done!

2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

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17 / 40 books. 43% done!

2025 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

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18 / 25 cozies. 72% done!

2025 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge

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26 / 26.2 miles. 99% done!

2025 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

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15 / 100 books. 15% done!

2025 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

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44 / 109 books. 40% done!

2025 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

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44 / 52 books. 85% done!

Phase Out Your Seriesathon - My Progress


14 / 55 books. 25% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

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95 / 100 names. 95% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

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64 / 80 skills. 80% done!
Tuesday, May 06, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday: Awesome Arizona Authors


It's been a hot minute since I've participated in Top Ten Tuesday. After neglecting my favorite weekly blogging event for too long, I'm back for today's fun prompt: Top Ten Authors Who Live in My State or Country. Although I was born and raised in the lush, rainy Pacific Northwest, I have lived in hot, dry Arizona since 2000. The Grand Canyon State has produced some legendary authors like Zane Grey, Erma Bombeck, Edward Abbey, Barbara Park, and more. Today, I'm going to focus on ten Arizona authors who are still living and producing books, whether I've read anything from them or not. 

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Awesome Arizona Authors


1. Nicole Adair—Nicole's family lived near me for many years in Mesa and attended the same church congregation, so I know them fairly well. I know Nicole herself only slightly, but I'm excited that she's having success with her YA novels. I haven't read any of them yet. Soon, I hope!


2. Dusti Bowling—Bowling is my favorite Arizona author, hands down. She lives in Gilbert and writes wonderful middle-grade novels set in our state. She's best known for Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, but she's penned a number of others as well. I've read most of her books and have her latest, The Beat I Drum out from the library right now.


3. Diana Gabaldon—This hugely popular author of the Outlander series is one of Arizona's most famous writers. She was born in Williams and has lived in Scottsdale for years. I read and enjoyed Outlander awhile ago, but I have never picked up any of her others. Oops. 


4. J.A. Jance—Jance, who grew up in Bisbee and now lives part-time in Tucson, has been publishing mystery novels since the 1980s. Although she has written dozens of books, I've never read any of them. She's on my list of authors to try.


5. Barbara Kingsolver—Kingsolver, who writes in a variety of genres, lives in southern Arizona part-time. I haven't read any of her books. Yet.


6. Isabella Maldonado—A few years ago while my husband and I were at our bank dealing with some issues, a teller and I started talking about our shared love of reading. She mentioned that a relative of hers, a retired police captain, had moved to Phoenix and started writing crime novels. At the time, I hadn't heard of Maldonado, but I see her name frequently these days. I haven't read anything by her yet, but I will!


7. Lisa McMann—McMann, who lives in Tempe, writes sci fi/fantasy books for middle-grade and teen readers. I've read and enjoyed her YA books. My kids liked her Unwanted series.


8. Stephenie Meyer—It's been a few years since Meyer published anything so I don't know if she's technically still writing or not, but I couldn't exclude her from this list since she's one of Arizona's most famous living authors. The creator of the Twilight saga, she lives in Cave Creek. Fun fact: New Moon is one of the first books I reviewed on this blog. I loved Twilight when I read it, but the series got hokey for me so I never finished it. I did enjoy The Host.


9. T.J. Newman—A former flight attendant, Newman lives in Phoenix and writes thrillers set on airplanes. I haven't read any of them yet, but I plan to at some point.


10. Jewell Parker Rhodes—Dr. Rhodes is the Virginia D. Piper Endowed Chair at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe. She's also the Founding Director of the Virginia D. Piper Center for Creative Writing and a bestselling author of historical fiction for both kids and adults. I've read and enjoyed several of her children's books.

Well, I clearly haven't done very well at reading local authors! I definitely need to do better. How about you? Have you read any of these Arizona authors? Which are your favorites? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

1 comment:

  1. Welcome back! I have missed your posts. Several of these are familiar to me, but the only one I have read is Stephanie Meyer's. I hope you are doing well. Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.

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