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Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today (or At Least Writing What I Want Them to Write)
1:00 AM
Our TTT prompt this week is a good one, and unique to boot. I don't think I've ever done a list on this topic: Top 10 Authors You Wish Were Still Writing Today. (Thanks to Rebecca over at Top 100 Books for suggesting it and, as always, to Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting TTT.) As much as I like this topic, I'm having a hard time coming up with ten authors. We'll see if I make it or not!
Top Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Writing Today (or At Least Writing What I Want Them to Write)
- in no particular order -
1. Maeve Binchy—This Irish author is the first one who came to mind for this topic. I've read and loved all of her warm, engaging novels. Unfortunately, Binchy passed away in 2012.
2. Joshilyn Jackson—Don't worry, Jackson isn't dead! She's just turned her writing focus to domestic thrillers instead of the Southern women's fiction for which she used to be known. Although I do enjoy mystery/thrillers, hers just don't entice and enchant me the way her older books do. I hope someday she'll go back to the genre in which she truly shines.
3. Mary Higgins Clark—Since this author's mystery novels were tame enough for teens, my dad got me started on MHC back when I was in junior high. I spent many a night reading way past my bedtime to finish one of her books. She continued writing up until her death in 2020 at 92 years old. Even though her newer books never enthralled me the way her older ones did, the "Queen of Suspense" will always reign as one of my favorite authors.
4. Elizabeth C. Bunce—I'm a huge fan of Bunce's Myrtle Hardcastle historical mystery series for kids. It's tons of fun. It's been three years since the last installment was published and, while that doesn't actually sound like that long now that I'm typing it out, I'm still hankering for a new Myrtle mystery. It looks like Bunce may have turned to pursuits other than writing, but a reader can dream...
5. C.J. Omololu—This YA author died of cancer in 2015 at 49 years old. I enjoyed her novels, and wish she would have had time to write more of them.
6. Agatha Christie—I have a feeling the Queen of Crime is going to be a popular choice today! Truth be told, I've only read a handful of her novels, but I think it would be really interesting to see what she could do with modern mystery themes and tropes.
7. Julia Keller—A Pulitzer Prize-winning author of both fiction and non-fiction, I thought Keller had last published in 2019, when she had two novels come out. After checking her website today, I see that she published a self-help book in 2023, BUT it's still been seven years since a new installment in her Bell Elkins crime series came out. I really enjoyed those books, and would love to see more of them published. It doesn't seem like that will happen, sadly.
8. L.A. Meyer—Meyer started writing his swashbuckling YA series starring the intrepid female pirate "Bloody" Jacky Faber when he was in his 60s. He finished it just before his death at 72 years old in 2014. The series is so fun. I wish he would have had more years to write. It would have been interesting to see what he did after the Blood Jack books.
9. Y.S. Lee—Lee is a multi-talented author who creates in various mediums. I'm currently re-reading her YA historical mystery series starring a teen Chinese-English sleuth in Victorian England. There are only four installments. I wish there were more. I'd also love to see Lee write additional YA novels. Fingers crossed.
10. Lois Duncan—I loved Duncan's mystery/thriller books back in the day. It's been decades since I've read a book by her, but still, there was a time when I could not get enough of her engrossing novels. She passed away in 2016 at 82 years old.
Hey, hey, hey! Look at that, I made it to ten. Have you read any of these authors? Which writers do you wish were still working today, or at least writing what you want them to write? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post, and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
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Nice list, Susan! I've read some of them, but I will say that I would love a new Bell Elkins book too. Not sure we will get it though.
ReplyDeleteNice picks! These are pretty much all new to me ones. I've heard of a few of them of course, but haven't ever read any of them. I almost can't decide what's harder, losing an author when they pass away or losing an author who just no longer writes. I ended up with more of the latter than the former. This was a very emotional post to write, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Maeve Binchy was one I waited so impatiently for the next book!! Loved her. Good post!
ReplyDeleteGood job making it to ten books! My grandmother used to read Maeve Binchy’s books, but I didn’t realize that Binchy passed away.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on C.J. Omolulu, I'm still sad about that loss. (my list isn't quite done but I'm hoping to participate by week's end!)
ReplyDeleteI’ve had a couple of fav authors switch their genre without a great deal of success. No longer auto buy or auto request for me, and I think many others feel the same. I guess I don’t blame them for trying but it’s stressful for loyal fans! ~ Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I need to read some Agatha Christie mysteries. I'm not sure I ever have.
ReplyDeleteI'd LOVE more Myrtle from Bunce!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I love Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter's books. I can't believe they are gone. I should have thought of Agatha Christie. I don't know why I didn't, but she definitely should be on my list.
ReplyDeleteAgatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark were popular choices, for good reason! Good job getting to 10! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI *knew* I recognized Lois Duncan's name! It's just been FOREVER since I've actually read one of her books. But great reminder of a good author!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely if Agatha Christie could've written at her best forever that would be great! Her latest novels were a bit of a mess, alas... Looks like a good list overall!
ReplyDeleteLois Duncan was extremely popular when my sons were young. It’s always so hard for me to lose authors.
ReplyDeleteI think Agatha Christie would have a lot of interesting observations about modern society!
ReplyDeleteNice list! With as much as Christie adapted to evolving trends it really would be fascinating to see what she was writing now. I see a number of familiar names but none I've read much of with the exception of Maeve Binchy. I need to explore their work.
ReplyDeleteI've not read any of the MHC novels, but I know they were extremely popular and I feel like I would even enjoy some of them! Maybe someday I should pick some up, especially since I think I did see some of the TV movies adapting them. :) Thanks for visiting my list this week!
ReplyDeleteI would love to know what a modern Agatha Christie story might look like.
ReplyDeleteGreat mix of books! My daughter LOVED Lois Duncan's books back when she was in middle school, and I ended up reading quite a few as well, although I hadn't kept up with her at all since then.
ReplyDeleteIt's always sad when one of our beloved authors dies. But they will live on forever with their books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my post.
https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2026/05/top-ten-tuesday-top-twelve-german.html
This is such a great list! I really need to read Agatha Christie!
ReplyDeleteA nice looking list. I've only read a couple of Agatha Christie's, but I want to read more!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Great list! I am also curious to see what Christie would have done with the modern mystery set of tropes.
ReplyDeleteI just read my first Jackson book not too long ago, and didn't realize she wasn't writing any longer. I guess I am lucky I have almost all her books to read.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm not familiar with all of them, but I do really love Agatha Christie!
ReplyDelete