Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Celebrating International Women’s Day!
(A version of this week’s topic of Authors Who Have a Fun Social Media Presence.)
When I started writing this, I thought that I didn’t know that many authors on social media. Strangely enough, I seem to know far more than 10 (and I was sure I didn’t). But even though I do have fun with them, I thought I’d prefer to celebrate (albeit slightly belatedly) International Women’s Day with a list 10 of (some of) my favorite female writers of all time, and list them in alphabetical order, because there’s no way I can rank them.
The Chocolate Lady’s Top Ten List of (some of) her Favorite Female Authors
(in alphabetical order):
- Jane Austen – well, of course, right! I mean, she’s a classic. I know I haven’t reviewed her books here, but I’ve read everything she wrote, including some of her unfinished works. Okay… correction here: I didn’t finish reading Lady Susan. My bad, but… sorry, Jane; it was just not up to par.
- Margaret Atwood – I have to admit that I came late to her books, but I’ve adored everything of hers that I’ve read, and I have promised myself that one day, I will get around to reading them all!
- Agathe Christie – although I haven’t read her books in a long time, and I don’t have any reviews of her books on my blog, she’s still my favorite mystery writer, so I couldn’t forget her here.
- Jane Davis – don’t be fooled by the fact that Jane is a indie/self published author; her books are marvelous! Plus, she’s on social media, so she fits in with the original theme for this week. Like with Atwood, I’ve promised myself I’ll read all her books one day.
- Joanne Harris – okay, so here’s one author who really does have a fun social media presence. And she’s a sweetheart to boot! She even answered my Countdown Questions, which was no foregone conclusion for a woman who wrote a book that inspired a star-studded, major motion picture! Not all of her books are genres I read, but those I have read are all winners.
- Rachel Joyce – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m a Rachel Joyce addict! She’s not much for social media (except on Instagram, it seems) but even with a new book about to come out, she was gracious enough to take the time to answer my Countdown Questions.
- Ariel Lawhon – I’m in the middle of reading her fourth novel that will be released on March 31, and she is a STAR, I tell you. Now, she’s also fun on social media, but she seems so busy, she never seems to have time to answer my Countdown Questions. Oh well… I’ll just have to be patient, I guess.
- Maggie O’Farrell – yet another author I’ve read everything she’s written. Mind you, I started by reading her fourth book, fell in love with her immediately, went back and read the first three, and have kept up with her books ever since – including her non-fiction memoir. And now, I have the ARC for her upcoming novel (and I can hardly wait to read it)!
- Greer Macallister – our “Lady Greer” and Ariel Lawhon seem to be somewhat coordinated with their books. First Ariel puts out a novel, then Greer comes out with one. She too has a new book coming out, but not until December of this year. I guess that’s why Greer had time to answer my Countdown Questions, and I can only hope I’ll get the ARC to her upcoming novel, because I’m a huge fan.
- Heather Webb – last (alphabetically) but not least is dear, dear Heather. Again, I’ve read everything she’s written so far, as a solo author, in conjunction with Hazel Gaynor, and a collection where she contributed a short story. Heather deserves my praise, not just because I love her books, but she sent a proof copy of her second novel to me in the MAIL (all the way to Israel), and she thanked me in the author’s notes of her last book with Hazel. That stopped my breath and gave me goosebumps to see! Thanks, darling!
Of course, I could go on and on and on listing all of my beloved female authors, but these were the ones that I think, for one reason or another, are special stand-outs for me. I just hope that no one gets offended for being left out.
My sincere apologies to Ruth Ozeki, all three Bronte sisters, Melanie Benjamin, Meg Waite Clayton, Fannie Flagg, Anne Tyler, Renee Rosen, Kerri Maher, Colleen McCullough, Gabriel Zevin, Nancy Bilyeau, Rebecca Rosenberg, Nicole Krauss, Rabbi Irene Schneider, Andrea Bobotis, Roz Morris, Marina Lewycka, Annie Proulx, Elizabeth Strout, Beatriz Williams, Gretchen Berg, Kate Quinn, Crystal King, Kathleen Rooney, Lauren Willig, Mary Glickman, and Karen White – among others (I’ll keep filling in names as they come to me) – for my not having room to include you on this list. You’re all in very good company, and dear to my heart! And…
You GO Girls!
The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog 
Great list! I agree with you about Jane Austen and Agatha Christie; the others I haven’t read. Georgette Heyer is one of my favourites. Others on my list are C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries), Daphne Du Maurier, Mazo de la Roche (Jalna series), Karen Brooks, Kate Forsythe, Kate Morton and more.
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I also thought you were linking to a Jane Austen account, I follow a bunch of spoof accounts like Drunk Austen on twitter and they’re really fun some times. I bet she would have much to tweet about.
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Hehehe… I’m sure they are fun.
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Two of my favorite are Lisa See and Gail Tsukiyama.
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Fantastic list. You offered a nice balance of past and present authors. Seanan McGuire is one I would mention, and quite a few on your list and apology list.🤣
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I am such a fan of Jane Austen too. Love your take on this week’s topic!
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Thanks!
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I Chickened out this week because I simply couldn’t come up with 10 names to meet the brief. I like your clever reinterpretation of the topic. Joanne Harris does a brilliant tweet feed about her shed
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Yes. I discovered her when she did a series of tweets about reasons for authors to love book bloggers! SOLD!
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Thanks for the mention!
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Nice list! I tend to read mostly female authors and there are some on this list I really love. Joanne Harris is a great one and I actually saw her on someone else’s post today about having a fun presence on social media. If I followed authors, I would definitely follow her!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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I love this take on the topic this week. I’ve only read a few Jane Austen novels and Jane Eyre. I put some females on my list but I also love the following: Maureen Johnson, Angie Thomas, Mackenzi Lee, and Ashley Poston. Here is my post-https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2020/03/ttt-authors-i-love-following-on-social.html.
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What a fun post! Thanks for sharing your favorite female authors with us.
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I struggled with this topic, but I follow several of the same authors.
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I love your twist this week!! It would be so hard to narrow down a top ten! I’m thinking I need to check out Jane Davis. 😉
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You should!
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For a second there, I thought you were saying that Jane Austen had a Twitter/Instagram/tumblr account. Ha! 🙂 I wonder what she’d think of social media?
My TTT .
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She’d make fun of it for sure!
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Great list! I really want to read some of Joanne Harris’s work. 🙂
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Some excellent choices and some new to me authors. And yes I did notice that you have actually sneaked in way more than ten by including that apologies list ! 😄
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Why…why…Why can’t I be more creative in “spinning” the TTT topics???!!! 😩 I take one look and think “Nope! I’ve got nothing!” And then I see what creative and brave minds can do!!! This post is perfect!!! But I can imagine how excruciating it was to pick 10! You inspire me!!!
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Excruciating is right! That’s why there are so many honorable mentions!
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As I started reading your list the first name that popped into my head was Jane Davis. Her books are amazing. Haven’t read them all, but working on getting there. I love her Facebook posts too. She’s so witty!
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Agreed. We visit London often and I’ve tried to meet up with her but she has an ailing father and her weekends are usually devoted to taking care of him. One day… one day! (Plus, she asked me if I might beta read a book of hers. I don’t have time right now, but maybe after I retire this summer!)
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Where do I start? Isabel Allende, Kristin Hannah, Ann Patchett, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Heather Morris, Marjan Kamali, Barbara Delinsky, Anna Jean Mayhew, Sally Hepworth, Jennifer Ryan, Kelly Rimmer, Rhys Bowen, Vicki Lane, Simone St. James, Lisa Wingate, Leah Weiss, Diana Gabaldon, . . .
This is a great week to celebrate women authors!
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YES! And so many more!
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I just read that too quickly and wondered how Jane Austen managed to be on social media 🙂 . I wish she was: she’d have some very amusing sarcastic comments to make about everything.
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