Meme: Introduced

Question from Booking Through Thursday: 1. How did you come across your favorite author(s)? Recommended by a friend? Stumbled across at a bookstore? A book given to you as a gift?
2. Was it love at first sight? Or did the love affair evolve over a long acquaintance?

The first author that comes to mind was Chaim Potok. I first read his novel The Chosen as a high-school assignment, and loved it. My sister T. did too. We read the sequel together, and over several more years I chanced upon more of his books. Before long I was seeking them out, and I've now read (and own) all of his fiction works. I was very sad when he passed away a few years ago...

Anne McCaffrey I discovered because a childhood friend gave me Dragonflight for my birthday. Barbara Hambly I found by picking up one of her books at a second-hand shop, same with James Herriot. Tolkien, my father read us The Hobbit when we were children. Mark Twain, as well. I remember sitting on a chair looking over his shoulder at the pictures in Heritage Press editions of Tom Sawyer. Barbara Kingsolver I discovered because my mother told me that my sister was reading and liked The Poisonwood Bible. Orwell- I first read Animal Farm in school, and 1984 off my father's bookshelf. In more recent years my husband and I discovered and began reading more of Orwell's novels; we sought them out. Now they're a household favorite. Steinbeck is another author that high school introduced me to; I remember discussing The Grapes of Wrath in class. I have gradually come to know and love more of his works.

I don't remember how I first came across Robin McKinley's works, or Mary O'Hara but I've read and loved them since childhood. I think I first stumbled across them at the public library. C.S. Lewis is a very old favorite, too. I think perhaps my mother first read or introduced us to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Maybe my sisters can help me remember that one...

I could go on, because I have lots of favorites. I think those are the top dozen, though!