The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.9 - Moderators' Pet - Lois' Task: On the Trail of West Coast Writers

The best-known long distance trail on the west coast of the US where I live is the Pacific Crest Trail, which passes through California, Oregon, and Washington, from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. I wondered about the best-known authors from these three states. One list gave me John Steinbeck for California, Beverly Cleary for Oregon, and David Guterson for Washington. I agree that those authors are very representative of their respective states, but there are many others. Readers, you likely have your own ideas about your favorite authors from these western states.

Read a book by an author who was born in or lives/lived in California, Oregon, or Washington.
Required: Name the state that your author represents. If the author's place of birth/residence is not obvious from the GR author bio, provide a reference.

Reserved

Reserved

i'll throw Karl Marlantes out there for Washington - his Matterhorn is one of the best books about the Vietnam war i've read (and this is a good excuse to read one of his other books)

Dee wrote: "i'll throw Karl Marlantes out there for Washington - his Matterhorn is one of the best books about the Vietnam war i've read (and this is a good excuse to read one of his other books)"

Great suggestion, Dee. I’m always on the lookout for NW authors. On the theme of Vietnam, Kristin Hannah’s The Women would be another good choice. She lives in Washington.

The prolific Jayne Ann Krentz was born in California and may live around Seattle as many of her contemporary romances are set in that area. I couldn't determine that in a short search. She writes Regencies under Amanda Quick and paranormal/futuristic books under Jayne Castle.

One for the YA and urban fantasy fans: Richelle Mead is listed as living in Seattle, WA.

All author suggestions welcome. Not every GR author bio includes this information. Some Oregon authors are Ken Kesey, Jean Auel, Ursula Le Guin, Cheryl Strayed, Renee Watson, Craig Lesley, and two of my favorites, Molly Gloss and Eileen Garvin. For fans of non-fiction: Nicholas Kristof. Most of Beverly Cleary's books are children's books, but she has two memoirs that are adult books.

Robin P wrote: "The prolific Jayne Ann Krentz was born in California and may live around Seattle as many of her contemporary romances are set in that area. I couldn't determine that in a short search..."

I plan to use her. I found a GR bio under Amanda Quick that said that she and her husband live in Seattle, WA.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Tracy Chevalier is from Washington and Ann Patchett from California

Tracy Chevalier was born in Washington DC, not Washington state.

Lois wrote: "Tracy Chevalier was born in Washington DC, not Washington state."

OH Sugar!!!!

ETA oh it is Ok i have moved her from that task anyway - never been good at US geography

No one has asked this, so...

Is this a SINGLE author only? Or, if multiple authors are OK, can it just be one or both?

Kathy KS wrote: "No one has asked this, so...

Is this a SINGLE author only? Or, if multiple authors are OK, can it just be one or both?"

Yes, single author. Single author is a default rule, though I’ve noticed that recently it has been specified in some tasks.

Lois wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "No one has asked this, so...

Is this a SINGLE author only? Or, if multiple authors are OK, can it just be one or both?"

Yes, single author. Single author is a default rule, thoug..."

Thanks

Thor Hanson, nature writer was born in the Pacific Northwest

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