top 5 authors that have stuck with me

You really can’t be a writer without being a reader.  For me, I didn’t start loving reading until I was about 11 years old.  Before that, I REALLY struggled with learning how to read.  I went to special reading classes and everything.  And then it finally SNAPPED into place and I began discovering stories and worlds that I loved.  I love discovering new authors and adding to the stash of brilliant minds that stick with me.  Here are my top 5:
 
JK ROWLING
I don’t know that this needs any explanation.  Harry Potter reached millions and millions of people—not just kids, but adults and grandparents.  Rowling’s writing is complex and beautiful and her mind is just absolutely brilliant and magical.
 
STEPHANIE MEYER
Love it or hate it or haven’t read it, you’ve at least heard of Twilight and it sparked some kind of feeling in most people.  Reading Twilight brought back so many feelings and memories of angst and that obsessive love most teenage girls are familiar with.  And adding in the vampires was just up my supernatural loving alley.
 
PIERCE BROWN
To this day, I think Red Rising is the best book I’ve ever read.  There are so many twists in it and they’re all just brilliant.  This book had a huge influence over my Blood Descendants Universe actually.  There are so many power plays and so much revenge.  And the supporting cast is just brilliant, so much so that my favorite character is not Darrow, the main character, but Sevro.
 
FRANK HERBERT
I grew up with a father who LOVES science fiction, so I watched old versions of Dune from a fairly young age.  I think it was my junior year of high school that I decided to read the books.  Now, I only read the first 3 because they get a bit too political for my tastes, but I was astounded with Herbert’s ability to build words.  It all felt so real to me.  His creativity and mind for detail blew me out of the water.
 
COLLEEN HOOVER
This one feels a little out of left field for me because she writes all contemporary, and this one is actually a new addition, but I couldn’t not include Colleen.  Keep in mind, I have NOT read everything she’s ever written.  Probably only half.  But the way she can twist you up and gut you?  I’ve NEVER read anyone else that can do it like she does.  You FEEL every word of a CoHo book.  And Verity will forever haunt me.
 
What about you?  Who are the top 5 authors who have stuck with you?