Every writer is a product of their influences. The books we read shape our voice, our storytelling choices, and the way we develop characters. My writing is uniquely my own, but I can’t deny the deep impact of the authors who have captivated me over the years. Some have influenced my prose, others my pacing and suspense, and some have given me a deeper appreciation for history, mythology, and human nature.

Here are the writers who have had the greatest influence on me—and how their work seeps into my own storytelling.

T.H. White – Myth, Legend, and the Making of a Hero

White’s The Once and Future King remains one of my favorite books. His retelling of the Arthurian legends is filled with humor, tragedy, and insight into human nature. He turns the story of King Arthur into something deeply personal, making it about growth, morality, and the burdens of leadership. White’s ability to take mythology and make it feel intimate is something I try to emulate when weaving elements of history or folklore into my own storytelling.

Cormac McCarthy – The Power of Atmosphere and Minimalism

McCarthy’s prose is as stark as the landscapes he writes about. His refusal to over-explain, his ability to create haunting atmospheres, and his use of raw, unfiltered dialogue make his books feel visceral and immersive. The Road is a masterclass in stripping a story down to its bones while still packing an emotional punch. The way McCarthy captures desperation, survival, and the bonds between people in a world that offers no mercy influences the way I approach tension and character relationships in my own writing. His minimalist approach reminds me that sometimes, the most powerful storytelling comes from what is left unsaid.

T. C. Boyle – The Wild as a Character

Boyle’s Tortilla Curtain is a novel that has stuck with me for years. His ability to weave social commentary into gripping narratives is second to none, and his depiction of the wild as both a refuge and a force of destruction is something I deeply admire. His work often explores themes of isolation, morality, and the tension between civilization and nature. This balance—between the raw and the refined, between control and chaos—is something I think about often when writing stories where Oregon’s landscapes play an integral role.

David Baldacci – The Master of the Page-Turner

Few writers understand pacing like Baldacci. His thrillers are meticulously crafted to keep readers hooked, and he knows exactly when to ramp up tension, drop a twist, or deepen a mystery. His work has influenced the way I approach storytelling—keeping the pages turning while ensuring the stakes remain high and the characters remain compelling.

John Grisham – The Everyman in Extraordinary Situations

Grisham excels at making complex legal dramas feel accessible and deeply personal. He takes ordinary people—lawyers, reporters, small-town figures—and places them in situations where power, justice, and morality collide. While I don’t write legal thrillers, I admire his ability to make high-stakes conflicts feel intimate, something I strive for in my own books.

William Kent Krueger – Character and the Power of Place

Krueger’s Ordinary Grace is a masterclass in storytelling. His ability to craft deep, emotional narratives while maintaining the momentum of a mystery is something I deeply admire. He also makes his settings feel like characters themselves—his depiction of Minnesota is so vivid it feels tangible. I take inspiration from this when bringing the landscapes of Oregon to life in my own work.

Margaret Atwood – Speculative Fiction and the Psychology of Power

Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it. She doesn’t just tell stories—she forces you to question the world around you. Atwood’s work examines power, control, and survival in a way that is deeply unsettling, because it always feels just one step removed from reality. Her influence on my writing isn’t about genre—it’s about how she layers meaning into her narratives, using both the overt and the subtle to create a sense of inevitable dread or quiet resilience. Whether I’m writing a mystery or a character-driven drama, her approach to world-building and psychological depth inspires me to dig deeper into the motivations that drive my characters.

Malcolm Gladwell – The Why Behind Human Behavior

Gladwell is the nonfiction writer on this list, but his work is invaluable for a fiction writer. He delves into the psychology behind decision-making, perception, and human tendencies—topics that are crucial for crafting complex, believable characters. His books make me think differently about why people act the way they do, which inevitably shapes how I build my protagonists and antagonists.

The Sum of Many Voices

Each of these authors left a mark on my writing in some way. From McCarthy’s stark prose to Atwood’s sharp insights, from Baldacci’s pacing to White’s deep character work, they’ve all played a role in shaping how I tell stories. Their books remind me that great storytelling isn’t just about what happens—it’s about why it matters.

Who are the authors that have influenced you the most? Let’s talk about it in the comments!