One of the most precious skills any author can have is an inimitable command over the genre he/she chooses to specialize in. Those who steered their careers towards the romance genre have had a tough time to rise above the cliché love stories and create pulse pounding romance works that live to this day. In the following list, I aim to trace those classic and contemporary romance authors who have most significantly made their name worthy of acclaim along with each of their most popular quotes that explain the depth of their writing abilities.

1. Jane Austen (1775-1817)

At first mention, it is hard to categorically accept Jane Austen as a romance author even though she has penned some of the best romantic fiction novels of the English literature including Pride and Prejudice (1813), Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Persuasion (1818). Unlike other contemporary writers, Austen’s novels intersperse love with societal elements having a great deal of emphasis on social norms and female characters.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” ― Jane Austen, Pride And Prejudice

2. Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)

Most accredited for bringing something new to the table with her gothic melodrama in romantic fictions, Charlotte Brontë was another gifted writer who raised the benchmark for romantic novels with her all-time classic: Jane Eyre (1847). The novel tells the story of an orphan governess who makes the dreadful mistake of falling in love with her employer.

“I have for the first time found what I can truly love–I have found you. You are my sympathy–my better self–my good angel–I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wrap my existence about you–and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

3. Emily Brontë (1818-1848)

Shakespeare, Austen and Charlotte Brontë are sometimes believed to be only close runner ups against Emily Brontë’s literary masterpiece, Wuthering Heights (1847). The book challenged 19th century Victorian norms about social class, gender, religion and morality. It is unfortunate that her only published novel received widespread criticism in its initial years and Emily did not live to see how it gradually gained acceptability to become one of the most widely read and favourite love stories of all time.

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

4. Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949)

American journalist and author Margaret Mitchell is the fourth participant in this category owing to her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gone With the Wind (1937) which sold more than 30 million copies and was converted into a an academy award winning film. Mitchell began her love stories fetish as a child and went on to write adventure books and later even directed plays. Her second novel, Lost Laysen (1996) – a manuscript discovered after her death- is also a love story set in the South Pacific.

“Well, my dear, take heart. Someday, I will kiss you and you will like it. But not now, so I beg you not to be too impatient.” ― Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

5. Audrey Niffenegger (1963 – )

Writer, academic, visual artist and most lauded as a graphic novelist, Audrey Niffenegger is an American born 21st century Renaissance woman. Her romantic novel is distinct because of its mix with science fiction in The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003) which sold over seven million copies, translated in forty languages and was adapted into a film. Rumour has it that Niffenegger was troubled with her own love life during the time the she wrote this novel
which makes it even more poignant.

“Don’t you think it’s better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?” ― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife

6. Nicholas Sparks (1965 – )

Arguably one of the world’s most loved romantic storytellers, Nicholas Sparks is an American producer, screenwriter and novelist with seventeen novels to his credit as well as one non fiction book. Nine of his novels were translated into films including The Notebook (1996), A Walk to Remember (1999), Dear John (2006) and Safe Haven (2010) to name a few.

“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.” ― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

7. Nora Roberts (1950- )

Nora Roberts also known as J.D.Robb, Jill March or Sarah Hardesty, is one of the world’s bestselling authors and has been revered for rewriting the rules of romantic fiction. She has written 209 romance novels, is a founding member and inductee of Romantic Writers of America’s Hall of Fame, was awarded RWA Lifetime Achievement Award and was an unprecedented 21 of the RWA’s RITA Awards-the highest honor awarded in the romance genre.

Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live. ― Nora Roberts, Charmed

8. Jude Deveraux (1947 – )

Famous for merging history with romance, Jude Deveraux is a popular romance novelist with 36 of her novels being featured in The New York Times Bestseller List as of 2010, had over 60 million copies sold and her work has been translated into 18 languages. Her love-stories revolve around humour, history, and adventure. A Knight and Shining Armour (2002) is believed to be her best work thus far.

“There are some things that are as ancient as time, and knowing when a man desires you is one of those.” ― Jude Deveraux, Secrets

9. Julie Garwood (1944 – )

Many say that that storytelling comes naturally to the Irish and this was also true for Julie Garwood who takes pride in her Irish heritage. She has written more than twenty-seven novels in romance and historical genres, sold over thirty-five million copies and remained New York Times Bestsellers for 24 of her novels. Julie’s goal is to make her readers cry and laugh and fall in love altogether whilst reading her books.

“I know the truth now. You’ve figured out I’m falling in love with you and you’re trying to make me stop by hurting me this way. Well it won’t work. ― Julie Garwood, The Wedding

10. Judith McNaught (1944 – )

Her very first novel, Whitney My Love (1985) won a Romantic Times Award which speaks for itself when it comes to this bestseller writer who, over the years, has McNaughtized millions. Until You (1994), Remember When (1996) and Night Whispers (1998) and five more novels were a smashing success in the romantic genre category too as they hit number 1 on the NY Times Bestsellers list.

“There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.” ― Judith McNaught, Remember When

Also Read: Top 10 Famous Romance Novels of All Time

The best science fiction authors are often described as some of the most creative minds in the world. Yet, this is such a genre that is as easy to love as it is difficult to define. The world of sci-fi is a unique experience as, unlike other genres, it allows for an author to take their imagination to new limits and thus provide a surreal experience for their readers. Even still, the science fiction genre has thrived in the English language with some remarkable writers. It would be unfair to rank these names in order of importance and have thus been ordered chronologically along with their best books.

1. Jules Verne (1828-1905)

Often called “The Father of Science Fiction” along with H.G.Wells and Hugo Gernsback, as well as the second most translated author between Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare, Jules Verne had a profound influence on most of Europe and the genre of science fiction. He was a French novelist, poet and playwright.

Best Books:
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870)
Around the World in Eighty Days (1873)

2. H. G. Wells (1866-1946)

When one thinks of science fiction authors, H. G. Wells is probably one of the first names that come to mind. Not only was he the best but also the most impactful in the sci-fi genre with some smash hit novels that are still ripe to be spawned into films. He wrote novels, history, social commentaries, textbooks and is also labeled “Prophet of Science Fiction” among Gernsback and Verne.

Best Books:
The Time Machine (1895)
The War of the Worlds (1998)

3. Hugo Gernsback (1884-1967)

Best known for publishing Amazing Stories, the first magazine in the genesis of science fiction, Gernsback was an editor, writer, publisher and inventor. His significance in the field of sci-fi is manifested in the fact that annual awards presented at the World Science Fiction Convention are named “Hugos” in his honour.

Best Book:
Ralph 124C 41+ (1911)

4. Robert Heinlein (1907-1988)

The first person to be named the Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974, Heinlein is a legend when it comes to the Sci-Fi genre. As controversial as he was influential, Heinlein took the science of his writings very seriously and raised the bar for Sci-Fi’s literary quality on the whole. He has won Hugos, Retro Hugos, was the bestselling science-fiction writers only to be succeeded by Isaac Asimov and Arthur Clarke (collectively referred to as ‘The Big Three’) and even invented some words of the English language. He anticipated early descriptions of the waterbed and the cell phone in his novels many years before they were invented.

Best Book:
Starship Troopers (1959)

5. Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008)

Owing to his monumental career, Clarke is called the “Prophet of the Space Age” and the third member of “The Big Three” science fiction writers. Arthur C. Clarke was a British science fiction author, inventor, undersea explorer and TV host. He has won many prestigious honours such as Nebulas, Hugos, Kalinga Prize from UNESCO and Sri Lankabhimanya in Sri Lanka. His masterwork novel, is not only the most influential book but also a well-received movie.

Best Book:
A Space Odyssey (2001)

6. Frank Herbert (1920-1986)

Author of the most multi-layered and intricate novel of the sci-fi genre, Dune (1965), Frank Herbert was not only a magnanimously successful sci-fi author but also a short story writer, journalist, book reviewer, photographer, ecological consultant and teacher. His literary career revolved around his magnum opus and its five sequels which were translated in over a dozen languages, stands as the bestselling sci-fi novels of all time and won Nebula and Hugo awards for best novel in 1966.

Best Book:
Dune Series

7. Isaac Asimov (1920-1992)

Possibly the most popular of the “The Big Three of Sci-Fi”, Asimov was a biochemistry teacher by profession and a prolific science fiction writer. He published over 500 books with books included under ever section of the Dewey Decimal Classification except for philosophy. His three major series of novels set the stage for modern sci-fi novels much like Heinlein.

Best Books:
Foundation Series
Galactic Empire Series Robot Series

8. Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)

One of the most widely read and loved authors of his generation, Ray Bradbury was the giant of science fiction and fantasy. He left a legacy of books, film, television and theatre apart from inspiring many sci-fi writers that were yet to come and fueling further interest in futuristic literature with his masterpiece novels.

Best Books:
The Martian Chronicles (1950)
Fahrenheit 451 (1953)

9. William Gibson (1948 – )

Father of modern cyberpunk, and sometimes called the most important novelist of the past two decades, William Gibson is acclaimed for coining the term “cyberspace” and laying the early foundations for the rise of the information age, reality television, virtual environment and the world wide web. Gibson has authored twenty short stories and ten critically acclaimed novels and many articles for major publications.

Best Book:
Neuromancer (1984)

10. Orson Scott Card (1951 – )

Often referred to as the voice of modern science fiction, Orson Scott Card is an American novelist, public speaker, professor and producer. He won Nebulas and Hugos for the first two parts of Ender’s Saga for two consecutive years – the first person to receive these prestigious awards twice in a row.

Best Book:
Ender’s Game Series