I think my tastes differ from all the above.
I like supernatural and Horror type stories hence my favourite authors are Graham Masterton and James Herbert.
In the normal adventure vein I have all the books by Wilbur Smith

I love supernatural and horror stories also. Just getting back into Dean Koontz. He was a bit 'icky' years ago but his latest stuff (in the last 4 years) has been great IMHO. The 'Odd Thomas' series is fantastic. Recently read his 'The Face' and now reading 'One door away from Heaven'. Buying 'Brother Odd' on special at QBD bookstore tomorrow. It is more into the supernatural realm these days and not slash horror. Read a few James Masterton in my time. I am a sponge when it comes to reading. Used to get A's in English because of my love of the written word. That is the ONLY subject I got good grades in though.

OMG... One door away from Heaven was fabulous. I cried The ending was beautiful and fitting. I didn't get to the QBD bookstore to buy Brother Odd
Reading some Judith Tarr at the moment. Dean Koontz since the new Millenium began, deserves accolades for his clever and insightful writing.  

How to choose a favourite....almost impossible!  Some of mine are:  Terry Pratchett - both funny and clever and so hard to put down. Gerald Durrell - particularly 'My Family and Other Animals'.  James Herriott for his wonderful animal stories.  Agatha Christie and Murray Ball (if a cartoonist can be included) and P.G. Wodehouse who can work wonders with words and extract his characters unruffled from the most terrible tangles.

I have read every Gerald Durrell book and laughed myself silly at every one. My god, his family must have been a circus to live with. I have wanted so much to travel to Corfu since reading his books and live there, for a while at least! One particular thing he wrote that still makes me laugh when I think of it, is about a female skunk in an amorous way and looking like a black and white football, she was so fat. The way he wrote, you were actually transported to where he was and looking at what he described, bless his soul. I used to be friends with a lady who had worked on Jersey (or was it Gurnsey) off England in the zoo he founded. I was most envious.  

Quoted from noTO

I'm a HUGE Raymond E. Feist fan

+1

Also eddings, Goodkind, Robert Jordan, David Gemmel, Anne rice and Tad Williams

I love the Matha Finely books!
Elsie Dinsmore, Millie Keith, Violet Travilla and Layle Colbert.
All the books are set in the 1800's and are historically true and accurate.
But each of the girls have there own trials and they really inspired me to live a better life!
Has any one else read the A Life Of Faith Siries??

My favourite author is Ken Follett.  After reading his "Pillars of the Earth" and "World Without End", I find it hard to find another book I enjoyed so much as those.  Couldn't put them down.  

Since my last post in Dec 2007 in this topic I think I have read every James Patterson book