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 The Writers of 2006 From a former academic who mesmerized readers with her masterful debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale, to an enigmatic children's book author who announced The End of a mega-popular series, 2006 was a year of writers who made readers take note. Meet ten writers that we took special note of this year. > See our editors' picks for the Best Books of 2006 Diane Setterfield
The Newcomer Diane Setterfield -- formerly an academic specializing in French literature -- became a major literary celeb when her debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale, was hailed as one of the biggest fiction debuts of the year straight out of the gate. The inaugural selection of the new Barnes & Noble Recommends program, this gothic, Jane Eyre-inspired tale kept readers around the world up all night -- and waiting breathlessly for the next book.
 Lemony Snicket
The Pied Piper Lemony Snicket's wicked, wildly popular A Series of Unfortunate Events -- featuring the exploits of the unlucky Baudelaire children -- wrapped up this year with The End. Represented on the touring circuit by author Daniel Handler (pictured here), Snicket managed to depress, dismay -- and somehow, still delight -- more young readers than ever.
John Grogan
Dog's Best Friend When Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan wrote a tribute to his beloved pet of 12 years, the overwhelming response of readers prompted him to write Marley & Me -- the full story of his dog's colorful life. Grogan's heartfelt ode to his canine comrade became one of the most talked-about books of the year.
Elizabeth Gilbert
The Seeker Known for her in-depth looks at American lives, from mountain men to lobster fishermen, Elizabeth Gilbert has developed a reputation for relaying what makes people tick, both in her reportage and her acclaimed works of fiction. In Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert focused on her own story, as she chronicled her life-changing search for pleasure, faith, and happiness -- bringing devoted readers along for the journey.
Anthony Bourdain
The Foodie The executive chef at New York's prestigious Brasserie Les Halles, Anthony Bourdain grabbed the attention of diners everywhere with his revealing collection of essays about the culinary world, The Nasty Bits. Along with hosting popular food shows on the Discovery Channel and the Food Network, Bourdain's writings continued to be the hottest dish on the restaurant scene.
Lawrence Wright
The Reporter An award-winning author, screenwriter, and staff writer for The New Yorker, Lawrence Wright has won acclaim for his in-depth investigations into groups from evangelical Christians to Al-Qaeda. But it was this year's The Looming Tower that garnered him a National Book Award nomination -- and the undivided attention of readers around the world.
Laurell K. Hamilton
The Sorceress Laurell K. Hamilton continued to virtually reinvent the Paranormal Romance genre this year, via a series of bestselling books filled with chills, thrills, a few giggles, and yes, plenty of steamy scenes. With her popular Anita Blake and Meredith Gentry series -- the latest is Mistral's Kiss -- Hamilton brought dark fantasy to the forefront, and the top of the besteller lists.
Taylor Branch
The Historian Taylor Branch's acclaimed trilogy of books chronicling the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the arc of the American civil rights movement wrapped up this year with the National Book Award-nominated At Canaan's Edge. "I would like my readers to entertain the core notion that civil rights history is not a quaint tale of yesteryear, but rather our best model for the urgent task of understanding and refining democracy," he told us in our interview.
Elie Wiesel
The Conscience Selected as an uncharacteristically weighty pick for Oprah's Book Club this year, Wiesel's Night may well be the most widely read account of the Holocaust ever written by a survivor. It's memorable not only as a depiction of terror and genocide but also as the record of a single human being's struggle to preserve his humanity in the face of evil.
Gary Shteyngart
The Absurdist Russian expatriate Gary Shteyngart has only published two novels, but both are so insightful, so observant, original, and flat-out funny that he is already regarded by many as a major literary force. The follow-up to his buzzed-about 2002 debut, The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, Absurdistan smashed any illusions of Shteyngart as a one-hit wonder.
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