To me, reading is less about genre, author or popularity; it's all about good, engaging, luscious writing. I admire versatile authors such as Stephen King who swing across genres while maintaining solid storytelling and wordsmithing skills regardless of the topics at hand. Master storytelling is an art, and it is something that I hope to one day fully realize in my own work. My preferred genres are science fiction, supernatural / horror and epic fantasy that is unencumbered by traditional devices or preconceptions, though truly, I'll read anything that takes hold and carries me off on an exciting literary journey.