Taylor Stevens is the author of The Informationist, the first novel in the Vanessa Michael Munroe series. Born in New York State into the Children of God, an apocalyptic religious cult, Stevens was separated from her family at age 12 and denied an education beyond sixth grade. She lived in communes on three continents and in a dozen countries before reaching 14. In place of schooling, the majority of her adolescence was spent begging on city streets at the behest of cult leaders or caring for younger commune children, washing laundry and cooking meals for hundreds at a time. In her 20s, Stevens broke free of the Children of God and now lives in Texas. Her second Vanessa Munroe novel, The Innocent, was published by Crown December 27, 2011. She's at work on a third Munroe novel.
On your nightstand now:
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King; Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott; Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin; Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner; and The Brothers Karamazov. I think the underlying theme here is trying to avoid being a broke bad writer.
Favorite book when you were a child:
I didn't have much access to books and wasn't really allowed to read fiction for most of my childhood, but when I did, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and the Hardy Boys were my secret companions.
Your top five authors:
Christopher Moore, Robert Ludlum, Napoleon Hill, Carl Hiaasen, Robert Greene.
Book you've faked reading:
I'm about to start faking having read Brothers Karamazov. I'm only halfway through and it has been on my nightstand for about two years.
Book you're an evangelist for:
I recommend Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way to every creative person I know.
Book you've bought for the cover:
Still looking for that book. It's out there, I know it.
Book that changed your life:
Definitely The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum, because without Jason Bourne, chances are I would have never had the epiphany that got me writing fiction in the first place.
Favorite line from a book:
"Remember that all who succeed in life get off to a bad start, and pass through many heartbreaking struggles before they 'arrive.' The turning point in the lives of those who succeed usually comes at the moment of some crisis, through which they are introduced to their 'other selves.' "--Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Oh man, I always get a kick out of Christopher Moore. His books are weird, but a lot of fun. I wish I could read A Dirty Job again for the first time, if for no other reason than for the sheer joy of laughing so hard!