Janet Evanovich

My nomination is the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 comic books, published by Dark Horse. And I don't feel at all guilty about it.

Joss Whedon, the man, the myth, the legend, writes the comic with the same genius as he did the show. The art, penciled by Georges Jeanty, is as faboo as the writing. The clothes are hip, and the monsters are scary—but not as scary as Buffy's personal life, which is (as it should be) a lot harder to conquer than a demon or a vampire. After all, you can always count on wooden stakes to kill a vampire, but you can't prepare yourself enough for the day your sister turns herself into a giant.

I've read all four installments of The Long Way Home, and I'm cracking my knuckles and pacing in my office waiting for more. Buffy is perfect for those moments when you need a little help convincing yourself you could do a push-up if you really tried.

Evanovich's most recent book is Lean Mean Thirteen.