If you haven’t yet discovered the author Jodi Picoult, I’d encourage to read one (or several) of her books. Stephen King has said of Picoult, “Picoult writes with unassuming brilliance.” A couple of her books have been made into movies: My Sister’s Keeper and The Tenth Circle. One of my customers told me she had heard that Picoult’s books were sad. I would say they are deep, intelligent and yes, there is sadness; however, there is also an enormous exploration of human behavior and response to the things that life throws at us. My only problem with this author’s books is that I am inclined to stay up all night to finish one!
If you’re interested in writing, one of the best things you can do is read books that are well written. Jodi Picoult’s 18+ books certainly fit in that category.