Favorite author?

I just finished watching a movie callled "Becoming Jane" it is about Jane Austin one of my favorite authors. (I just love her characters and the witty dialogue!) I don't know how true to life the movie was but I'm a little sad if it is. (I won't ruin the movie for you if you haven't seen it.) You would think someone like Jane Austin lived an amazing romantic life but.. oh yeah I'm not going to spoil it. It does change your perspective when you find out more about the author. I remember visiting Hemmingways house in the Florida keys and hearing stories about him. I'm not a Hemmingway fan in the first place but then to hear he stuck a toilet in his yard for his over 100 cats to drink from just to spite his third wife it doesn't really make you want to like him more. Or maybe it does I guess it depends on you!
I am not a writer or an aspiring writer but it seems like you would have to write about what you know or pattern your characters after people you know. Your experiences have to come out in your writing somehow. Then there are people like Stephen King and surly his experiences haven't guided his writing!!! Maybe some people have boundless imaginations but I don't think I am one of them. Plus I can't sit down to write this blog without being interrupted every 2 seconds with questions or comments from my peanut gallery- write a novel- ha!
So now here is the interactive part of the blog... Who is your favorite author or what do you know about them?