Who are your favourite writers and why?

In an effort to get people to write some bloody posts (!), I'd love y0u to say who your favourite writers are and why.Which writer's books would you pick up as soon as it was published, or whose books do you eagerly await...?

Mine are, in no particular order:

1. Douglas Coupland - Generation X was a term invented by him. I read this book when I was a teenager and have grown up and older with his novels. I would buy his new book without even reading the back cover.
2. Haruki Murakami - disappearing cats and women with amazing ears, wells, and giant frogs. All in Japan. What more could you want in a book? I did however read a review of his last book which said it was a bit dodgy.
3. John Wyndham - intelligent, chilling, classic sci-fi, inspiration for films and TV series
4. David Mitchell - 3 wonderful books so far, challenging and engrossing

OK I'm a little concerned because these are all men...I also would happily read anything by Anita Shreve, Jodi Piccoult, Carol Shields, Jeanette Winterson, Banana Yoshimoto, Maggie O'Farrell, Ursula K Le Guin, Sarah Waters, Sparkle Hayter, Margaret Atwood, Tracey Chevalier and yes, you read correct, Marian Keyes. These are all women.

Anyway, tell us your fave writers.