David Dalglish-he's an indie fantasy author. i've bought each of his 11 novels 3 times (in ebook, hard copy and omnibus hardcopy). he combines the best of what i loved about things like Dragonlance as a kid with a far rougher,darker sensibility and a more narrow focus than those books have. i'm a 34 year old man but things like paladins crying out to their god for strength as they face hordes of undead will never stop being cool.
BV Larson. he's a semi-indie sci-fi/fantasy author. his Star Force series just fills me with nerdy glee. its basically about a computer programmer using nano-machines like a glorified lego set to build equipment to use in battle against a mechanized alien fleet. its just a fun series and has a classic "the scientist will save us all" 1950s sci-fi film feel.
Vaughn Heppner. he's another indie sci-fi/fantasy author. i really like his Doom Star series which involves an orwellian/communist nightmare version of earth locked in battle against a race of genetically engineered, fascistic supermen. its like two political extremes locked in battle with the main character, who just wants to be left alone, trapped in the middle. its an absolute political allegory but the series is a lot of fun.
Larry Correia. i'm a big fan of his Monster Hunter International series, which for all intents and purposes is testosterone fueled urban fantasy about a group of bounty hunters tasked with defending the world against all manner of monsters and elder gods. great characters and fun reads.
i notice a common thread: i read purely for fun and things that i find nerdy/cool. literary merit be damned
.