Who came out with both barrels blazing, only to cool off for the remainder of their careers? There are several, but Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" comes to mind immediately. I'm sure there is a Lost Generation author or two that fits this bill, but it's early and I cannot recall one at the moment. Europe's own Mary Shelley broke all the rules with "Frankenstein," becoming as famous as her dauntingly famous husband. She was published after this magnificent novel, but what could she create that would top such a classic? Omar Kayyam could never duplicate the grass roots success of his "Rubiyat." Even the iconoclastic Anne Rice could never find the platinum words that made "Interview With The Vampire" such a well-known tome, though she did write many more novels that sold very, very well after Interview. Who else saved their best for first?

She is so great! If you haven't heard of her, she wrote "Bergdorf Blondes" and "The Debutante Divorcee". Check her out if you like reading about socialites and the Hollywood types. She's better than Candace Bushnell!

article here.

most definately one of my favorite authors and influences. i haven't read anything of his that i didn't enjoy immensely.

and so it goes.

While this is probably the last author that anyone would expect to pop the cherry of this board, I'm totally recommending her to everyone. The trick is, she writes essays. It's a dying art but they're brilliant! Add on to that she's a history geek with a slightly off kilter sense of humour, and you get my favourite non-fiction author.
I may be one of the few still reading essays, but I'm trying to spread the word.