1. Stephen King (Portland, Maine, but raised in Durham, ME): A prolific writer, King is best known for his horror novels like *Carrie*, *The Shining*, *It*, and *Misery*. He's also written fantasy, science fiction, and crime fiction.
2. Philip Roth (Newark, New Jersey): A major figure in 20th-century American literature, Roth is known for his novels exploring Jewish identity, sexuality, and American culture. Some of his most famous works include *Portnoy's Complaint*, *The Ghost Writer*, and *American Pastoral*.
3. Toni Morrison (Lorain, Ohio, but lived in New Jersey for several years): A Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winner, Morrison is renowned for her powerful and lyrical novels about the African American experience. Her most famous works include *Beloved*, *Song of Solomon*, and *The Bluest Eye*.