Oh, that would be absolutely brilliant, wouldn't it! Always a delight to hear from an author!
Contemporary... well, Rowling, of course! Can seldom go wrong with a bit of Stephen King. George R.R. Martin, as you can imagine, is also a favourite. I'll confess I greatly enjoy Dan Brown as well. Margaret Atwood, and--have you read anything of Caitlin Moran? I quite like her, she's a feisty sort.