Roberto Bolaño has been most influential in my life, I first read him as a teenager and many trips, career decisions and lifestyle choices during my early 20s were directly influenced by two of his books: The Savage Detectives and Last Evenings on Earth.
He's been my favorite author for a long time and certainly the writer I've read and re-read most often, but I think I've outgrown him a bit during the past year. I'm glad he's been part of my life for so long though, and I look forward to finding my next favorite author.