Although I teach writing, I am also a constant student of writing.  I have many favorite authors that I recommend to aspiring writers.  Always start with the classics - Homer (such a great storyteller!), Charles Dickens,  Eudora Welty.  But also make sure that you read new writing to keep up with current trends of thought.  A great book on this subject is Writing Fiction Step by Step by Josip Novakovich. I also recommend Robert Ray's The Weekend Novelist for outstanding lessons on how to write a novel.  Each book includes essays about writing fiction as well as exercises that can truly become the basis of your book.  It doesn’t matter whether you are reading an old paperback, a rare hardcover, or a Kindle - just read!