Favorite Lesser Known Fantasy Writers?

[Scott Behler]

Obviously we have J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, and J.R.R. Tolkein, but what about the less commonly mentioned.
I feel like R.A. Salvatore is pretty common too, but obviously lesser than J.K. or J.R.R.

What about you? Favorite Lesser Known Fantasy Writers? And your favorite works by them?
Stephen R. Donaldson, who writes The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, I must admit, I've been a bit lax in reading his stuff as of late though.

[Liz Hunter]

I really love Tamora Pierce, and it seems like a bunch of other people do too! =) I also really like David Eddings. If you've never heard of him, he writes a sort of epic fantasy that spans over several different series (the first of which is called the Belgariad). His stories are unique, and extremely detailed, and just over-all amazing.