I have noticed a lot of would be authors contribute to this site.
I would highly reccomend they read "Scenes from married life" It is a lovly book written with wit and touching humour.
The author is William Cooper but NOT the William Cooper who wrote "Dancing with wolves"
I would also reccomend "Chilly scenes of winter" by Ann Beattie.
As a witness I was also confused that the biblical stories never touched a chord with my heart the way stories from modern fictitional writters have.
As for non fictional charactors I have book cases full of books with charactors who would not those biblical heroes behind the 8 ball.