I'm a lurker, reader, would-be writer; also a Rachel, as it happens. I haven't friended you yet, but we have several friends in common and I look in from time to time.
Common interests:
Barbara Hambly, C. J. Cherryh, Fantasy, Georgette Heyer, Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Science Fiction, Steven Brust, Writing.

If you like Cherryh's SF as well as fantasy, might I suggest Kristine Smith as an author worth checking out? She has interesting humanoid aliens and intricate plots with lots of undercurrents. Also the Liaden novels of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller -- space opera with a distinct regency flavour.