PORTLAND, Ore. — It's always fun to talk to author Cheryl Strayed. Her memoir “Wild” is one of Oprah's book club selections and Hollywood turned it into a hit movie starring actress Reese Witherspoon. It’s about life and loss, and Cheryl's search for meaning as she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail—solo--in her 20s.
She's a longtime Portland resident and I recently sat down to interview her. There was so much good stuff, we turned it into a two-parter.
Over the years, Cheryl has done it all, the advice column "Dear Sugar," a play, podcasting and public speaking. But she told me she's been missing her first love: writing books. Now she's clearing her schedule to get back to that and work on her newest memoir.
Cheryl also chatted about turning 50 and making sense of middle age. And that was just Part 1 of the interview!
I did things a little differently in Part 2 of my conversation with Cheryl. For the second half, I'm not the one asking questions--you are! I threw it out there on Facebook and you told me what you wanted to know:
- Would she hike the PCT all over again?
- What's she reading, any favorite books to recommend?
- And what about her advice on raising daughters?