Let's make this birthday one to remember.

61 years old (Born on December 02, 1963)

Happy Birthday, Ann Patchett! May your day be as captivating and suspenseful as a hostage situation in "Bel Canto," but with fewer terrorists and more cake. Your novels have held readers joyfully captive for decades—proving that the pen truly is mightier than any fictional terrorist's demands.

From "The Patron Saint of Liars" to "Run," you've consistently dazzled us with your storytelling magic. Here's hoping this year brings you even more literary triumphs, endless inspiration, and perhaps fewer fictional crises to resolve. Cheers to another chapter filled with laughter, success, and plot twists only you could imagine!