Let's make this birthday one to remember.

70 years old (Born on August 16, 1954)

Happy Birthday, Benjamin Alire Sáenz! May your day be filled with more joy than a poet discovering the perfect metaphor and fewer plot twists than one of your novels. Your words have carried us like water through deserts of emotion, making us laugh, cry, and occasionally question our life choices.

From winning both the American Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award to inspiring countless readers young and old—your literary journey is truly legendary. Here's hoping this year brings you even greater adventures (and perhaps another shelf for all those awards). Keep writing stories that touch hearts—and funny bones too!