Let's make this birthday one to remember.

87 years old (Born on May 13, 1937)

Happy Birthday, Jerome Charyn! From unraveling "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson" to running wild with Marilyn—you've crafted stories richer than birthday cake frosting. Over fifty eclectic works prove you're the literary equivalent of a Swiss Army knife: endlessly versatile and surprisingly sharp.

Year after year, your imagination—bolder than "The Collagists," stickier situations crafted better than "The Tar Baby"—keeps delighting readers young and old. May today bring laughter loud enough to win over Emily Dickinson herself, adventures more colorful than any collage you've imagined, and celebrations wilder than Marilyn ever dreamed!

Cheers to you on another glorious chapter!