Let's make this birthday one to remember.

73 years old (Born on July 12, 1951)

Happy Birthday, Joan Bauer! May your day be filled with more joy than a teenager finally finding their voice and triumphing over life's toughest challenges—something you've beautifully captured in novels like "Hope Was Here" and "Backwater." Your stories have inspired countless readers to face adversity head-on, armed only with courage, humor, and perhaps an extra-large slice of pie.

Here's wishing you another year packed full of memorable moments as uplifting as your characters' victories. Keep writing those heartfelt tales that remind us all how hope can truly show up anywhere—even at birthday parties. Cheers to you!