Let's make this birthday one to remember.

75 years old (Born on July 15, 1949)

Happy birthday, Richard Russo! While your literary masterpieces like "Empire Falls" and "Nobody's Fool" have gifted us unforgettable characters, spot-on humor, and profound insights into small-town America—and earned their rightful place on our screens—we celebrate today by speculating how Sully would throw you a party (likely with mischief) or what Miles Roby might bake in celebration (hopefully less complicated than his life!)

Your recent successes continue proving why you're the master storyteller we admire. From sharing deeply personal reflections in “Elsewhere: A Memoir” to capturing our hearts vividly once again in tales such as “Bridge of Sighs,” you've wonderfully fulfilled the novelist’s holiest obligation—keeping readers glued happily through every turning page. Cheers to many more brilliantly humorous novels ahead!