Cheryl Strayed American writer Date of Birth: 17.09.1968 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Family
2. Education and Early Struggles
3. Personal Loss and Literary Pursuits
4. Career and Education
5. Literary Success
6. "Wild" and its Impact
7. Marriages and Family

Early Life and Family

Cheryl Strayed was born in Spangler, Pennsylvania to Barbara Anne "Bobbi" and Ronald Nyland. When she was 6 years old, her family moved to Chaska, Minnesota, and her parents divorced soon after. At age 13, Cheryl moved with her mother, stepfather, and two brothers to a rural area where they built a house and lived without electricity and plumbing for several years.

Education and Early Struggles

Despite the challenges in her home life, Cheryl excelled in school, participating in sports and cheerleading. However, she also struggled with inner turmoil, which she later explored in her novel "Torch" based on her experiences growing up in McGregor. After high school, she attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul but later transferred to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and Honors Degree.

Personal Loss and Literary Pursuits

During Cheryl's senior year of college, her mother died of lung cancer at the age of 45. This loss deeply affected her, and she has written about her grief in every book and several essays. Cheryl's writing often tackles personal experiences, whether through large-scale actions like her hiking journey or detailed explorations of her inner life.

Career and Education

Cheryl worked in various fields, including as a waitress, youth advocate, political organizer, office worker, and EMT, while traveling extensively throughout the United States. In 2002, she earned a Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University, where she studied with writers such as George Saunders and Mary Gaitskill.

Literary Success

Cheryl Strayed has published four books: "Wild," "Torch," "Tiny Beautiful Things," and "Brave Enough." Her essays have appeared in various magazines, and she has been included in the prestigious "Best American Essays" anthology three times. In 2013, she served as guest editor for the anthology. Her essay "Munro Country" won the Pushcart Prize.

"Wild" and its Impact

Cheryl Strayed's best-known work is "Wild," a memoir that recounts her solo hiking journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. The 1,100-mile trek was inspired by her personal struggles, the death of her mother, and the dissolution of her first marriage. The book was adapted into a 2014 film starring Reese Witherspoon, who purchased the rights through her production company, Pacific Standard.

Marriages and Family

Cheryl Strayed married Marco Littig in 1988, shortly before her 20th birthday, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1995. She remarried in 1999 to filmmaker Brian Lindstrom, and the couple lives in Portland, Oregon with their two children.