S T R AY E D R E L E A S E D H E R B E S T- S E L L I N G M E M O I R , W I L D , IN 2012. BOOK COVER: COURTESY OF KNOPF / S T R AY E D P H O T O B Y J O N I K A B A N A
Beyond Wild
An Interview with Best-Selling Author Cheryl Strayed BY MARY BETH SKYLIS
TEN YEARS AGO, CHERYL STRAYED PUBLISHED HER best-selling memoir, Wild, a poignant account of selfdiscovery on a 1,000-plus mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail that was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Reese Witherspoon. Also the author of New York Times bestsellers Tiny Beautiful Things and Brave Enough, and the host of the podcast Sugar Calling, Strayed recently talked to BRO about her ongoing relationship with hiking, future work, and the enduring influence of Wild. BRO: How has life changed for you since the publication of Wild? CS: In some ways it’s changed enormously. Wild’s success has allowed me to be a writer full time, which had been my dream since I was a kid. It has led me in directions I’d never expect to go (like the Academy Awards!). It gave me the opportunity to connect with readers around the world. I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences I never would have imagined I’d get to have. In other ways, in a core way, my life is the same. I’m still sweating over every sentence I write, trying to make that next book, essay, or story as good as it can be. I’m still married to my dear husband Brian and together we’re raising our two kids, Carver and Bobbi. I’m still seeking adventure wherever I can find it.
BY MIKE BEZEMEK
BRO: Do you or did you identify as a “thru-hiker” after your pilgrimage on the PCT? CS: I wasn’t technically a thru-hiker, since I didn’t hike the entire trail, but on my PCT hike I certainly had more in common with those who were thru-hikers than I did with those who were on the trail for a short trip. So, yes, I identify with the experience and the people. Since Wild was published, I’ve met and talked to so many long-distance hikers who’ve hiked on various trails and there is always a sense of connection because we know what it’s like to hike day every day with a pack on your back, sleeping and eating in the wild. It’s quite a specific experience. The sense of community I’ve felt both on and off the trail with other hikers is pretty wonderful.
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