Elin Hilderbrand

It has always been a goal of mine to climb Kilimanjaro, so that's definitely happening, and I may write a memoir about it. When I was 25, I tried to trek to Everest Base Camp, but I got sick and ended up being carried out of Dingboche on the back of my Sherpa. So Kilimanjaro would represent a redemption of sorts.

I consider reading to be part of my job.

Venting your anger on anyone - especially complete strangers - is not a winning tactic. Be especially sweet to bartenders and people serving you food.

I've tried to tell my kids: If you're reading something engrossing, you'll never, ever be bored.

Americans are really in love with their summertime.

My books, I will say one thing - they all have a driving narrative, and you have to turn the pages, and the way you do that is to create characters that you really love and care about and put them in a fairly dire situation.

I have met women who said, 'I started reading you when I sat in the chemo chair, and it made me feel better.' That is as humbling as it gets, to know that you, in some way, made the worst day of their life a little bit better.

Without fail, the first question I am asked at any author event is, 'Are your books based on your real life?'

What I write about in my novels is also what's in my life.

Iowa City is okay as Midwestern cities go, but there's no food, no culture, no ocean.

I have this ridiculous exercise regime in the summer that I do not deviate from.

Like most writers, I read constantly. I used to hide in remote parts of the yard and house so I could read in peace.