Cheryl Strayed is an American writer and podcast host.

From the halls of the White House Office of Management and Budget to becoming America's most beloved culinary teacher, Ina Garten has built an empire on the simple philosophy that good food brings people together.

John Ernst Steinbeck was an American writer and novelist.

Jennifer Grey is best known for her iconic portrayal of Baby in the classic film *Dirty Dancing*, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. She also starred in the acclaimed series *Red Oaks* and won season eleven of *Dancing with the Stars*. At 62, she authored *Out of the Corner*, a memoir described as a powerful coming-of-age story about personal evolution.

Jennifer Baggett is a co-author of *The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.* She previously held editorial positions at *Self* and *Woman's Day* magazines before serving as a project manager at the Food Network. She collaborated with co-authors Holly C. Corbett and Amanda Pressner on a second book.

Suzanne LaVenture is a world traveler, award-winning instructor, and author of the memoir *Prone to Wander*, which details her life from a sheltered southern Baptist upbringing through adventures abroad. She holds a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Wake Forest University and an MA from the University of Illinois, and dabbles in languages including Arabic, French, Irish, and Elvish.