Elizabeth Gilbert and I met several years ago when we spoke on a panel to a group of librarians, and what started off as mutual admiration quickly turned to friendship. Even though she lives in New Jersey and I live in Nashville we write massive letters back and forth (the old-fashioned kind with envelopes and stamps) and take any occasion we can to see one another. When I was recently speaking at a library in Connecticut, I flew up a night early and she borrowed an apartment from a friend who was out of town so we could meet up for dinner and have a slumber party with her dog, Rocky.

I...