Alyson Noël was born and raised in The OC (although I never actually called it that until the TV show), and attended the Richard Nixon Elementary School for two years—a fact I find both amusing and embarrassing.

After high school, I was desperate to flee suburbia and see the world, so after many trips to Europe I eventually settled in Mykonos, Greece for several years, before moving to Manhattan for several more, where I worked as a Flight Attendant for a major airline and wrote my debut novel, Faking 19, during long weather delays and boring layovers.

Then one day I was visiting a friend in Newport Beach and I met my husband. And it wasn't long before I'd come full circle, setting up house right back in The OC where I live and write full time.

Q & A

Did you always want to be a writer?

Well first I wanted to be a mermaid, and then a princess, but the day I finished my first Judy Blume book I knew I wanted to be a writer. I was always an avid reader, starting with Green Eggs and Ham, and progressing through Charlotte's Web, and all the Little House on the Prairie books. But it was Are you there God? It's me Margaret, and Deenie, that felt like they were written just for me, and my friends, and all the things we were going through. Those books made me realize how a story could be so much more.

What is the one book no writer should be without?

Story, by Robert Mckee. Mine is highlighted, stuffed with post it notes, dog-eared, coffee stained, and autographed (!)—And I couldn't live without it.

Since starting your career as an author, what would you say are some of the most important lessons you've learned?

That I will always panic the week before a new book comes out, and that this is not likely to change.

That the brilliant ideas that stop by in the middle of the night always disappear by morning.

That it's never too late to follow your dream, though there's nothing wrong with getting a head start.

What is your favorite word?

Peace.

What is your least favorite word?

Cancer.

Saturday evening. Going out or reading a book?

Going out for a nice dinner, but still getting home early enough to read before bed!

Holidays. Beach or Mountains?

Even though I live at the beach, I still like to vacation at the beach!

Country or City?

I LOVE big cities! The energy, the shopping, the restaurants!

Watching a movie. Comedy or Drama (or something else)?

Dramedy!

Shy or Easy-going?

Easy going, with the occasional bout of inexplicable shyness.

Serious or Funny?

I'm always looking for the funny!

Traveler or not?

Traveler. Big time.

Sporty or not?

Clumsy, uncoordinated, and so not sporty!

The leader in the group or not?

Always the observer.

Favorite...

TV series:

Tie between The Office and Entourage.

Movie:

I have so many favorites, but if I have to choose just one then, American Beauty.

Book:

This is torture! Again, I love so many books from so many genres! But since I've read Catcher in the Rye a gazillion times I'll pick that one.

Music:

'80's rock, blues, jazz, U2, The Jam, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, David Bowie, The Pretenders...

Food:

French bistro.

City:

Paris!

Favorite place to write in:

My home office, it's got everything I need.

Sentence or motto:

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

—Yogi Berra

What's the one question that no one ever asks you and you wish they would?

Bono's on line two, he says he wants to take you to dinner. What should I tell him?