At-a-Glance
Latest book: Blue Moon (book two in the Immortals series)
Lives in: Laguna Beach
Used to be: A flight attendant
Favorite restaurant: Vine
Website: www.alysonnoel.com
Alyson Noël knew she wanted to be a writer since the day she finished reading Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. An avid reader from a young age, (thanks to a mom who loved books!), Judy Blume’s novels were the first she could directly relate to, and she knew she wanted to write like that too.
Born and raised in Orange County, CA, Alyson left for Europe not long after high school where she ended up living in Mykonos, Greece for several years before moving to New York City where she worked as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines for over a decade.
After years of merely talking about writing rather than actually writing, it was the tragic events of 9/11 that knocked her out of her comfort zone and prompted her to get serious about her unfinished manuscript. After a few years of online writing classes and lots of revisions, her debut YA novel, Faking 19 was published in 2005 by St. Martin’s Press, and since then, many others have followed, both for teens and adults.
Her latest, Evermore, book one in a new five book, YA, paranormal, series, debuted on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, with the film rights optioned to Spring Creek Productions and Warner Horizon. The next book in the Immortals series, Blue Moon, will hit stores in July 2009, with three more titles to follow in 2010.
Other awards and honors include: the National Reader’s Choice Award, NYLA Book of Winter Award, NYPL Books for the Teenage, Teen Reads Best Books of 2007, Reviewer’s Choice 2007 Top Ten, nominated for YALSA’s Teen’s Top Ten, and a feature on the CBS Early Show’s “Give the Gift of Reading” segment. Her titles have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Vietnamese, and Portuguese.
After years of traveling widely, Alyson is now settled in Laguna Beach, CA where she lives with her husband.
SoCal Book Scene Exclusive (Mini) Interview:
SCBS: What did you do before you “officially” became an author?
AN: I worked as a New York City based flight attendant for Delta Airlines for over a decade—it was a job I both loathed and loved. Loved the free travel and the other flight attendants—loathed the polyester dress and pantyhose!
SCBS: How do you spend your weekends?
AN: I’d love to say something really exciting and glamorous here, but the truth is, my weekends pretty much resemble the rest of the week. I spend most my time writing, with little breaks for eating and checking in with my husband!
SCBS: What’s your favorite restaurant in Southern California?
AN: Well, if my house were a restaurant then it would be my hands down favorite. My husband is an amazing gourmet cook, so it’s pretty hard to top that! But since, it’s not an actual restaurant I’ll say Vine in San Clemente. The food is awesome, the service is friendly, and it’s got a really nice, cozy and intimate atmosphere!
Available now at your favorite local Southern California independent bookstore:
