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*The Gossip Girl Speaks*

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Time Warner's author / book publicist Miriam Parker is letting me review women's and teen fiction -- and interview authors -- at this site. She has been extremely generous in many ways, mailing free books and setting-up interviews! The below is an exemplification of her kindness, a recent interview given by Cecily Von Ziegesar the popular, bestselling author of the GOSSIP GIRL series. Stay tuned for more author interviews!

-- Sara Webb Quest

Cecily Von Ziegesar grew up in the land of Blair, Serena and Nate. She attended a tony all-girl private school, attended socialite galas and generally "did the do" like only a real New York City diva can! Now Cecily puts her high school experiences to use as the brains behind the best-selling GOSSIP GIRL series. Just in time for the release of Gossip Girl 6: You're The One That I Want, the Hip Scouts posed their most pressing questions to the doyenne of dish:

Hanna, 15: What's the hardest thing about writing about teenagers but not being one?

Cecily Von Ziegesar: I don't think I've changed that much since I was 17, so I don't find writing about teenagers all that hard. To keep the books from sounding dated I try not to use too much slang since popular slang changes on a monthly basis. Also, I don't really think of the characters in the books as teenagers, to me they're just people. And, sad as it may sound, after writing about them for six books they've kind of become my friends!

Hanna, 15: If you have teenagers, or have had teenagers, would you let them read this book? If so, would you let them read it as a "what not to do" lesson or as a "see what Mommy does in her spare time"? Cecily: I have a two year old daughter and a baby boy on the way--eventually they will be teenagers. I'll let them read the books when and if they're interested and just wait and see what they have to say. I don't think I'm going to be the type of parent who forbids her kids to read certain books or see certain movies or wear certain clothes or whatever. I'd rather let my kids see what's out there and make their own opinions and choices.

Alison, 15: Who is the most famous person you have met?

Cecily: I have a terrible habit of not noticing celebrities, even when I'm practically sitting on top of them. I met Bill Murray in a restaurant once.

Cecily

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