After six years and seven seasons of having her life filmed (two stints on Laguna Beach and five on her own spin-off, The Hills), Lauren Conrad is ready to turn off her mike. “I wanted to leave on a good note,” she says. “It can only be great for so long, and I think I stayed with it long enough.” So what’s next? The 23-year-old already has her own fashion label (though it’s temporarily on hold) and an endorsement deal with Avon’s product line for younger women, and she’s got a young-adult novel coming out this week. The first of a three-book series, L.A. Candy is about a 19-year-old girl who moves to Los Angeles and becomes the star of a reality TV show. Hmm, sounds familiar.

You’re a pretty busy gal. How’d you find time to write a book?
When you get ready to write a book, you have no idea about the time commitment that’s needed. I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but we had to push the deadline more than once. Knowing that I would be really tired from writing, I had planned a four-day vacation with my parents to Mexico right after my last deadline. But I ended up pushing the deadline, so I spent almost the entire vacation in my room working while it was beautiful outside.

This was a three-book deal. Have you been inspired to write a fourth or start another series?
If you had asked me at the end of the first book, I would have said no, but the second book has been a lot easier, because all the character introductions and outlines have been done. So I’m enjoying it a little bit more and I would definitely continue doing this.

The book seems all too similar to your actual life. Don’t you think people know everything there is to know from watching your show?
People see the story in front of the cameras, but to me, everything that goes on behind them is the interesting part.

You’ve said the book is fictional and only loosely based on your life. People are still going to try to compare the two, right?
People can do that with anything. Like, “This mean girl is this person and her best friend is her best friend in real life,” but everyone has a mean girl and a best friend. The characters in the book are just people that are in everybody’s lives.

There are also lots of references to underage drinking, pot and hooking up with boys. But it’s a young-adult book!
Because those things exist. Kids are smart, they know when you’re trying to make a PG version of something that’s real. I’m not going to lie and leave it out, but I do make sure to show that there is a consequence for everything you do.

You’re obviously close with your parents. Have they ever yelled at you for something you’ve done on the show?
My parents are very understanding people, and they get that I’m young and I’m going to make mistakes, and they’ve let me know I can always ask for their guidance. But they’ve never criticized my decision-making. My dad will joke and tell me to stop kissing boys and my mom will tell me to stop playing with my hair.

You do play with your hair a lot.
Yeah, when you watch yourself you notice habits that you have that you wouldn’t have picked up on otherwise.

What else did you notice?
I make a lot of facial expressions that I don’t necessarily mean to. I always thought I was really sly and composed, but when people do things that are weird or offensive, I always make a face about it.

Any chance you’ll join Whitney Port on The City?
I don’t think so. I’ve talked with friends about moving to New York for a few months. I love the city, but as lame as it sounds, I don’t think I could handle the weather. I love the California weather and the California lifestyle.

It’s hard to tell on the show, but how does the public react to you when you’re out?
That’s one thing about New York: No one cares. L.A.’s kind of like that too because there’s so many famous people there. The people are so chill they really couldn’t care less about you. It’s awesome.

Lauren Conrad will be signing copies of her book, L.A. Candy, at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble Thu 18 at 7pm.

Source: newyork.timeout.com

Posted by Lauren Conrad on June 23, 2009

Thank you Georgia for another great day on my book tour. I meet over 1,000 more fans and everyone was so nice. I have acquired quite a collection of friendship bracelets from this tour, and other nice keepsakes! Thank you!!

Today I will be signing in Nashville at Davis Kidd and tomorrow I will be in Memphis at Davis Kidd. Please call ahead for more information on the book signing.

Some stores requires tickets for the event. Some stores also want you to buy the book from their store.

Source: blogs.myspace.com

Lauren Conrad Online is now on Twitter! Stay up to date with the latest news and photos of Lauren by following our account! Click the image above or click here to follow us!

I was given the amazing opportunity to interview Lauren Conrad at her book signing in Naperville, Illinois on Saturday, June 20. The interview touches on Lauren’s new collection, LC Lauren Conrad, her original Lauren Conrad Collection, her current job, what she hopes the future brings, future TV and movie plans for “L.A. Candy” and what her biggest lesson learned was after being on reality television. Thanks so much to Lauren Conrad, Kathy Conrad and Melissa Bruno for allowing me to conduct this interview! Hope you enjoy it!

Lauren-Conrad.net Exclusive Interview with Lauren Conrad (June 20, 2009)

Posted by Lauren Conrad on June 21, 2009

Hey, I just arrived in Atlanta! Happy Father’s Day, especially to my Dad who I couldn’t spend the day with today because of my book tour.

I did get to spend my day at Mall of America in Minnesota and meet over 1,200 amazing fans for my book signing. Thank you to everyone who came, it was my biggest signing day so far.

Thanks also to everyone who came to my signing yesterday in Naperville. I loved all your great T-shirts!

Tomorrow will be another book signing at Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta, GA. Please call the store if you need more information.

Source: blogs.myspace.com

OMG. I met Lauren Conrad. We talked. I think we bonded. I don’t know how she feels, but I’m pretty sure that we’re best friends. We met at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville on Saturday, her chauffeured Escalade in the parking lot less than 100 yards away, waiting for her to sign books for the hundreds of fans who arrived to see her, then whisk her to the airport and out of Illinois.

You’re wondering, of course: What was he wearing when he talked to Lauren Conrad? I’ll tell you: I was wearing cargo pants and a button-down pinstriped shirt from Ralph Lauren. I looked amazing. (Incidentally, she was wearing a loose, black summer top, hot pink shorts and stilettos.) She was at Anderson’s because she wrote a book, “L.A. Candy,” about a young girl who lives her life on a reality TV show. She said it is not about her time on ” The Hills,” MTV’s reality juggernaut. The 23-year-old said it’s fiction — and it’s for teenagers.

Q: Why not a memoir?

A: Because to tell your story you have to tell everyone else’s story, and I don’t think that’s my place.

Q: Why, though, write a book as the first thing you did after “The Hills”?

A: I wanted to write a book — I met with Harper Collins but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about. I was going to do a dating book, a fashion book. They actually threw out the idea of a novel for teens.

Q: How did you write it?

A: I started a year ago. We outlined all three books. I started developing characters — very roughly. I did that during a trip to Italy. I went with my family for two weeks and I had a lot of time. And Harper Collins was amazing and very patient with me. They helped along the process — because, you know, without experience, you have no idea how to write a book.

Q: What are you reading?

A: What am I reading? I am reading — actually, I just started re-reading my own book, which is a little weird. I am between books at the moment. … I’m actually going to get one today. It’s called “I Was Told There’d Be Cake” [by Sloane Crosley]. I do like Chelsea Handler’s books. Have you read “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell?” Funny, right? I like funny books. I got a Kindle, you can buy them off Amazon. But it broke.

Q: You broke it?

A: I didn’t get to use it, actually. It was in my beach bag. It broke.

Q: Your author photo is better than Joyce Carol Oates’ author photo.

A: It’s good. My next one, there’s a possibility it will change.

Q: You’ll wear a turtleneck.

A: No, a white dress, and I’ll hold a lollipop — right?

Source: chicagotribune.com