When Meg Cabot graduated from IU in 1991, little did she know she would become one of America's favorite authors. But 13 years later, Cabot would return to Bloomington for a book-signing tour and the mayor would declare that day "Meg Cabot Day."

With more than 30 novels in print, Cabot's readers enjoy a wide variety of novels including "All American Girl," "Boy Meets Girl," and "Teen Idol." Her most popular books, "The Princess Diaries" series, are beloved worldwide by readers both young and old. Disney has already released two feature films based on the series starring Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia Thermopolis and Julie Andrews as her grandmother. Others are in the works.

In addition to her prolific novel writing, Cabot finds time to stay in close touch with her readers with an extensive weblog ("Meg's Diary") and an elaborate hot pink website.

Favorite college memory: When I was a kid, my parents enrolled in a campus program where faculty members "adopted" a floor of the dorm and ate dinner with them once a week in the cafeteria. I worshipped the girls on the floor we'd been assigned in Briscoe Quad, and dreamed of a time when I could be as cool as they were. It was only when I got to college myself that I realized how really cool they were, to take the time to have dinner with a professor, his wife, and their annoying kids!

Favorite vacation spot: Key West, Florida. I liked it so much, I moved here!

What you are reading now: At the moment, I can't put down the works of Jasper Fforde. He's hilarious.

Advice to recent college grads: My dad always said: "Be a professor! You get summers off!" I say: "Be a writer! You get to work in your pjs." But be sure to get a good day job, to pay the rent until you get that book deal.