Lauren Conrad has book on best-seller lists

Lauren Conrad is now known for more than just 'The Hills' former star.

New York, July 14: Lauren Conrad wants to be known as more than just the former star of MTV`s "The Hills." And now she is.Her first book for teens, "L.A. Candy" (HarperCollins, 326 pages, $17.99), has topped The New York Times best-seller list for children`s chapter books. For two straight weeks, Conrad`s novel about a young woman living in Los Angeles, who gets discovered for her own reality show, has made the list.

Conrad, 23, who left the show in May, has a deal to write two more books about the characters. She talked with The Associated Press about "L.A. Candy," paparazzi and frenemy Heidi Montag Pratt`s faith. Q: People are going to read this book and look for similarities in your life but you say it`s fiction, right? Conrad: It`s very similar to my lifestyle and the experience that I went through as far as, you know, emotionally and just the changes that just happened in my life but as far as specific experiences it`s different. All the things that happened in this book were made up. Q: What did you learn about writing a book? Conrad: The deadlines can be stressful because it`s kind of a forced creativity. You want to take your time and the publisher`s like, `Yeah, but we`re gonna need it in like a week.` I kind of felt my first draft needed to be perfect, and I learned as I went along you can make changes and figure it out along the way. Q: Heidi Montag Pratt was very vocal about her faith on "I`m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," which we never saw on "The Hills." Was she always that religious when you were roommates? Conrad: She was religious definitely. I don`t think she was as vocal about it but, yeah, I remember she usually had a Bible by her bed. Q: There are pictures of you every week in the tabloids. Do you feel a pressure to always look presentable when you leave the house? Conrad: I used to get stressed over it. I moved actually to a different area. In our old home we had anywhere up to six cars waiting full of photographers outside. If I wanted to walk my dog, run out to the grocery store real quick, it was like a thing. I remember there were days I felt I couldn`t leave the house ... I don`t really care as much anymore. Q: What`s it like to be in line at the grocery store and see your face on the cover of a magazine? Conrad: I try to ignore it unless it says something bad and then I`m like, `Bummer! I just wanted to get produce.` (Laughs.) Q: At what point did you realize with all the things you`ve gotten to do that your life had taken an extraordinary turn? Conrad: It still surprises me every day. It`s still surreal. You can`t help but feel lucky that I got to do so much for just being me. Q: You have a deal to write two more books but what else do you want to do? Conrad: I really, really want to produce. That`s the top of my to-do list. Q: Do you keep in touch with anyone from "The Hills"? Conrad: Lo (Lauren Bosworth) is still my roommate and I speak regularly with Stephanie Pratt (Spencer Pratt`s sister) and Whitney Port is a very good friend. Bureau Report