Cecily von Ziegesar is an American author best known for her young adult book series, Gossip Girl. Born on June 27, 1970, in New York City, she attended Columbia University, where she studied writing. Her experiences in the elite social circles of Manhattan inspired her to create the glamorous and dramatic world depicted in her novels. The Gossip Girl series, which began in 2002, follows the lives of privileged teenagers on the Upper East Side of New York. The books explore themes of friendship, love, and betrayal, and they gained immense popularity, leading to a successful television adaptation that aired from 2007 to 2012.