Who she is: Lois Cahall is a globe-trotting best-selling novelist, film critic and journalist who is currently writing her third book in Palm Beach. Cahall’s first novel, “Plan C: Just in Case,” was published in January 2012 by Bloomsbury Press. In its first month the novel shot to No. 1 on the top-10 fiction chart for eBooks on Amazon UK. It made its American debut in paperback in July. (The novel is edited by Simon Beaufoy, who won both the Oscar and Golden Globe for his script for “Slumdog Millionaire.”) Cahall’s second novel, “Court of the Myrtles” is due for a 2013 release.

She’s also teaching a memoir writing class at Palm Beach’s Society of the Four Arts and working on a TV pilot premise for her literary agents.

For the last 12 years, Cahall has been “The Screen Queen” (www.screenqueen.com), a syndicated radio personality covering the movie beat with an eye toward educating the “Bus Stop Mom” about age-appropriate family viewing of the latest Hollywood releases. She also writes for Redbook, Seventeen, Cosmo Girl, SELF, Marie Claire and more — when she’s not riding her bike around town.

Here are a few of her favorite places, in her own words:

Favorite breakfast place?

After church on Sunday, “This Is It” in Northwood. They’ve got grits to rival the state of Alabama.

Favorite lunch spot?

My desk. Sorry, my creative peak is until 1 pm. But if I had to…Michael McCarty’s. It’s like Hyannisport circa 1960. No pretense – old money elegance where we can girl-talk. I’m not a lady-who-lunches, but ask me about evenings and the Hemingway in me surfaces — moving from desk to palm-tree breezes, wine and restaurants.

Favorite fine-dining restaurant?

It’s a toss: Chez Jean-Pierre or Café Boulud. Martial Tilan runs Daniel’s place like his NYC Boulud’s. J’aime French food!

Favorite place for a quiet dinner?

I’ve written for Bon Appetit so that’s a multiple-choice question. Palm Beach has a lot to offer but my favorites are: For a quiet, romantic date, Trevini — because their patio view with fountains feels very Lake Cuomo. For a casual dinner, Joy’s Noodle in West Palm. For a family meal, Testa’s — because their knotty-pine booths feel very Nantucket, and you can bring grandma, the kids, the butler. (And manager Dan is awesome!)

Favorite restaurant to take out-of-town guests?

I am an out-of-town guest! Pistache is as close as you can get to a brasserie in “the 6th,” but there’s a great place a bit farther called Captain Charlie’s Reef Grill for the best seafood hands down. Juno Beach. Casual and loud and a wait-line but worth it. Also, Morton’s is a mainstay for me, since I’ve spent a lot of time in Hollywood. Terry’s tuna tacos on the happy-hour menu go great with his divinely mixed martinis!

Favorite tourist-y place to take out-of-towners?

Café L’Europe is lovely, with its piano bar and all that makes elegant guests feel like they’re ‘here’ in Palm Beach proper. Todd Goldsberry is such a great greeter but for a little less formal, there’s nothing more resort-friendly than The Breakers’ Flagler Steakhouse (and the hostesses are adorable!). Dining on the big plank porch overlooking the greens feels like a British Bombay/Barbados experience or even St. Croix).

The Chesterfield’s Leopard Lounge is the place for an almost surreal experience of characters. And since my out-of-town friends are writers and directors it’s always great material.

Best pickup line: An older veteran said to me, “I’ve got oceanfront, baby, oceanfront.” After his opening line, he declared: “Five kills in one hour in Vietnam.” I can’t make that stuff up, and I get paid to fabricate for a living!

Favorite way to give back to the community?

I’m teaching a nonfiction writing class at the Four Arts. I’ve met some incredibly fascinating women who want their stories to be listened to…believed in. They’re like the old Rose from the movie “Titanic,” their seasoned lives speak volumes. If I can lasso all their ideas in one room and see even one person’s outline become a book, I’ll be happy.