Helie Lee

With her sweep of dark hair and effervescent personality, Helie Lee greets a visitor to her home with a warm embrace. As she bounds into the kitchen to make tea, it is hard to imagine this Topanga Canyon bohemian, casually clad in a white cotton shirt and bluejeans, is the same woman who risked her life smuggling relatives out of North Korea. The 37-year-old has chronicled that adventure in the book "In the Absence of Sun," recently published by Harmony Books.

With her sweep of dark hair and effervescent personality, Helie Lee greets a visitor to her home with a warm embrace. As she bounds into the kitchen to make tea, it is hard to imagine this Topanga Canyon bohemian, casually clad in a white cotton shirt and bluejeans, is the same woman who risked her life smuggling relatives out of North Korea. The 37-year-old has chronicled that adventure in the book "In the Absence of Sun," recently published by Harmony Books.

Actress Kristen Stewart's new view home is not far from "Twilight" costar and on-again boyfriend Robert Pattinson's place in Los Feliz. Set in gated Laughlin Park, the 3,361-square-foot house Stewart bought for $2.195 million features a carved wood front door, an open floor plan, a veranda, a den, an office, two fireplaces, four bedrooms and 41/2 bathrooms. The quarter-acre of tropically landscaped grounds includes a blue-tiled swimming pool with spa, a fire pit and terraced gardens.

Granada Hills High School students who tackled challenging college-level courses took time Monday night to celebrate the completion of their Advanced Placement tests at a reception sponsored by the school. "It is a recognition kind of thing," said Carol Radin, a college counselor and AP coordinator for the school. "These kids have worked really hard all year long, putting in lots of extra time, and so have the parents and teachers," Radin said.

Ken Mok, co-creator of "America's Next Top Model," and his wife, Helie Lee, have listed their home in Cheviot Hills at $2.895 million. The nearly 5,000-square-foot Modern-style house features a screening room that seats 20; an elevator; an office; five bedrooms; 51/2 bathrooms; and a sauna. There is an outdoor dining area, a swimming pool and lawn. Mok, 52, has been executive producer of the series since 2003. He also is the founder and president of the production company 10x10 Entertainment.

For weeks, Helie Lee, a 33-year-old author, had been waiting by the phone in her West Hollywood apartment, waiting for the chance to tell a Korean tale in splashy American fashion. Finally, the call came: A lost branch of Lee's family--nine members in all--had made a dangerous trek out of North Korea and were safe in South Korea.

Writer Maralys Wills and Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, co-authors of "Save My Son," subtitled "A Mother and a Sheriff Unite to Reclaim the Lives of Addicted Offenders," will discuss their book at the Round Table West literary luncheon at noon Thursday at the Balboa Bay Club, 1221 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.