• Name: Greg Wellman

• Age: 26

• Family: Mom, Debbie; sister, Gabriel; both in Marysville

• City of residence: Currently in Sacramento, I was born in Yuba-Sutter and lived here 23 years.

• Occupation: Historical writer for Wells Fargo Bank for three years, working in one of its museums, doing research and writing a column for its Web site. I'm working on my master's degree in public history at California State University, Sacramento.

• Latest achievement: Just wrote my first book, "A History of Alcatraz Island 1953-2008." Because I visited San Francisco often as a kid I was always interested in Alcatraz — I wanted to read a book on Alcatraz and there wasn't one, so I did it.

• How close have you been to a famous person? I met Charles Postel, author of "The "Populist Vision" at a history conference and actress Nana Visitor at a "Star Trek" convention.

• Has your book made you famous? I've been doing a lot of book signings in San Francisco, am doing a lecture for the California Historical Society and at the Military Museum in Sacramento and did an interview at a radio station in the Bay Area.

• When in history would you liked to have lived? England in the early 19th century because they owned half the world and they could go anywhere.

• Where do you get your news? Internet, MSN and I watch NBC Nightly News.

• Tell us about a life-changing experience: When my dad died when I was 20 years old. It pushed me to be more responsible.

• Favorite quote: "The future is unwritten" said by Joe Strummer of The Clash in an interview.

• What was your first job? Washing dishes at the Noble Feast in Marysville

• Favorite musical group: Swingin' Utters; they play punk rock.

• Favorite television show: Currently "Battlestar Galactica"; in the past "Star Trek"

• Favorite sports team: San Francisco Giants

• Favorite book: "Ecological Imperialism" by Alfred Worcester Crosby

• Favorite movie: "Good Will Hunting"

• Favorite actor/actress: William Shatner/Nicole Kidman