Sophie Kinsella

Madeleine Sophie Wickham, known by her pen name Sophie Kinsella, is an English author. The first two novels in her best-selling Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were adapted into the film Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009). Her books have sold over 40 million copies in more than 60 countries, and been translated into over 40 languages.[1]

Sophie Kinsella
BornMadeleine Sophie Townley
(1970-12-12) 12 December 1970
Wandsworth, England
OccupationNovelist
NationalityEnglish
Period1995 – Present
GenreRomantic comedy
Notable worksThe Shopaholic series
Spouse
Henry Wickham
​
(m. 1991)​
ChildrenHugo, Freddie, Rex, Oscar, and Sybella.
Website
sophiekinsella.co.uk

Early life

Madeleine Sophie Wickham is the eldest sister of fellow writers Gemma and Abigail Townley. She was educated at Putney High School, St Mary's School near Shaftesbury, Sherborne School for Girls, and New College, Oxford, where she initially studied Music, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).[2] She worked as a financial journalist (including for Pensions World) before turning to fiction.[3]

Life and career

At the age of 24, Kinsella wrote her first novel, which was published when she was 26. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten best-seller. She went on to publish six more novels as Madeleine Wickham: A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, Cocktails for Three and Sleeping Arrangements.

Wickham's first novel under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella (taken from her middle name and her mother's maiden name)[4] was submitted to her publishers anonymously and was enthusiastically received. She revealed her real identity for the first time when Can You Keep a Secret? was published in December 2003.[5]

Kinsella is best known for writing the Shopaholic novels series of chick lit novels, which focus on the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who cannot manage her own finances. She is also known for her relationship with Luke. The series focuses on her obsession with shopping and its resulting complications for her life. The first two Shopaholic books were adapted into a film and released in February 2009.[6]

"Shopaholic to the Rescue" was released on 22 October 2015; "Christmas Shopaholic" was released in October 2019. Her most recent standalone novels are "Love Your Life", "I Owe You One" (Feb 2019), My Not So Perfect Life and Surprise Me. In 2015, she branched into Young Adult writing with her first YA book, Finding Audrey, published in June 2015.[7]

A musical adaptation of Kinsella's novel 'Sleeping Arrangements' by Chris Burgess was premiered on 17 April 2013 in London at the Landor Theatre.

Personal life

Kinsella lives in Dorset and London with her husband, Henry Wickham (whom she met in Oxford), who was previously headmaster of Lockers Park boys preparatory school and now manages her business affairs. They were married in 1991.[8]

Bibliography

As Sophie Kinsella

The Shopaholic series

  1. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (also titled Confessions of a Shopaholic) (2000)
  2. Shopaholic Abroad (also titled Shopaholic Takes Manhattan) (2001)
  3. Shopaholic Ties The Knot (2001)
  4. Shopaholic & Sister (2004)
  5. Shopaholic & Baby (2007)
  6. Mini Shopaholic (2010)
  7. Shopaholic to the Stars (2014)
  8. Shopaholic on Honeymoon (2014)
  9. Shopaholic to the Rescue (2015)
  10. Christmas Shopaholic (2019)

Standalone novels

Other
  • Girls Night In (2004) (an omnibus of novels, along with many authors including Meg Cabot and Jennifer Weiner)
  • Finding Audrey (2015) (a young adult novel)
  • Fairy Mom and Me (2018) (an illustrated series for young readers)

As Madeleine Wickham
  • The Tennis Party (1995) (re-released as 40 Love in 2011)
  • A Desirable Residence (1996)
  • Swimming Pool Sunday (1997)
  • The Gatecrasher (1998)
  • The Wedding Girl (1999)
  • Cocktails for Three (2000)
  • Sleeping Arrangements (2001)

References
  1. "Biography". Sophie Kinsella. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  2. "Madeleine Wickham profile". Fantasticfiction.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  3. Caldwell, Rebecca (21 September 2010). "Famous pen names". Chatelaine. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  4. Profile, notablebiographies.com; accessed 12 December 2015.
  5. "Biography". Sophie Kinsella. Archived from the original on 10 March 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  6. "Confessions of a Shopaholic release info". IMDb. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  7. "Teen Reads". 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  8. "WICKHAM – Births Announcements – Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
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