Sophie Kinsella

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Madeleine Wickham
Born Madeleine Sophie Townley
(1969-12-12) 12 December 1969
London, England
Pen name Sophie Kinsella
Occupation novelist
Nationality English
Period 1995 - Present
Genres Chick lit
Notable work(s) The Shopaholic series
www.sophiekinsella.co.uk

Madeleine Sophie Wickham (born Madeleine Sophie Townley; 12 December 1969) is an English author of chick lit. She has written several successful stand alone novels as Madeleine Wickham and is most known for her work under the pen name Sophie Kinsella. The first novel in her bestselling Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic was adapted into the film Confessions of a Shopaholic (film) starring Isla Fisher.

Career

Madeleine Wickham was born in London. She did her schooling in Putney High School and Sherborne School for Girls. She studied music at New College, Oxford, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).[1] Wickham worked as a financial journalist (including for Pensions World) before turning to fiction.[2]

While working as a financial journalist, at the age of 24, she wrote her first novel. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten bestseller. 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.

Her first novel under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella (taken from her middle name and her mother's maiden name[3]) was submitted to her existing 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 2005.[4]

Sophie 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. 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, with Isla Fisher playing an American Becky and Hugh Dancy as Luke Brandon.

Twenties Girl, which was released in the UK in July 2009 was also published under the name Sophie Kinsella. The latest addition to the Shopaholic series, Mini Shopaholic, came out in September 2010.

A new musical adaptation of her novel 'Sleeping Arrangements' by Chris Burgess will premiere on April 17-May 12, 2013 in London at The Landor Theatre. http://www.landortheatre.co.uk

Personal life

Wickham lives in London with her husband, Henry Wickham (whom she met in Oxford), the headmaster of a boys' preparatory school. They have been married for 17 years and have four sons and a daughter, Freddy (b. 1996), Hugo (b. 1998), Oscar (b. 2006), Rex William (b. April 15, 2010) and Sybella (b. December 22, 2011).[5] She is the sister of fellow writer, Gemma Townley and Abigail Townley.

Publications

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)

Standalone novels

Other

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. ↑ "Madeleine Wickham". Fantasticfiction.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-29. 
  2. ↑ Caldwell, Rebecca (2010-09-21). "Famous pen names". Chatelaine. Retrieved 2012-03-30. 
  3. ↑ "Sophie Kinsella Biography - life, family, children, parents, name, story, wife, school, mother - Newsmakers Cumulation". Notablebiographies.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29. 
  4. ↑ "Biography". Sophie Kinsella. Retrieved 2012-03-29. 
  5. ↑ "WICKHAM - Births Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2012-03-29. 

External links

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