Sophie Kinsella, author of the popular Confessions of a Shopaholic books, parallels the front character, Becky Bloomwood, or at least in the career path. Like Becky, Kinsella was working as a financial journalist in London before finding her true calling. Kinsella (actual name Madeleine Wickham) published her first novel in 1995 under her married name, and began publishing under the name Sophie Kinsella in 2000 with the start of the Shopaholic series.
Kinsella grew up in Wimbledon, and was a talented pianist, even entering Oxford to study music. After time and learning that was not for her, she changed her focus to politics, philosophy, and economics. Kinsella admits that she never expected to become a novelist. She wrote fiction on the side, whenever she had any down time, and was shocked when she was offered a contract and large advance for three more books after her first, The Tennis Party.
Kinsella published her first six books under the name of Madeleine Wickham, and those titles are: The Tennis Party, A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, and Cocktails for Three. Under Sophie Kinsella, there are ten titles published; titles are: Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sleeping Arrangements, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Can You Keep a Secret?, Shopaholic and Sister, The Undomestic Goddess, Shopaholic & Baby, Remember Me, and Twenties Girl.
Confessions of a Shopaholic was released in February of 2009 in the movie form, with popular actress Isla Fisher taking on the lead role of Becky Bloomwood. There have been whispers of two other novels, Remember Me and Can You Keep a Secret? will also get film deals in the future.
In her personal life, Sophie Kinsella married Henry Wickham, whom she met at Oxford, in 1992. The couple has three sons, Freddy, Hugo, and Oxford. The family currently resides in Hertfordshire, England.
Official Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/kinsella/
