In conversation with Sophie Kinsella
The bestselling author of the Shopaholic series talks to Isabelle Broom about love, career juggling and why cocktails are the answer to everything
we chat to the bestselling author
I didn’t start out wanting to become an author. I wanted to be a ballerina – doesn’t everyone? Then I thought I would do something in music, then I realised I liked writing and went into journalism. It was reading novels that inspired me to try fiction. I started plotting out my first novel while I was a journalist on a pensions magazine. I wrote it in evenings, weekends, on the train, at work (shhh!)... As soon as I started, I knew it was what I wanted to do. If it hadn’t worked out, I would probably have become a nursery school teacher – I love finger painting.
Laughing is good for health and it’s the ultimate stress relief. We all need to do it. When it comes to comedy, I simply can’t help myself. I see the ridiculous in everything, especially human foibles. that said, I do have pet peeves, the main ones being injustice and unkindness. but I love to laugh when I read a book, and I love to make my readers laugh, as well as giving them something to think about. My husband Henry is also my business manager – and my sounding board. If I’m struggling with a new novel, the two of us will go out for a cocktail (margarita, negroni or mojito for me, please), and drink and talk through the plot till we’ve worked it out.
Love is such a vital life force – so why not write about it? People can be sniffy about the phrase “chick lit”, but I interpret it as meaning “contemporary, intelligent writing, with a female heroine, dealing with modern issues”. there’s nothing wrong with that. but I think it’s a shame to define a readership as all-female. I know men read my books, even if they hide them behind a thriller. so, I prefer “romantic comedy” or the brilliant label I saw in a bookshop once: “wit lit”.
Visiting a film set is fabulous. My 2003 novel Can You Keep A Secret? – an ultimate “what if?” story about a girl who confesses her darkest secrets to a handsome stranger, who turns out to be her new boss – is being made into a film, and I was invited to the set in New york. although I’m not closely involved with the production, I have been reading the script and making comments. I love actress alexandra Daddario, who’s playing the lead role of Emma. I’m looking forward to the result.
I juggle demands like any working mother, and at times my career has seemed overwhelming. but how could I complain? I’m just grateful that lots of people have the same sense of humour as me and like to read the kind of book I like to write. I am always incredibly touched when people say they’ve enjoyed my books.
I’m constantly aware of myself as being a role model to my daughter.
I had four sons [aged 21, 20, 13 and eight] before sybella [aged six] came along, and raising a girl is different – it makes me more aware than ever of issues like social media, perfectionism and body image. I’m trying very hard to keep my phone usage down, for example. We don’t worry about being outnumbered by the boys, though, because who rules the world? Girls!
“Laughing is good for health and it’s the ultimate stress relief ”
I owe you one by Sophie Kinsella (Bantam Press, £20) is out now; sophiekinsella.co.uk