Interview with the Queen of Chick Lit: Sophie Kinsella

For years now, Sophie Kinsella has been capturing the hearts of her readers. Best known for the Shopaholic series, starring Rebecca Bloomwood, Sophie has been able to do what so many author's hope for - capture the hearts and minds of so many women and keep it.

This Valentines Day, her fans are throwing date night out the window as they head to their closest bookstore to pick up her newest release, I've Got Your Number. (Reviewed here)

I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.


With special thanks to Lindsey at Random House, I was given the wonderful opportunity to interview Sophie as she prepares for her book release.

So, without further adieu, here it is:

TTP: First off, thank you so much for allowing me to participate in the North American blog tour for I've Got Your Number! I have just finished reading it and it was simply wonderful. Another great novel to put under your belt.

SK: Hi Lindsay, thank you so much for having me! Glad you liked the book :)

TTP: I love when books use footnotes and I've Got Your Number is the first book in which you use them. What made you decide to use footnotes with this novel?

SK: I'm glad you enjoyed the footnotes! They were great fun to write and something different. I felt they were appropriate for this novel because of Magnus's academic career and the whole theme of Poppy feeling inadequate on the academic front. It was also a nice way for Poppy to make little asides. I will miss the footnotes in my next book!

TTP: Having been someone who has lost their wedding AND engagement rings, I found Poppy's adventure totally relatable. Where did the idea for the story, I've Got Your Number, come from?

SK: First, let me say that I sympathise. I lose bits of jewellery all the time. At least, I mislay them, think they are lost forever and get into a total panic. I remember when Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, my initial thought after 'How lovely' was 'Imagine losing THAT ring!' I could just picture myself doing that and how awful it would be. So that was the inspiration for the engagement ring story. The starting point for the book, though, was the phone plot and the idea of being connected to a stranger through a tiny piece of technology. The minute I had that idea, I could see its potential for both comedy and romance.

TTP: It seems that a lot of authors draw inspiration for their characters from those around them. Were any of the characters in I've Got Your Number based on people in your real life?

SK: All my heroines have a little of me in them, and Poppy is no exception. For example, I use too many kisses and smiley faces in my emails just like her - and in my opinion my husband uses too few! So in that sense we are a bit like Poppy and Sam :) As for the other characters, I haven't consciously put any of my friends into the book, but I'm sure I've observed traits and mannerisms all around me.

TTP: Okay, I have recently made the move from a Blackberry to an iPhone and the entire book I was wondering what type of phone Poppy was using. So, what type of phone were you envisioning while you were writing? And because I am nosy, what type of phone do you have and why did you choose it?

SK: I'm really interested that you've switched from BlackBerry to iPhone. I have used a BlackBerry for years, as I like the ease of typing on a Blackberry keyboard and I BBM my husband a lot - but most of my friends are on iPhones, and they are pretty cool. There are loads of different phones out there so let's see how I go! For the book, though, I envisaged a company smartphone that Poppy finds, nothing quite as grand as a BlackBerry or an iPhone.

TTP: So many of your stories have such memorable characters and for me, Poppy ranks right up there with Rebecca Bloomwood. If I've Got Your Number were to become a major motion picture, who do you see playing the main characters, Poppy, Sam and Magnus?

SK: I'm so glad you like the character of Poppy. She was a lot of fun to write and I became very fond of her. I get very close to my characters when I'm writing them and they're incredibly vivid in my head. So it's hard for me to imagine who could play them in a movie. All I can say is that Poppy would need to be someone with a sense of humour and able to dance to Beyonce :)

TTP: Speaking of Rebecca Bloomwood, do you have any future plans for our favourite Shopaholic?

SK: It has been wonderful to have a break from the Shopaholic series and to try out new ideas, but I do always have Becky in my thoughts. She definitely has another adventure in her, but I won't be coming back to her immediately.

TTP: Writing chick lit novels, you have to know that the majority of your readers are women. Enquiring minds want to know, what type of beauty regimen do you follow? Are you more of a wash-n-go type of girl or a full make-up and perfect hair?

SK: I always make an effort with my hair. I'm slightly addicted to velcro rollers (so easy!) and I even wear them while I'm writing sometimes! If I'm writing all day I won't bother with make-up but the one thing I never miss is moisturiser. I use Creme de la Mer every night and Genifique serum every morning. When I go out I love the excuse to put on full make-up and have recently discovered the Nars Velvet Matte lip pencil, which I adore. My sister gave me a great Urban Decay eye shadow palette recently - it's got loads of colours and I love to play with them.

TTP: How do you unwind at the end of a day and do you have any secret confessions when it comes to TV shows/Movies that you enjoy?

SK: I am a sucker for a hot bath and have far too many bath oils and gels stacked precariously on a table next to my bath. As for TV I have become addicted to Modern Family, Downtown Abbey and Sherlock.

TTP: What can we see next from Sophie Kinsella?

SK: I am currently on maternity leave as I have recently had a baby girl Sybella, and she is my work in progress :) But at the same time I am planning a new standalone novel which should be a lot of fun.

TTP: Again, thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to answer these questions. All the best for an amazing and successful book launch!

SK: Thank you, it's been fun! Love Sophie x


For those interested in learning more about Sophie, please make sure you head over to her website or head on over to her Official Facebook Fan Group and 'Like' it for all the latest news.

I've Got Your Number is available for purchase in Canada/US on February 14th, 2012 and the rest of the world on Feburary 16th, 2012. Please visit your local book retailer to pick up your copy.