Sophie Kinsella, the writer who gave birth to the 2009 classic rom-com “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” has been married for 32 years and is a proud parent of five children.
Key Takeaways
- Author Sophie Kinsella has five children even though she didn’t plan on having such a large family.
- With her oldest child being 27 and her youngest only 12, having a daughter after four sons brought an exciting new chapter to their household.
- Kinsella says juggling writing novels and parenthood is made easier by her supportive husband and the flexibility of working from home.
After having four sons (Hugo, Freddy, Oscar, and Rex William Wickham), Sophie had a daughter in December 2011, when she was 41.
Despite always liking the idea of a big family, she didn’t expect to have five children, especially not close together.
Initially, she and her husband felt too tired after having two kids, but they enjoyed parenthood more over time and decided to have more children.
Kinsella admits that she’s become a more laid-back mother as she ages.
After her daughter was born, she reflected, “We suddenly realized that our first two children, who are very close in age, were growing up fast, making us question whether we were done with parenting. Ultimately, we decided we weren’t.”
She admitted that having a daughter has brought a new dynamic to their family, especially with a 15-year age difference between their eldest, who is now 27, and their youngest, 12-year-old Sybella.
As a writer and mother, Kinsella finds numerous advantages.
“In many ways, writing is the ideal job for motherhood because you can do it from home and have your own flexible hours. If there’s a drama, most of the time, I can drop what I’m doing for them, although writing a novel is a full-on, all-consuming thing.”
She added, “There are times when I might be present, but my head’s not there, it’s with my characters. But my children have got used to that.”
Kinsella depends on her family to maintain a peaceful home.
Her husband, Henry Wickham, a former headmaster, has been her rock since their marriage in 1991 when she was 21.
“When we got married, I had no clue about my career path, while Henry was a singer. Now, I’m a novelist and he’s a headmaster. It’s been quite a journey, but we’ve always tackled it together. Like a roller coaster, we remind ourselves that we’re in this together. When one of us is struggling, the other lends a supportive hand.”
Henry quit his job as a school headmaster to work with her full-time, essentially serving as her manager, which he was doing unofficially for many years.
FAQs
Has Sophie Kinsella Been Diagnosed With Cancer?
Sophie Kinsella has recently revealed that she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and has been receiving treatment for well over a year. Regardless, Sophie assured her fans that she is “feeling generally very well” and described her current condition as stable.
Where Did Sophie Kinsella Study?
She attended Putney High School, St. Mary’s School in Shaftesbury, and Sherborne School for Girls. Then, Sophie completed her education at New College, Oxford. She initially focused on Music before changing her major to Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) after a year.
When Did Sophie Kinsella Write Her First Novel?
Kinsella wrote her first novel at the age of 24, which was published when she was 26.
