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This week’s author of the week is Lisa Jewell. If you aren’t familiar with Lisa’s story she only started writing books after making a bet with a friend. The result was the hugely successful Ralph’s Party. Read more about it here at Lisa’s website.

Lisa Jewell was born on 19th July 1968 in Middlesex Hospital in London’s West End. Her father Anthony is a Textile Agent and her mother Kay is a secretary. She has two younger sisters, Sacha and Tanya. She was brought up in a strange part of North London called Totteridge, known to some as the Beverly Hills of London, where her neighbours included such luminaries as Micky Most, Des O’Connor and Patti Boulay. Lisa now lives in Swiss Cottage with her husband and daughter.

Lisa is the author of seven novels: Ralph’s Party, Thirty-Nothing, One-Hit Wonder, A Friend of the Family, Vince & Joy, 31 Dream Street and The Truth About Melody Browne. I’ve read all of Lisa’s books bar A Friend of the Family and Vince & Joy and I’ve reviewed two of those on the site: One-Hit Wonder and The Truth About Melody Browne. My favourite of Lisa’s books is The Truth About Melody Browne followed closely by 31 Dream Street.

For all of Lisa’s fans wondering what’s next, Lisa is actually working on the sequel to her first novel Ralph’s Party. Lisa finished the first draft in May and that’s the last update. I would have assumed it may have been out in 2010 but that doesn’t seem likely. Whenever it is released though, it’ll be worth it. I for one can’t wait for it.

This week’s Author of the Week is none other than the hilariously funny Chris Manby. I’m a huge fan of hers and can’t wait for her next book. Her biog doesn’t offer up much as it’s out of date but here it is anyway:

In 1995 Chris Manby met a New York psychic who told her she would write seven novels. She has just finished her eighth. Which means she probably won’t marry that millionaire, either! Raised in Gloucestershire, Chris now lives between London and Los Angeles. Her hobbies include reading in-flight magazines and she hopes that continually crossing time zones is an effective anti-aging strategy.

My favourite of Chris’s books is probably Spa Wars, I absolutely loved it and hope to get the chance to re-read it asap so I can review it. Her latest release was Crazy In Love which Chloe has reviewed. Chris’s next book will be called Getting Over Mr. Right and is due out on the 4th February 2010 and sounds like a great read:

After more than two years together, Ashleigh is just waiting for Michael to pop the question. She’s sure she’s met her Mr Right. But Michael has other things on his mind - namely, an interior designer from Brazil with big hair and an even bigger chest. Out of the blue, Ashleigh finds she’s dumped. Via Facebook. Ashleigh is not the sort of girl to take this news lying down. Instead, she embarks on a calamitous campaign to win Michael back. She’s staking everything she’s got. She may have lost her man, but has she also lost the plot?

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Paige Toon has only written three novels yet she’s cemented her place as one of my favourite authors. I’ve reviewed all of her books: Lucy in the Sky, Johnny Be Good & Chasing Daisy and all have been as brilliant as the last. Paige’s biography on her site reads:

I was born in 1975 and my dad’s career as a racing driver meant that I grew up between Australia, England and America. I worked at heat magazine for eight years as Reviews Editor, but left to have a baby. I’m now a full-time author and freelance journalist. I live in North London with my husband Greg and son Indy.

We’ve also done an author interview with Paige and in it she gives us the details about that ending in Johnny Be Good as well as the synopsis for her fourth novel, Pictures of Lily, which I assume will be out next year (I hope so!). She also tells us about a possible sequel as her 5th book… read more here.

Not only does Paige write fantastic novels but the covers (and titles - they all appear to be songs, Johnny B. Good, Lucy in the Sky (thanks to Hannah Montana for telling me that), although I have no idea if Chasing Daisy is inspired by a song) of her books are outstanding. I’d buy her books just for the covers! Thankfully though the books are just as great. I highly recommend all three.

Visit Paige’s website here.

This week’s Author of the Week is the lovely Veronica Henry. Veronica has been writing novels since 2002 with the release of her debut Honeycote, which would go on to the the first of a series named after the fictional town of Honeycote. The following books in the series, Making Hay and Just A Family Affair have also been big sellers - Veronica has hinted at a 4th in her interview with us which you can read here. She has also written 4 stand along novels, the latest of which was released in July called Marriage and Other Games. Here’s a bit about Veronica:

“Veronica secured a job on The Archers, where her duties ranged from organising Shula Archer’s wedding photographs with Patrick Lichfield to playing Peaches the barmaid in the Cat and Fiddle.

From there she went to Central Television to script-edit such broadcasting legends as Crossroads and Boon. She then left to have her first child and became a scriptwriter, writing hundreds of hours of broadcast television for Heartbeat, Doctors and Family Affairs amongst others. In 2000, she turned her hand to novels, using her story-lining skills to write compelling, multi-protagonist fiction. She is now a regular member of the Holby City writing team.”

I have read 2 of Veronica’s novels, Love On The Rocks, my first of Veronica’s books and I loved it! I’ve also read her latest book Marriage and Other Games, and you can read my review of it here. Veronica’s next book Starstruck is due out in 2010 and takes a look in the life of a celebrity family, and I can’t wait to read it!

You can find out more about Veronica at her website: http://veronicahenry.co.uk and you can also read our exclusive interview with her here: Veronica Henry Interview.

This week’s Author of the Week is not a chick lit author, this week’s author of the week is women’s fiction author Jodi Picoult! Here is a mini-biography from fantasticfiction.co.uk:

Jodi Picoult received a degree in creative writing from Princeton and a Master’s degree in education from Harvard. Jodi lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children. Jodi Picoult’s novels centre on family, relationships, and the balance of love. Riveting plots bring to light questions and issues that remain with a reader long after the last page is turned.

Jodi is the author of 16 novels and her 17th, House Rules, is due out in March 2010 and sounds fab. Jodi’s books always create debate to those who read them because she takes controversial issues and turns them into a fab story. I’ve read My Sister’s Keeper, which I loved, and Nineteen Minutes, one of the best books I read last year! I also have The Tenth Circle, Plain Truth, Handle With Care & Change of Heart to read and they all sound fab. One of Jodi’s novels, My Sister’s Keeper, has been turned into a film starring Cameron Diaz which has also created debate among Jodi’s fans for the change of ending. I have yet to see it so I can’t tell you my thoughts on that!

Jodi is a well-loved author and she is a favourite of mine! I look forward to reading her entire collection! I also must mention her book covers - they’ve been re-issued and are fab! As there are so many covers, click underneath to see them all!

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This week’s pick for our Author of the Week is none other than Sheila O’Flanagan. We posted our Author Interview with the lovely Sheila yesterday, and we felt she also deserved to be highlighted in our Author of the Week spot due to her brilliant contributions to the “chick-lit” genre! In 10 years, Sheila has written 15 books, with the latest of these, The Perfect Man, due out in September in the UK. I’ve read 2 of Sheila’s books, Someone Special and Anyone But Him and loved, and I know my mum highly recommends her work as well, so Sheila is another that appeals across the age ranges. Here’s a bit about Sheila:

“Sheila O’Flanagan pursued a very successful career in banking, foreign exchange dealing and treasury management before becoming a full-time writer based in Dublin. She also writes a weekly business column for the Irish Times and in her spare time plays badminton at competition level.”

Sheila’s 14 published books have all been huge sellers, and I am determined to read some of her older books as I’ve been told they are just as good as her newer book! For more information on Sheila and her books, visit her website at www.sheilaoflanagan.com

To coincide with our review of her latest book How Not To Shop, Carmen Reid is our choice for this week’s Author of the Week. Carmen Reid first came to my attention when her fifth novel, The Personal Shopper, was released in 2007. I quite liked it but didn’t love it, but I adored Carmen’s second Annie Valentine novel Late Night Shopping. I then read one of her stand-alone books, Three in a Bed, which was hilarious and a brilliant read so I have her other 3 books on my shelf to read too! Here is a bit about Carmen:

“Carmen Reid is a journalist, writer and mother. She is also a contributor to the book of short stories Scottish Girls About Town. After a decade spent in London working as a news reporter, Carmen now lives in Glasgow with her husband and two children.”

Carmen has written a total of 9 books for adults, 3 of which form the Annie Valentine series and I hope to see Annie back for a fourth book! Carmen also writes novels for young girls set at a fictional school called St Jude’s, and I bet they are just as good as her adult books! If you like the sound of How Not To Shop from our review, try one of Carmen’s books. They are always a fun read, and I love her easy-to-read writing style. Look out for reviews of The Personal Shopper, Late Night Shopping and Three In A Bed coming soon!

Carmen’s website, www.carmenreid.co.uk, is also pretty cool so take a look!

Emily Barr is the author of 8 novels, the most recent being The Life You Want which I’ve just reviewed. The Life You Want is a sequel to Backpack, Emily’s debut novel. Her novels, in order of publication, are: Backpack, Baggage, Cuban Heels, Atlantic Shift, Plan B, Out of my Depth, The Sisterhood and The Life You Want. As I said, I’ve read The Life You Want and I’ve also read The Sisterhood which I loved.

According to her bio on her website (which hasn’t been updated since 2004!) Emily is married with 2 sons and lives in France.

Although I have loved two of Emily’s books I found Backpack and Cuban Heels difficult to get into and didn’t finish either. However I have Plan B and Baggage in my large TBR pile and I look forward to reading them as Emily writes a great story. They are chick lit but they always seem to have a dark tone to them which makes them even better!

I wholly recommend The Sisterhood as that’s probably one of my favourite books ever. There’s no news yet of a 9th book but I sincerly hope there will be one!