AUTHOR SOPHIE KINSELLA REVEALED 'LITTLE TREATS' HELPED HER THROUGH CANCER BATTLE BEFORE SHE DIED
Confessions of a Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella movingly revealed how she took pleasure in the 'little treats' of life before her death from brain cancer aged 55.
The writer and mother-of-five, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, received the devastating diagnosis of glioblastoma in 2022.
Following a three-year battle with the disease, she died on Wednesday.
A statement from her family revealed how she spent her final days 'filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy'.
It echoes comments the celebrated author made last year in which she told how the 'little treats' and enjoying 'normal life' got her through her cancer battle.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour in October 2024, Kinsella said: 'The narrative is you're diagnosed with a terrible disease and you put on your Lycra and you climb Everest, or you go and meet that movie star that you'd always wanted to meet, or you, whatever it is you do.
'You know, you go on the holiday to the Galapagos Islands.
'There's this sort of narrative that you're going to do extraordinary, outlandish things to celebrate life, to create memories.
'Anyway, I'm afraid that that narrative didn't speak to me.
'I just kept thinking, "Well, do I want to do this? Not really".'
'And I realised that what I'm valuing more and more is just normal life. And the normal "plus" comes about when you just add a little treat.
'You just give yourself a little treat and it turns a normal experience into just a slightly more fun experience.'
Kinsella's death was announced yesterday with a statement posted to her Instagram account.
It read: 'We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy).
'She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy.
'We can't imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.
'Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed - to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career.
'She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.'
Kinsella shot to fame for her beloved Shopaholic series, with the first two works, The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, adapted into the 2009 film Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.
Last year, she wrote What Does It Feel Like - a semi-autobiographical book exploring her battle with cancer.
The author announced in April 2024 she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: 'At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer.
'I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our "new normal".'
She said in the post that she has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She released The Burnout in October 2023 and her other bestselling books include Can You Keep A Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.
Her novels have sold more than 45 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Accounts show her company, Madhen Media Ltd, was worth £12.1million as of December 31 last year - up almost £1million in 2024 alone - fuelled by the continuing demand for her novels and the stream of royalties pouring in from worldwide sales.
Kinsella later disclosed she suffered serious short-term memory loss after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour.
She told how her husband, Henry Wickham, had to break the devastating news to her repeatedly, saying: 'He had to tell me more than once, over and over, this bad news: "You've got cancer and it's incurable".
'I don't know how he did it. I think that's where he showed his greatest love for me.'
Tributes were paid to Sophie from across the film and literary world.
Isla Fisher, who played Becky Bloomwood in the Shopaholic movie, wrote on Instagram: 'You conjured Rebecca Bloomwood, a hilarious, flawed dream of a comic character - and I was lucky enough to step into her shoes and speak your witty and brilliant words.
'My daughters grew up being read your books and love them to this day. My heart is broken.
'You are still my hero, and I'm grateful for you. And though we won't meet again, your light and magic lives on in your incredible characters.'
Romance writer Jill Mansell said: 'This is the saddest news. Maddy was a brilliant writer but more importantly a truly lovely person.
'In both respects she brought so much joy to the world. Life is unfair. Sending love to her family and all who will miss her so much.'
Sophie's agents at The Soho Agency said in a joint statement: 'Maddy was an intelligent, imaginative, loving and irreverent woman who valued the deeply connective power of fiction.'
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