The 5-minute Interview: Sophie Kinsella, author

'The moment for those gold Manolo Blahniks just never presents itself'

'In moments of weakness I buy high heels - which I never wear!' (Rex)

Kinsella, 38, who wrote the best-selling 'Shopaholic' series, is a judge for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance, which takes place later this month

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

With my three children. They've got friends over so it's absolute mayhem.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Oh my God," but it changed to, "oh my gosh", when I went to America.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Romantic comedy fiction. It's really great to reward something which brings people so much pleasure.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

My first-ever book deal. When I got that unexpected phone call it changed my whole life. My whole career has been transformed since that moment.

A common misperception of me is...

That my name is Sophie. It's actually a pen name.

I am not a politician but...

That's probably a good thing as I'm really bad at confrontation. I like to negotiate both sides and see each point of view.

I'm good at...

Wiggling my ears.

I'm very bad at...

Driving, parking, anything involving visual space.

The ideal night out is...

A night in. We've installed a home cinema with surround sound in our basement. I'd spend it with my husband and children, and a bottle of wine and popcorn.

In moments of weakness I...

Buy high heels – which I never wear! The moment for those gold-encrusted Manolo Blahniks just never seems to present itself.

You know me as a writer but in truer life I'd have been...

Probably a singer-songwriter. But I really can't think of anything else truer than writing, apart from being a mum.

The best age to be is...

I don't think there is one. You should make the most of each age you are as at each age I've got to there have been new and amazing things.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Onwards and upwards. And make the most of every opportunity.

Catherine Gordon