Friend of the Family, A

How often does an author begin their career by a challenge? That is exactly how British author, Lisa Jewell began her writing career. Her friend, Yasmin Boland, challenged her to write three chapters of a novel, and she would reward her with dinner at her favorite restaurant. The challenge was met, and Jewell turned those chapters into her first novel, Ralph's Party. It became the UK's bestselling first novel in 1999.

Jewell attended grammar school, but left in the sixth form, to use an art foundation scholarship at Barnet College, followed by a degree in fashion design from Epsom School of Art and Design. She worked in the fashion side of retail for several years in British Warehouse and Thomas Pink.

Lisa Jewell is considered one of the most popular authors in the UK today, with seventeen novels in her portfolio of work. She is also an internationally known and bestselling author with over two million sold in English-speaking countries alone, let alone being translated into twenty-five languages.

Among her novels are: Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing, After the Party, Then She Was Gone, The House We Grew Up In, and The Girls in the Garden. She resides in London with her husband, and two daughters.