Jewell, Lisa

Lisa Jewell is a British author of chic lit fiction. She grew up in Totteridge, north London as the oldest of three sisters. Her father was a textile agent and her mother a secretary. Jewell was educated at Barnet College and Epsom School of Art and Design. She worked in fashion for five years, and after having been made redundant she signed up for a creative writing course. Her career kick-started after she made a wager with a friend over a drink. Her friend promised to treat her to a meal in her favourite restaurant if she wrote three chapters of a novel. Not only was she treated to dinner, she won a 120,000-pound contract with Penguin.