BCM -How did your life change when you became a mom?:

Sophie - My whole frame of reference changed and it's never been the same since! I was one the first in my gang to have a baby and I was shellshocked at how much time a baby took up and how exhausted I was... but also how euphoric I was. It's an addictive feeling, which is why I now have four! The thing that has altered the most since parenthood is that I don't waste time the way I used to - I value it too highly!

BCM -What has been your most memorable moment(s) as a mom?
Sophie - We've had some exciting moments as a family, but when I think of my kids, I just think of us all chilling out on a Saturday night, watching the X Factor and eating pizza, with the baby kicking on a rug. That's our family life and that's what I'll always remember.

BCM -What types of activities do you like to do with your kids?

Sophie - All my kids are different ages, so we enjoy different activities together. With the older two I love playing tennis, going to concerts and films, and of course holidays - we just had a great week in Cornwall , surfing and building sandcastles on the beach. The 5 year old is at the stage of make-believe so we do a lot of games which involve imaginary super-powers. And the baby just comes along for the ride and smiles at us all a lot.

BCM - What inspired you to write the first Shopaholic book - "Confessions of a Shopaholic?"

Sophie - The initial inspiration was the Visa bill scene - I suddenly imagined a girl opening a Visa bill and all the emotions you go through - shock, anger, denial... I could see the funny side of shopping and couldn't believe no-one had written about it before.

BCM -Your stories are so relatable...How similar is Becky Bloomwood and Sophie Kinsella (Madeline Wickham)?

Sophie - I put a lot of myself into Becky and sometimes the boundaries feel blurred! I think exactly like her when I'm out shopping, I'm loyal to my friends and family, a tad obsessive and don't like giving up on things. But she's more extreme than me, thank goodness!

BCM - As we were reading your latest novel "Mini Shopaholic" we couldn't help but keep saying - wow - our daughters and Minnie have so much in common...Are your children anything like Minnie?
Sophie - Haha! Well, they are all boys, so none of them can accuse me of having based Minnie directly on them! But I've had my share of toddler tantrums, especially the clinging desperately onto toys in shops (usually tractors and fire-engines in our case).

BCM -How do you manage to keep up your writing while raising 4 boys..one of them being a newborn?
Sophie - It's a massive juggling act. I'm lucky to have great support and back-up - my husband is very hands-on and my mother lives nearby and pitches in. Of course, it doesn't always go to plan and you have to improvise. Like, today my nanny went home sick so I am typing this with the baby kicking under his baby gym at my feet. As long as I keep talking to him, he's happy!

BCM -Can you share some tips or advice for moms who are aspiring writers?
Sophie - Write the kind of book you would like to read yourself and enjoy it! Carve out corners of time for yourself - it's really hard, but if you want to badly enough, you'll find the time. Maybe start a writing group and swap baby-sitting services with other moms who want to write? Writing can be lonely, so it's nice to have a support group.

BCM -We have to ask...What's your favorite place in NYC to shop?
Sophie - I always run to Anthropologie as soon as I arrive! You never know what you'll find - from jewelry to dresses to mugs... I even bought baby building blocks once! We now have Anthropologie in London which is almost a shame, because I associate it so strongly with my trips to New York . I also love Barneys and Scoop.

You can meet Sophie at our event on 9/22 at The Limelight Marketplace