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Penny Vincenzi

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/PennyVincenzi

gender

female

website

http://www.pennyvincenzibooks.com

genre

Literature & Fiction

member since

January 2008

About this author

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I'm currently taking part in a Q&A Group here on Goodreads to discuss my latest novel, Sheer Abandon . To post questions, please visit: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/4.... I look forward to an active discussion together.

I was nine years old when I embarked on my storytelling career. I wrote my own magazine called “Stories”, which I copied out three times on carbon paper and sold for two pence at school. I then went on to write for my church magazine--only to be accused of irreverence toward the ladies in the sewing circle, and fired. So began a career in writing which has seen 7 million copies sold, and 11 years as a bestselling novelist.

My first "real" job was at the Harrods Library in London (where I was nearly fired but not qu...more I'm currently taking part in a Q&A Group here on Goodreads to discuss my latest novel, Sheer Abandon . To post questions, please visit: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/4.... I look forward to an active discussion together.

I was nine years old when I embarked on my storytelling career. I wrote my own magazine called “Stories”, which I copied out three times on carbon paper and sold for two pence at school. I then went on to write for my church magazine--only to be accused of irreverence toward the ladies in the sewing circle, and fired. So began a career in writing which has seen 7 million copies sold, and 11 years as a bestselling novelist.

My first "real" job was at the Harrods Library in London (where I was nearly fired but not quite). After secretarial college, I worked as a junior secretary at Vogue and Tatler magazines, before moving to the Daily Mirror as personal assistant to Marje Proops, Britain's legendary agony aunt.

Marje encouraged me to write, and I became fashion editor and beauty writer at the Mirror, working for the women's editor in what was irreverently known as the "fragrant department". Eventually I left the world of magazines to work for a cosmetics company, and formed a connection with Boots, Britain's number one health and beauty brand.

The connection with Boots was a turning point, and my husband Paul and I went on to launch Looking Good magazine. We sold our house and took out an enormous bank load to fund the magazine, and we literally had bailiffs at the door just before launch date. It was probably the greatest gamble of my life, but it paid off. The first issue was a sell-out.

I once asked bestselling British author Jilly Cooper for advice on writing a novel while interviewing her for a magazine profile. Jilly put me in touch with her own agent, who promptly auctioned off my (then unwritten) first novel. It was quickly snapped up and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, I'm married with four children and four grandchildrenand living in London, where I write full-time.
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Books by Penny Vincenzi

Average rating: 3.83 · 8,562 ratings · 1,225 reviews · 31 distinct works

	No Angel (The Spoils of Time, #1) 4.08 avg rating — 1,550 ratings — published 2000 — 20 editions	My rating:
	Something Dangerous (The Spoils of Time, #2) 4.23 avg rating — 1,018 ratings — published 2008 — 12 editions	My rating:
	Into Temptation (The Spoils of Time, #3) 4.19 avg rating — 867 ratings — published 2002 — 10 editions	My rating:
	Sheer Abandon 3.52 avg rating — 975 ratings — published 2003 — 16 editions	My rating:
	The Best Of Times 3.51 avg rating — 1,064 ratings — published 2009 — 15 editions	My rating:
	An Absolute Scandal 3.69 avg rating — 658 ratings — published 2007 — 20 editions	My rating:
	Almost A Crime 3.68 avg rating — 389 ratings — published 1995 — 20 editions	My rating:
	Windfall 3.63 avg rating — 320 ratings — published 1998 — 13 editions	My rating:
	An Outrageous Affair 3.70 avg rating — 321 ratings — published 1993 — 12 editions	My rating:
	Forbidden Places 3.81 avg rating — 268 ratings — published 1995 — 12 editions	My rating:

More books by Penny Vincenzi…

Series by Penny Vincenzi

The Spoils of Time (3 books)
by Penny Vincenzi (Goodreads Author)

4.15 avg rating — 3,432 ratings

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Penny's Writing

Sheer Abandon (Literature & Fiction)

1 chapters — updated Mar 29, 2010 04:33pm

Description: An excerpt from my new paperback

Penny is Currently Reading

Penny Vincenzi is currently reading:

The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters

by Charlotte Mosley

bookshelves: currently-reading

My rating:

Apr 18, 2008 11:30am

Penny Vincenzi is currently reading:

Fathers and Sons: The Autobiography of a Family

by Alexander Waugh

bookshelves: currently-reading

My rating:

Apr 18, 2008 11:28am

Penny Vincenzi is currently reading:

In God We Doubt: Confessions of an Failed Atheist

by John Humphrys

bookshelves: currently-reading

My rating:

Apr 18, 2008 11:28am

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Penny's Recent Updates

Penny Vincenzi is now friends with Jennifer
May 11, 2008 07:02pm
Penny Vincenzi made a comment on her profile "Hi Renee Thank you for a lovely letter! I'm so glad you liked the Lyttons--and it' so especially pleasing that an expert on European history should app...more "
Apr 29, 2008 01:07am
Penny Vincenzi joined the Q&A with Penny Vincenzi group.
Apr 27, 2008 12:05pm · see group
Penny Vincenzi made a comment in the group Q&A with Penny Vincenzi — Questions I’m often asked topic "Hallo Dee I'm very glad you liked the Lytton trilogy; they became as real to me as my own family. There was a lot of research to do, but as for the mos...more "
Apr 27, 2008 12:05pm
Penny Vincenzi made a comment in the group Q&A with Penny Vincenzi — The Mother-Child Bond topic "Hi Julie How lovely to hear from you and yes, that was something that really interested me when I was researching Sheer Abandon. I did find that people...more "
Apr 24, 2008 10:30am
Penny Vincenzi made a comment in the group Q&A with Penny Vincenzi — What books inspired you to become a writer? topic "Hallo Lady! That's a fine name! And a good question. Above all, it was Gone with the Wind that inspired me. i discovered it when I was about thirteen a...more "
Apr 24, 2008 10:19am
Penny Vincenzi made a comment in the group Q&A with Penny Vincenzi — Lytton family trilogy topic "Hi Ann How lovely to hear from you. And what a nice message! I'm so glad you like the Lytton books; they were very special to write, as their family ca...more "
Apr 24, 2008 10:14am
Penny Vincenzi said "yes" to attending the event: Q&A with Penny Vincenzi date: April 21, 2008 12:00AM location: Goodreads, The United States description: Join my Goodreads reading group: From April 21 to May 4 I’ll be here every day to talk about my new book, Sheer Abandon
Apr 18, 2008 01:02pm
Penny Vincenzi is currently reading: The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters by Charlotte Mosley	My rating:
Apr 18, 2008 11:30am
Penny Vincenzi is currently reading: Fathers and Sons: The Autobiography of a Family by Alexander Waugh	My rating:
Apr 18, 2008 11:28am

More of Penny's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Romance Series Lists: The Spoils of Time - Penny Vincenzi (COMPLETE)	1	22	Jan 25, 2010 02:47pm
Novel Ladies: Group Read Nominations - June 2010	51	43	May 23, 2010 06:07am
Book Nook Cafe: What I read in August 2010	133	78	Oct 03, 2010 01:15pm
Pick-a-Shelf: Emily's YOU CHOOSE Challenge	11	33	Nov 01, 2010 12:16pm
Book Ends: Read the Month -- November 2010	5	9	Nov 24, 2010 09:35am
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