Baker, Sam 1966–

views updated

Baker, Sam 1966–

PERSONAL: Born 1966, in Hampshire, England; married Jon Courtenay Grimwood (a writer). Education: Attended Birmingham University.

ADDRESSES: Home—Winchester, Hampshire, England; and London, England. Office—The National Magazine Company Ltd., Cosmopolitan, National Magazine House, 72 Broadwick St., London, W1F 9EP, England.

CAREER: Worked at various magazines, including Chat and Take a Break. New Woman, editor, beginning 1993, deputy editor, 1995; Just Seventeen, editor, 1996; Minx, editor; National Magazine Company Ltd., editor of Company magazine, 1998–2003; Cosmopolitan, editor, 2004–.

WRITINGS:

Fashion Victim (novel), Ballantine Books (New York, NY), 2005.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A second novel, This Year's Model.

SIDELIGHTS: Sam Baker worked her way up through the ranks of British magazine publishing to become editor of the ailing teen magazine Just Seventeen in 1996, and she turned it around in record time, relaunching it as J17. She subsequently edited Minx, a style magazine geared to somewhat older readers, as well as National Magazine Company's Company magazine for five years. Baker took time off to pen her first novel, Fashion Victim, about a fashion journal-ist turned detective, before returning to National Magazine as the editor of the British version of Cosmopolitan. As publisher Jan Adcock told a Campaign reporter, "Baker is an exceptional talent. Her experience, drive and passion for journalism make her the perfect choice."

With a background in the fashion industry and an interest in crime writing—to which she says she is addicted—it is not surprising that Baker should write a detective story, one set in the New York City fashion district. The tale revolves around Annie Anderson, a reporter for the fashion magazine Handbag, who attempts to find the murderer of a celebrity she was scheduled to profile. Time reviewer Lev Grossman complimented Baker on her knowledge, adding that she "writes well." While a Publishers Weekly reviewer noted that the "general suspension of disbelief gets slightly strained,"the critic nevertheless decided that "the ride is fun." "Writing with a sure hand and an insider's knowledge," Shelley Mosley concluded in Library Journal, Baker "has written a lively first novel."

At her home page, Baker explained her writing process: I'm a planner. I write the synopsis first, build a cast of characters (with biographies, background histories, physical descriptions, the lot), draw up an outline with locations, motivation etc, then write an obsessively full chapter breakdown. By the time I begin the first draft I know exactly where I'm going—the trouble is, the characters occasionally have other ideas.