Welcome to my blog. A writer friend told me I should write one. OK, I said, but what about ? I deserved the look she gave me. That’s the beauty of blogging, the freedom to write about whatever you like when you like. There’s no need for a plan, a structure or a plot, and after two years spent writing a novel I can definitely see the appeal.
I won’t be blogging about my novel or my writing habits, that would be asking a bit much, after all, you’re already reading this. Also, I have to hold something back should the day ever come… (I can’t bear to tempt fate by saying it, but you know what I’m thinking.)
I won’t be blogging about politics, finance or current affairs. In fact, I think I’ll steer well clear of anything I know nothing about.
I read a lot of books and my taste is pretty wide, from literary fiction to women’s fiction to crime. I don’t usually like sci-fi or chick lit. Blogging about books sounds like fun to me.
My big indulgence is travel. I’m always interested in what life is like in other places. When I visit a new city I’m just as likely to spend time wandering around the neighbourhoods where people live as the shiny famous bits and I have a particular penchant for shabby and old industrial areas. A bit weird, I know. I’m a true Francophile and also absolutely fascinated by the USA and American use of English.
London has been my home for half my life and I love it. If I didn’t live here I would want to live in Brooklyn, NY (Park Slope would do nicely) or Denver; in the UK it wouldn’t kill me to live in Brighton.
So I can’t say exactly what this blog will be about. I’ve given it the strapline: Books, Places, Life to cover every eventuality.
Whatever I come up with, I hope you enjoy it!
The Literary Sofa 
Welcome to the world of blogging. Looking forward to more of your posts and news about the progress of your novel.
Posted by Adele Ward | September 26, 2011, 13:18Thanks Adele.
Posted by Isabel Costello | September 27, 2011, 09:28I used to love cioming by train into Liverpoolstreet station in the early 1980s, through a deep valley of derelict industrial buildings, nicely overgrown in places, like old temples in Cambiodia. All gone now, but you’ll love this area in Poland as p[osted on Youtube. (Charleroi in Belgium is also pretty cool).
Posted by Tom Voute | September 26, 2011, 22:46Thanks Tom, I did like that. You’re one of the few people I know who gets the beauty in unloved places. When I spent my year abroad in the desperately unlovely Saarbrucken, I used to love seeing a huge piece of rusting mining machinery from the train when I went to and from Luxembourg airport. It changed so much in different light. We should get together soon.
Posted by Isabel Costello | September 27, 2011, 09:31Congratulations on the launch of your blog. I’ll look forward to the posts. If I can work out how I’ll post some photos I took on holiday in April of unloved things.
Posted by Jo Walton | September 27, 2011, 16:19Thanks Jo. It’s starting to seem like my obsession isn’t so unusual after all. Will have to invent something else to appear interesting !
Posted by Isabel Costello | September 27, 2011, 17:12I love the video on YouTube called Industrial Revolutions with Danny McAskill in which he does extreme bike stunts in a disused railway yard. If I were as computer savvy as Tom is I’d put it on here but check it out if you like.
Posted by Jo Walton | September 28, 2011, 14:43You’re doing pretty well considering when we spoke yesterday you’d never set eyes on a blog !
Posted by Isabel Costello | September 28, 2011, 18:15Just signed up for your blog posts Isabel, just let yourself be who you are in your blog, I find it very theraputic to do that, although I won’t be able to run for political office now.
Posted by peterhobbs1 | October 4, 2011, 02:15Hi Peter thanks for being my first US based subscriber and hope you enjoy the blog. Your comment made me laugh!!
Posted by Isabel Costello | October 4, 2011, 09:31I read your little autobiographical note again. The choir sounds interesting. What kind of choir? there are so many different choirs in London. Please write about it.
Posted by Tom Voute | December 2, 2011, 15:58