As hinted here more than once – remember my new year ‘making things happen’ mantra? – I have some pretty big news! It’s already gone live to Bookbrunch subscribers this morning (thanks, Bookbrunch) and, hoping you’ll excuse the weirdness of me referring to myself in the third person on my own blog, I am thrilled to share the official announcement with you all here:
Isabel Costello is to release a paperback edition of her debut novel Paris Mon Amour on 22 May under a new Literary Sofa imprint, building on the identity of her popular book blog.
Paris Mon Amour is a story of desire, betrayal and devastating loss, in which 40-year-old Alexandra embarks on an intense affair with Jean-Luc, the much younger son of her husband’s best friend.
It was first published in ebook by Canelo in June 2016, and in audiobook by Audible. The latest development is in response to demand from readers and interest from bricks-and-mortar retailers.
Matt Bates, Fiction Buyer at WH Smith Travel and a recent judge of the Costa Novel Award says: “I was lucky enough to read Paris Mon Amour in manuscript last year and have been begging for a print version ever since. Isabel Costello has a distinctive and stylish voice and Paris Mon Amour is elegant, taut and deeply evocative. I believe it will resonate with many readers to become a word-of-mouth and must-read bestseller this summer.”
Costello says: “Publishing Paris Mon Amour in paperback through my own Literary Sofa imprint is a really exciting step. I am grateful to my agent and digital publishers for their continued support, and to those whose heartfelt response to the book has made this an unmissable opportunity.”
Iain Millar of Canelo says: “We’re delighted to see such enthusiasm for Isabel’s wonderful book, and are thoroughly enjoying working with her new imprint on the paperback edition. Print aficionados will no doubt love the novel as much as her ebook fans do.”
Diana Beaumont of Marjacq Scripts says: “I am thrilled that Paris Mon Amour will be reaching a wider readership in its paperback incarnation, especially as there has been such a fantastic response from readers and retailers alike. I can’t wait to see finished copies in the bookshops.”
Huge thanks once again to everybody mentioned above, to my readers and fellow writers and bloggers who got behind the book in such an amazing way on its first release. And to everyone who lobbied relentlessly for a paperback – YOU GOT IT!
The Literary Sofa 
Congratulations Isabel, and well deserved! Clarissa
Posted by Clarissa Botsford | February 7, 2017, 12:15Thanks, Clarissa!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:42Great news. Now you can sign a copy for me!
Posted by Mike Clarke | February 7, 2017, 12:16Yes, finally! Thanks, Mike.
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:42How exciting! Go Isabel, go!!!
Posted by helenmackinven | February 7, 2017, 12:25Oh, I am – all guns blazing! Thanks for your unstinting support, Helen.
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:43Congratulations Isabel – great news, well done!Susan x
Posted by susan.soper@talk21.com | February 7, 2017, 12:28Thanks, Susan!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:43Can not wait for the paperback and already have a couple of people in mind to give it to, so I will be buying 3 copies! Well done Isabel, exciting news x
Posted by louisewalters12 | February 7, 2017, 14:16Happy to say I’ve been hearing that a lot, thanks so much!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:44That is fantastic news! Jen xx
Posted by Jennifer Grigg | February 7, 2017, 14:17Thanks, Jen! Like you, found it impossible to resist the call of print.
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:45Well done, Isabel, such an exciting development and a logical step on your excellent blog.
Posted by Annecdotist | February 7, 2017, 14:34Many thanks, Anne, that’s very kind of you!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:45Really exciting news – congratulations, Isabel! Cathy x
Posted by Catherine De'Freitas (@cathy_defreitas) | February 7, 2017, 21:43Thanks, Cathy!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:46Well this is jolly thrilling! And your own imprint! Triply impressive, m’dear.
Very much looking forward to this. Congratulations and all power to your pen.
Posted by Whisks | February 8, 2017, 12:33Thanks for being one of my ‘print petitioners’, Susan!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:46Congratulations on the book and the imprint.. Well done. Your novel is great on Kindle but there is something wonderful about holding the paper book in your hand,
Enjoy your well earned success
Wendy
My Blog
Blog: Hardwiring for story,
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Posted by Wendy Robertson | February 8, 2017, 14:37Thank you, Wendy. It’s true that will be a wonderful moment for me!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:47Congratulations, I loved Paris Mon Amour and I can’t wait to gift it to people 🙂
Posted by raven avery | February 8, 2017, 16:34Thank you so much, Raven, and I’m sorry I didn’t reply to all comments at the time as I’d intended. That is a wonderful thing to hear on both counts!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 16, 2017, 16:31thats tremendous news Isabel – how you managed to keep this under your hat for so long I can’t imagine. I took the e-e-book with me intending to read it during my hospital stay but never got anywhere near it. Dont worry though I am earmarking this for next week to coincide with St Valentines Day…..
Posted by BookerTalk | February 8, 2017, 16:59Thanks, Karen, it wasn’t easy! But so pleased to share the news at last.
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:48Also: hope you are recovered and that you enjoy your (somewhat risky) Valentine’s read!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 11, 2017, 19:49Looking forward to buying the paperback. And the literary sofa imprint of book crossed with sofa will look great on the spine.
Posted by Charlotte | February 13, 2017, 19:23Thanks, Charlotte! Very pleased with the
logo, which originated in my drawing on the back of an envelope!
Posted by Isabel Costello | February 16, 2017, 16:29I’m late to the party but this is great news – particularly as my eBook copy is languishing with the very best of intentions on my iPad Kindle but, try as I might, I just can’t get over there to read the few eBooks I’ve bought. I’m a bath book reader and I don’t think that’s ever going to change. Still, I’ll be the proud owner of an eBook and paperback version of Paris Mon Amour – can’t be bad! Well done, Isabel.
Posted by Jackie Buxton | March 1, 2017, 13:33Hi Isabel, I happened upon your blog through the WordPress reader and decided to get Paris Mon Amour. It starts out amazingly well 🙂 I meant to ask you, do you have training in the visual arts?
Posted by Mira at HappierHealthier.Blog | April 1, 2021, 17:49Hi Mira, hope the novel continued to please you and that you check out my new release, Scent. Thanks for getting in touch – I’m flattered by your question but the answer is no! I am however very visual and very interested in art.
Posted by Isabel Costello | April 6, 2021, 19:57I’m enjoying it, yes :), and look forward to Scent as well 🙂
Posted by Mira at HappierHealthier.Blog | April 7, 2021, 20:47