The Literary Sofa
Isabel Costello
Guest Author – Annemarie Neary on Fictional Orphans
This wasn’t supposed to be the final blog post before the summer break but it is (see Postscript for my excuse), and I can’t think of a better way to round up the season’s coverage of new fiction than to welcome Annemarie Neary back to the Sofa. Annemarie first joined me last year with a … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Jenny Ashcroft on recreating a Vanished Egypt
Today’s guest Jenny Ashcroft is an author I’ve wanted to feature on the Literary Sofa for ages and it’s wonderful that the moment has now come… Jenny and I met online a few years ago, when we read each other’s manuscripts prior to publication and got to know each other in real life. All writers … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Vanessa Lafaye on Key West, Florida
There was a really enthusiastic response to last week’s showcase of new fiction by The Prime Writers so on behalf of us all, many thanks to everyone who has shared it and shown their appreciation. An extra title out later this month has since been added, so it’s worth taking another look… Today I am … Continue reading
The Prime Writers Showcase – Summer 2017
Today, as a supplement to my Summer Reads 2017 selection, it’s great to be bringing you something a bit different: a showcase of recent and ‘coming soon’ titles by members of The Prime Writers. I’m very lucky to be part of this fantastic community of novelists first published over the age of 40 and have … Continue reading
Bradford Literature Festival – July 2017
This is a daunting task. I was only at the Bradford Literature Festival for a day and a half and attended just two sessions in addition to the panel I was on, but I can only hope to share a few fleeting personal impressions of this vibrant and ambitious 10 day event. It’s making a … Continue reading
Guest Author – Kate Brown on Writing about Adolescence
After being acquainted on Twitter for some time, today’s guest Kate Brown and I first met last summer at the launch of our mutual friend Claire King’s novel Everything Love Is. The three of us have a lot in common, including close links with France which have led us to set novels there. Hearing film … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Terry Stiastny on Provence
I always enjoy my guests’ Writers on Location pieces whether I know the place or not – my love of certain books has actually inspired trips. But today’s Writers on Location piece from Terry Stiastny on Provence is one I’m particularly excited to host. The region holds an almost legendary appeal as a holiday destination, … Continue reading
Guest Author – Juliet West on Social Class in Fiction
As I mentioned in the introduction to my Summer Reads 2017, unintended patterns often appear when I am putting the selection together, even if the individual titles are completely different. This time round, there was a strong showing for adolescent characters and the coming-of-age theme, which is one of my favourites. That perspective is skilfully … Continue reading
Guest Author – Stephen May on Manhood
It’s a pleasure to welcome today’s guest Stephen May back to the Literary Sofa. I’m a big fan of his writing – Stronger than Skin is the third of his (four) novels to be featured here and one of the dozen excellent titles included in my Summer Reads selection. I’ll always be keen to read … Continue reading
News from Paris (Mon Amour)
How’s it all going? I keep being asked. It’s been a very busy and exciting first two weeks for the paperback edition of Paris Mon Amour, so I thought I’d share a few of the best moments and some still to come. SHELF LIFE There isn’t anywhere else I could start than by expressing my gratitude to … Continue reading
My Novel – Now out in paperback
