The Literary Sofa
Isabel Costello
Guest Author – Isabel Losada: Sex – Let’s be honest
I’ve resisted using this line for more than six years but this week’s extended post really is Sex on the Literary Sofa, discussed in very frank terms by two women called Isabel. This is the moment where I might say ‘click away if you don’t like the sound of that’ – except that I really … Continue reading
Launch of Stories for Homes 2 – an anthology in aid of Shelter
On Saturday night I took part in a fantastic event supported by the Folkestone Book Festival: the paperback launch of the second volume of Stories For Homes, an anthology of 55 short stories, poems and flash fictions on the inexhaustible theme of ‘home’, in aid of UK housing and homelessness charity Shelter. Like the original … Continue reading
Book Review – This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
This is the first time I’ve ever reviewed a book I have listened to, rather than read. There’s been a huge boom in the popularity of audiobooks in recent years and I’m a partial convert; with fiction I don’t want anything to come between me and the words and seeing them is a big part … Continue reading
How do you know if a novel’s worth writing?
A few weeks ago I was walking along Newport Sands in Pembrokeshire with a clear head and a feeling of serenity – unfortunately it didn’t last long. I recently had a big breakthrough in the first draft of my new novel and want to do nothing but write, but a couple of very stressful things … Continue reading
Guest Author – Charles Lambert on Entrapment
This week I am delighted to welcome back Charles Lambert, one of the most consistently brilliant authors I’ve discovered through running the Literary Sofa, especially as we finally met in person at his launch last week. Charles first appeared here on publication of his beautiful and moving novel-in-fragments With a Zero at its Heart; his … Continue reading
Slow Journeys – Why we read
Today I’m pleased to be receiving a visit from one of the most prolific and versatile people I’ve met in the book business, and many of you will know her too: Roz Morris is an award-nominated novelist (My Memories of a Future Life; Lifeform Three), book doctor to award-winning writers (Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012), … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Henrietta Rose-Innes on Cape Town
Last week’s piece on Resilient Thinking and First Drafts was my first post about writing in a long time and it struck a chord with so many people that I’ve decided to do a follow-up on resilience and the editing process, once I get to that point with my new manuscript (patience required). Whilst my … Continue reading
Resilient Thinking and First Drafts
As Hemingway famously said, ‘the first draft of anything is garbage.’ (I always thought he said ‘shit’ but anyway.) And as he also famously said, ‘writing is rewriting’. Now I am not a particular fan of Hemingway nor of writing aphorisms, which I have learned to approach on a ‘pick your own’ basis, (as in … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Naomi Hamill on Kosovo
Last week’s Autumn Sofa Spotlight sparked lots of interest, so thank you very much to the many who read and shared it. One of the most rewarding comments I get is that my selections feature titles people haven’t heard of but now want to read; the books I enjoy aren’t usually the most talked-about or … Continue reading
Sofa Spotlight – Autumn 2017
Welcome to the Autumn 2017 Sofa Spotlight, my quarterly selection of titles which have really stood out amongst the many I read. In real life I’m always being asked about my latest discoveries and this slot is a kind of virtual version of that conversation*. This is a short but varied list, with a story … Continue reading
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 