The Literary Sofa
Isabel Costello
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
Paris Mon Amour – paperback publication week
This is publication week for the paperback edition of my debut novel Paris Mon Amour, and this is a difficult post to write. You’re probably thinking, ‘What? Isn’t that the best post ever?’ And you’d be right – there have been some fabulous moments recently. It’s just that I feel totally overwhelmed, and that’s hard to … Continue reading
Summer 2017 – Sofa Spotlight (Summer Reads)
Welcome to my Sofa Spotlight for Summer 2017 – despite my switch to a shorter quarterly format, this is the full dozen as with my previous Summer Reads selections because I’ve found so many excellent novels. Far more than could be included, which says a lot about those which made the cut – plus I now … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Elizabeth Hay on the Lake of Many Bays, Ontario
After a burst of activity I have finalized the guest line-up for June and July and next week it’s the Summer 2017 Sofa Spotlight – a full dozen titles as in previous years (so much for my intention to scale back by doing it quarterly). I am honoured that so many incredible writers contribute to … Continue reading
Guest Author – Rachel Rhys on writing a community of strangers
It was back in 2011 that I first met today’s guest Rachel Rhys/Tammy Cohen, a fellow north London writer, just as she was about to branch out from journalism into fiction with her first novel The Mistress’s Revenge. Tammy got in ahead of the huge and unabating domestic noir and psychological thriller craze, setting the bar … Continue reading
Favourite French Things and Paris Mon Amour competition winners
MERCI BEAUCOUP to everyone who entered the ‘favourite French things’ competition over the last couple of days, to the many who didn’t but shared it anyway, and hello and welcome to lots of lovely new followers. This was a great way of getting to know people, and whilst I was planning to just list the winners … Continue reading
Paris Mon Amour competition – win signed advance copies
On Monday I returned from a week staying in the 5th arrondissement in Paris, a very enjoyable mix of long walks (totalling 99km, no less), art exhibitions, inspiration for my next novel, seeing friends and spending Easter weekend with my family – most of it in glorious spring weather. I’ve written many pieces about Paris and … Continue reading
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 