The Literary Sofa
Isabel Costello
Guest Post – Alison Layland on Literary Translation
Considering my passion for foreign languages and fiction, I can’t believe it’s taken over five years to invite a literary translator onto the Sofa. Today I am delighted to be rectifying that with a visit from Alison Layland, and whilst she was busy writing her guest post, I decided to read her latest translation, of … Continue reading
Autumn in Paris
I’ve recently returned from a typically intense five days in Paris, where I was not so much planning my next novel as wandering around waiting for the elements to take shape – something I’ve previously described as like looking at the world through an extra powerful pair of glasses. To some extent, I’ve been doing this … Continue reading
Writers on Location – James Terry on the ghost town of Shakespeare, New Mexico
If you’re a keen reader of fiction it’s inevitable to find that certain themes crop up again and again and we all have our favourites. I can’t get enough of dysfunctional families, relationships on the rocks and New York novels (though I try not to read similar titles back to back); there are some themes and trends I … Continue reading
Guest Author – Debi Alper on the many routes to publication
One of the best parts about running the Literary Sofa over the last five years has been getting to know my guest authors. Some I knew already, most of them I didn’t at the time they were featured but in many cases we have since met in person, by arrangement or by chance. But today … Continue reading
Guest Author – Jane Lythell on Creating a character who feels like a real person
As some of you will know, especially if you’ve read the pieces I’ve written since my novel Paris Mon Amour came out this summer, I have a passionate interest in the portrayal of female protagonists in contemporary fiction and strong views to match. Although there are all kinds of ways to approach characterisation, every successful … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Rod Reynolds on Hot Springs, Arkansas
Considering that crime fiction isn’t my area, it holds a lot of positive associations. It was five years ago in London, on a Faber Crime Writing weekend (don’t ask), that I met my good friend and critique partner Kristin Celms – who lives in Minnesota. I’ve been invited to talk about book blogging at the … Continue reading
5th Blog Anniversary and Literary Lunch Competition – NOW ENDED
THANKS to all who entered the Literary Lunch competition for your fantastic book recommendations and kind words. The winner picked by random generator is Peggy Riley. Today is the 5th anniversary of the Literary Sofa, and instead of saying ‘I can’t believe it’s gone so quickly’, I feel the opposite. Running this blog has had … Continue reading
The Verdict on my Summer Holiday Reading 2016
As Literary Sofa aficionados will know, I produce a Summer Reads selection in May consisting entirely of new or forthcoming releases and follow up with my personal summer holiday TBR, the only time I mention books I have not yet read in full. And then in September – that’s now! – I come back to share my … Continue reading
Autumn 2016 on the Literary Sofa
I hope you’ve had a fantastic summer. It’s definitely not ‘business as usual’ on the Literary Sofa yet but just wanted to say hello – especially to my new followers, welcome! – after a long break from the blog and almost three hot lazy weeks in Provence. We’ve returned to a house that is literally upside … Continue reading
My Poolside TBR 2016
This is one of my favourite posts of the year to write because I go completely off-piste. For me, summer is a chance to catch up on things I’ve missed because getting hung up on new releases can become a treadmill – being fresh out doesn’t confer extra qualities, after all. This is also the … Continue reading
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 