The Literary Sofa
Isabel Costello
What the French taught me about sex (and writing it)
It’s nearly a week since my debut novel Paris Mon Amour came out and I’ll be writing about that incredible experience very soon… But in the meantime – and because I was way too busy to post this week – here are some of the pieces I’ve written elsewhere to coincide with the release. Given the longevity and popularity … Continue reading
Guest Author – Avril Joy on setting her novel in a place she’s never been
UPDATE: Sometimes a River Song was one of my Books of 2016. Following last week’s Writers on Location about Chicago from Douglas Cowie, coverage of my Summer Reads 2016 selection continues today. I’m already receiving great feedback on books people have discovered there. As my latest guest Avril Joy explains, the conversation proceeded in a somewhat … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Douglas Cowie on Chicago
Last week there was a very enthusiastic response to my latest selection, Summer Reads 2016 – thank you for reading and sharing it far and wide, something I know is also greatly appreciated by the authors. Now for the next fun bit – hosting some of them here on the Literary Sofa. No book makes that … Continue reading
Summer Reads 2016
Welcome to the 10th Literary Sofa selection of new and forthcoming fiction, and what a incredible year for books 2016 is proving to be! I began the search earlier than usual, making so many excellent discoveries that I soon had a ‘knockout’ situation on my hands. That tells you something about the 13 that made the … Continue reading
Guest Author: Louisa Treger – From Violinist to Writer
Firstly, along with everyone involved in the publication of my novel, I was overwhelmed by the response to the cover and first page reveal on Monday – many thanks to all who got in touch! This is a busy time as I adapt to the strangeness of talking about my own book in guest posts and interviews (they’ll … Continue reading
Paris Mon Amour – Cover Reveal and First Page
With only five weeks until publication of my novel on 13 June I am very excited to unveil the beautiful cover today. It’s been fun to hear early readers guess how it was going to look but I bet nobody expected this! It’s nothing like I imagined and yet it conveys the feel of the novel brilliantly. Like … Continue reading
Writer’s guilt and why I don’t recommend it
I don’t usually bang out a blog post and press Publish but sometimes it’s the only way. Also, I generally avoid saying or becoming embroiled in anything with the faintest whiff of controversy on Twitter which, much as I love it, is fertile territory for misunderstandings and unintentional slights. Believe me, I’ve managed to misread … Continue reading
Conversation with Joanna Walsh
My latest guest Joanna Walsh (@badaude) has been on my radar since she founded the high-profile #readwomen campaign in 2014, but it was only on reading her recent article on ‘self-writing’ in The Irish Times that I realised how many interests we share as writers and humans who happen to be women. The impression was confirmed … Continue reading
#parismonamour favourite Paris places
Everything’s really hotting up in the countdown to release of my debut novel Paris Mon Amour on 13 June. In fact, I’m in Paris now, on a five-day trip combining work and pleasure (hard distinction), seeing old friends and new. Today (Thursday 21 April) and tomorrow I’ll be tweeting about locations from the novel under the hashtag #parismonamour. Get into the spirit by … Continue reading
Guest Author – Carol Lovekin on being published in later life
As someone who took up writing over forty, I am often impressed by much younger writers who possess a maturity and ability to see beyond themselves that I didn’t have at the same stage. But I also believe that an author’s age isn’t – and never should be – a consideration one way or the other. Surely … Continue reading
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 