The Literary Sofa
Books
Guest Author – Essie Fox on Capturing the Passage of Time
*THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY now out in paperback* It’s been a slow start to the year on the blog because I’ve been incredibly busy with work – but it’s always a treat to return to ‘Sofa business’, especially today, when I am joined by my first guest of 2017. I’ve had the pleasure of … Continue reading
2016 – My Year in Books
Since the sole focus of today’s post is my literary year, it will be a rare positive verdict on 2016. Obviously it has been significant for me as the year my debut novel was published – I will always look back on the launch of Paris Mon Amour as one of the happiest moments of my life. … Continue reading
Guest Author – Wytske Versteeg on Writing about Motherhood
Today’s guest and her novel represent things I believe in and want to support on the Literary Sofa. Wytske Versteeg is a Dutch author, whose third novel The Boy has recently been translated into English by Sarah Welling and released in the UK by small independent HopeRoad Publishing. The Boy made it into my new quarterly Sofa … Continue reading
Guest Author – Saleem Haddad on Shelving the ‘Gay Novel’
Some of the best books I’ve ever read could be designated ‘gay novels’ and yet it’s a term that raises a lot of questions and one I hesitate to use. It’s something I’ve wanted to examine for a long time, so I am delighted that Saleem Haddad, author of superb debut novel Guapa, one of … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Fiona Melrose on Suffolk
Thanks to everyone for the enthusiastic response to my first quarterly Sofa Spotlight last week. It’s always gratifying to hear my selections described as ‘intriguing’ and ‘unpredictable’ – that’s the aim – and that readers have discovered books they’d never heard of. As mentioned, I’ll be hosting at least four of my Spotlight authors on … Continue reading
Sofa Spotlight – Winter 2016
It’s an exciting day on the Literary Sofa as I launch my new quarterly ‘Sofa Spotlight’ for Winter 2016. As mentioned when the blog reached its fifth anniversary, these shorter, more frequent selections will replace the Hot Picks and Summer Reads, but I hope they will be just as popular! The new system is already proving more … 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
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
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 