The Literary Sofa
Guest Authors
Writers on Location – Elise Valmorbida on the Veneto, Italy
Of the many selections I’ve put together, I don’t think any have received such an enthusiastic response as my Summer Reads 2018 – many thanks for your interest, appreciation and especially for sharing it. At a time when the role and motivation of book bloggers is (yet again) under discussion, the joy of spreading the … Continue reading
Guest Author – Louise Walters on Writing in a young person’s voice
This week is a first and a third! I’m really delighted to welcome Louise Walters as the first author ever to appear on the Literary Sofa three times (links to her previous posts are included below). Louise has been a loyal supporter of the blog since it started over six years ago, we have got … Continue reading
Guest Author – Michael Dean on Fictionalising the Life of a Famous Artist
As readers most of us have fictional themes or settings we especially enjoy. The art world is undoubtedly one of mine, just as visiting exhibitions and galleries is one of my favourite pastimes, both here in London and on my travels. Often I find the stories behind the works and the lives of the artists … Continue reading
A Week in Marseille
I’ve recently returned from a glorious week in Marseille staying with my lifelong friend G, the younger daughter of my French godmother (my own French story is here, and it’s a long one…) This isn’t a full-on travel post as it wasn’t a holiday as such, although you could be forgiven for thinking so – … Continue reading
Guest Author – Ruth Figgest on writing about mothers and daughters
This week I am delighted to be hosting a debut novelist with an exceptional track record: Ruth Figgest, who was born in Oxford and grew up in the USA, has been short-listed an incredible six times for the Bridport Prize – she was awarded 2nd place in 2012 and was Highly Commended in 2017. Her debut … Continue reading
Writers on Location – Alicia Drake on Paris as a longterm ex-pat
Hosting today’s guest author and featuring her debut novel, another of my Spring Sofa Spotlight titles, feels like a special occasion and not only because until now I’m the only one who’s written about Paris here. That was destined to change the moment Alicia Drake stood up to read from I love you too much … Continue reading
Guest Author – Claire Dyer on Research and Imagination
Last week’s Spring Sofa Spotlight met with great enthusiasm and lots of my favourite feedback: that people discovered books they may not otherwise have heard of and can’t wait to read. Thank you for the appreciation and for helping to spread the word – I wouldn’t still be running this blog if I didn’t believe … Continue reading
Two Weeks in Vietnam
Last week was a brilliant start to 2018 with lots of interest in my piece on time management – I’m delighted readers found it helpful. My blog is usually about books and writing but every year I include a couple of travelogues and this one’s about my family’s recent trip to Vietnam. We have joined … Continue reading
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
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
My Novel – Now out in paperback
