The Literary Sofa
Life
September – first drafts and fresh starts
Hello and happy September! Thought it was about time I showed my face after a long break from the blog. I hope you’ve had a good summer. Thanks to the incredible generosity of friends, mine has been bookended by trips to Spain in June and now Provence, where I’m enjoying some downtime with my French … Continue reading
Scent Paperback Publication Day
You’re joining me on a very happy day as the paperback edition of my second novel Scent is released. It’s had a gorgeous summery makeover by designer Jamie Keenan that evokes the Provence thread of the story, and the pink colour wash reminds me of the stunning Lubéron skies around sunset (and possibly sunrise, I’m … Continue reading
A New Year on the Sofa
Happy new year! This one has to be easier, right? I know it doesn’t work like that but I’m feeling optimistic. Last year showed me that positive things do happen against all odds and expectations. I doubt many of us got through the holidays completely unscathed but I hope they did you some good. I … Continue reading
10 Years of the Literary Sofa
This week is the 10th anniversary of the Literary Sofa and this is my third attempt to write something coherent about running the blog. It’s brought on an attack of the feels that I wasn’t expecting. The reason? Because it turns out to be impossible to separate my blogging life from my writing life from … Continue reading
Guest Author – Rosie Wilby on Love (and Creativity) in London
We’re on a roll with this year’s Summer Reads guest line-up. Last week’s post on Older Love by Catherine McNamara has been resonating loudly with readers for its rare affirmation of what later life can hold for women. Today I’m excited to welcome comedian and author Rosie Wilby to share her unique perspective on matters … Continue reading
A Personal Perspective on Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause (Channel 4 TV)
It’s noticeable that menopause, which eventually affects half of the population but has always been cloaked in silence and shame, is being talked about more openly and more often. It would be a brave person who dares to suggest that it’s fashionable, a trend or a passing moment. Not if 13 million of us have … Continue reading
Nothing like September
If all you want is the book/blog stuff, head straight to the final paragraph. As I return to the Sofa after a long ‘break’, I’d love to be writing the usual September post in which I’m fired up after a lovely trip to France, full of optimism and plans. But I can’t (and you’d probably … Continue reading
Back on the Sofa
This is just a quick hello and update as you haven’t heard from me in a while and it’s lovely that the blog is still getting readers and new followers despite my absence. I hope you are coping OK in these times of fear, frustration and rage, and for many, terrible hardship and sadness. It’s … Continue reading
Autumn 2019 on the Literary Sofa
Hope you’ve had a great summer. This is a quick post to say that the Sofa is back in business after the break (although if you missed Charlie Fletcher’s wonderful Writers on Location piece on the Outer Hebrides which magically appeared last week, do check it out) and an update on what I’ve been doing. … Continue reading
Update from the Sofa
I hope regular readers will excuse my unscheduled absence from the Sofa these last few weeks – it’s been more chained-to-desk than lounging around for me lately but there’s lots of good stuff to update you on. Firstly, a very big thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Saboteur Awards – I … Continue reading
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 