Isabel Costello
Writer represented by Diana Beaumont of the Rupert Heath Literary Agency in London. Visit my Literary Sofa blog at www.isabelcostelloliterarysofa.com for listings and in-depth reviews of the best new titles in literary and upmarket commercial fiction and features on both reading and writing.
MY BLOGS
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Isabel Costello: On the Literary Sofa
http://isabelcostelloliterarysofa.com/
Listings and in-depth reviews of the best new titles in literary and commercial fiction and features on choosing books, reading groups and lots more.
LATEST ARTICLES ( 428 )
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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 th... Read more
Posted on 05 May 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Writer’s Guilt and Why I Don’t Recommend It
I don’t often bang out a blog post and press Publish but sometimes it’s the only way. Another thing I generally try to avoid is saying or becoming in any way... Read more
Posted on 05 May 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
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... Read more
Posted on 28 April 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
#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... Read more
Posted on 21 April 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
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’... Read more
Posted on 20 April 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Guest Author – Amanda Saint on Choices
I have clear memories of meeting today’s guest Amanda Saint for the first time at a book launch several years ago. I remember saying that I liked the title of... Read more
Posted on 13 April 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
What Elena Ferrante’s Writing Means to Me
After an Easter trip to southern Italy that was directly inspired by Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels (and feeling bereft on finishing the fourth and final on... Read more
Posted on 09 April 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Writers on Location – Annemarie Neary on Roaringwater Bay, West Cork, Ireland
By coincidence, my Hot Picks 2016 included three Irish writers. If I were to analyse my selections to date, it’s a fair bet that American authors would come... Read more
Posted on 24 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Writers on Location – Laura Powell on St. Ives, Cornwall
When I started the Literary Sofa I would never have imagined how attached I’d become to the books I feature here; spreading the word, hearing what others think... Read more
Posted on 17 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Book Review – Maestra by L S Hilton
This time I didn’t wait for a hundred people to ask if I’d read the latest publishing sensation, Maestra, by L S Hilton. The level of hype surrounding this book... Read more
Posted on 12 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Guest Author – Lochlan Bloom on Kickstarting Literary Publishing
Today’s post is a great follow-up to Tom Vowler on crowdfunding his collection Dazzling the Gods. I’m amazed how difficult it is to get any book published but... Read more
Posted on 10 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Guest Author – Tom Vowler on the Short Story
One of the great things about running my own blog – as I have sometimes gently pointed out to those who tell me off for not featuring the ‘right’ books – is tha... Read more
Posted on 05 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Guest Author – Sanjida O’Connell on Switching Genres
This isn’t the first time Sanjida Kay (AKA Sanjida O’Connell) has stepped in to keep the Literary Sofa warm whilst I’ve been frantically busy with my writing –... Read more
Posted on 03 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Guest Author – Sanjida Kay on Switching Genres
This isn’t the first time Sanjida Kay (AKA Sanjida O’Connell) has stepped in to keep the Literary Sofa warm whilst I’ve been frantically busy with my writing –... Read more
Posted on 03 March 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Writers on Location – Lisa McInerney on Cork City
Following my ‘gratifyingly juicy’ (he said, and it really was) conversation with Rob Doyle last week I’m delighted to welcome Lisa McInerney, another bold and... Read more
Posted on 17 February 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
The Deal – Paris Mon Amour, 13 June 2016
As a novelist it’s not surprising that I have a vivid imagination. I also have a handy ability to visualise success even when it is nowhere in sight. Read more
Posted on 13 February 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Guest Author – Conversation with Rob Doyle
I’m happy to say that all three of the brilliant Irish writers* from my Hot Picks 2016 will be joining me on the Literary Sofa in the coming weeks, starting wit... Read more
Posted on 10 February 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Interior Life Part Two – Empathy in Fiction
It’s been four months since my post Interior Life Part One. I didn’t forget to write this promised follow-up on empathy in fiction – the topic is never far... Read more
Posted on 02 February 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Interior Life Part 2 – Empathy in Fiction
It’s been four months since my post Interior Life Part 1. I didn’t forget to write this promised follow-up on empathy in fiction – the topic is never far from m... Read more
Posted on 02 February 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE -
Writers on Location – Nicholas Hogg on Tokyo
According to the latest edition of The Economist Pocket World in Figures, the UK heads the world ranking for new titles published, with 2,875 per million of... Read more
Posted on 28 January 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE