Isabel Costello

LATEST ARTICLES ( 319 )

• Writers on Location – Joy Rhoades on the New England Tableland, NSW, Australia

  

  The first Australian Writers on Location post (Clare Atkins on Darwin) proved exceptionally popular back in the summer and I’m delighted to be returning to a... Read more

  Posted on 17 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Pick a Book, Any Book (you Hadn’t Heard Of)

  

  This is a parallel post to Book Hype (for want of a better word), inspired by the entries to my recent Literary Lunch competition in which entrants had to name ... Read more

  Posted on 03 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Book Hype (for Want of a Better Word)

  

  Sometimes I commit to writing something and then think Oh shit. I did briefly wonder if it’s possible to talk about book hype and the like without it... Read more

  Posted on 03 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Claire Fuller on Finding Inspiration in Place

  

  I’d like to start by thanking everyone for the exceptional response to last week’s Literary Lunch competition, which prompted a deluge of retweets, entries and... Read more

  Posted on 26 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Literary Lunch 2018 Blog Anniversary Competition

  

  HOW TO ENTER info at end of post **closing date Monday 24 September 2pm (UK)** Today I’m launching the (in theory) annual Literary Lunch competition to celebrat... Read more

  Posted on 21 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location – Amanda Huggins on Japan

  

  Welcome to the first guest post of the new season, a special one in several ways. It’s the first time Japan has featured in my Writers on Location series, and... Read more

  Posted on 19 September 2018 BOOKS

• The Verdict on My Summer Reading 2018 – Part Two

  

  It’s been a frantic couple of weeks since I returned from Provence and the days of lounging by the pool reading for 6+ hours seem very distant. Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Verdict on My Summer Reading 2018 – Part One

  

  As always at this time of year, this is an informal round-up of the books I read during my summer blog shutdown (as distinct from my Summer Reads selection of... Read more

  Posted on 10 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Autumn Preview 2018

  

  Welcome back to the Literary Sofa – I hope you enjoyed a long hot summer and some good books. This is a quick Hello, I’m back! and glimpse of the upcoming... Read more

  Posted on 05 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Poolside TBR 2018

  

  This is one of my favourite posts because it always feels like I’m off duty, or soon will be. For me, the year starts in September – literally, as my birthday i... Read more

  Posted on 30 July 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location ̵ Philip Teir on Jakobstad, Finland

  

  This week’s post concludes the coverage of my Summer Reads selection; a record number of authors (7/12) have joined me on the Literary Sofa and I’m very gratefu... Read more

  Posted on 26 July 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Sofka Zinovieff on Writing a Taboo Relationship

  

  [NOTE: This post discusses the portrayal of child sexual abuse in fiction.]When I was organising Sofa visits from authors featured in this year’s Summer Reads... Read more

  Posted on 18 July 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Catherine McNamara on Writing About Sex and Desire

  

  Back to my Summer Reads and I’m declaring this week’s post a Special Edition, partly because it’s a change from the normal format but mostly because I am so... Read more

  Posted on 09 July 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Word for Freedom – Short Stories of Women’s Suffrage

  

  There’s a pause in my Summer Reads programme this week – the planned guest post is postponed until late July, but something very exciting has popped up in its... Read more

  Posted on 04 July 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location – Clare Atkins on Darwin, Australia

  

  It’s always exciting when a guest post hits my inbox. The writers are here because I love their work, and the pieces invariably give a telling and enticing... Read more

  Posted on 27 June 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location – Kerry Hadley-Pryce on the Black Country

  

  A record number of Summer Reads authors are joining me on the Sofa this year and most are welcome additions to the popular Writers on Location series. Read more

  Posted on 19 June 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Emily Critchley on Writing a Crossover Novel

  

  After a wonderful reception for last week’s piece on the Veneto by Elise Valmorbida, I’m delighted to welcome Emily Critchley, the second author from my Summer... Read more

  Posted on 13 June 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 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... Read more

  Posted on 06 June 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Summer Reads 2018

  

  I’m delighted to be bringing you my Summer Reads 2018. I’ve been hard to impress recently but the outcome is a selection of compelling and powerful titles... Read more

  Posted on 23 May 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Books *and* Box Sets, Not Either/Or

  

  Literary culture (as in: everything to do with books) is under threat. Libraries are closing, media coverage is shrinking, book prizes and literacy initiatives... Read more

  Posted on 02 May 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE