Isabel Costello

LATEST ARTICLES ( 428 )

• 5th Blog Anniversary and Literary Lunch Competition

  

  *SEE END OF POST FOR HOW TO ENTER THE LITERARY LUNCH COMPETITION*Today is the 5th anniversary of the Literary Sofa, and instead of saying ‘I can’t believe it’s... Read more

  Posted on 20 September 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 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... Read more

  Posted on 15 September 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Autumn 2016 on the Literary Sofa

  

  I hope you’ve had a fantastic summer. It’s definitely not ‘business as usual’ on the Literary Sofa yet but just wanted to say hello – especially to my new... Read more

  Posted on 08 September 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Poolside TBR 2016

  

  This is one of my favourite posts of the year to write because I go completely off-piste. For me, summer is a chance to catch up on things I’ve missed because... Read more

  Posted on 03 August 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• On the Couch – My Protagonist Alexandra Talks to Vicky Newham

  

  Not surprisingly, people associate me with sofas.  Some think I am a sofa, or a Sofia. Well anyway, this week I swapped my Literary Sofa for a therapist’s... Read more

  Posted on 31 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Anna Mazzola on Writing Prisons

  

  Today’s post by Anna Mazzola, author of The Unseeing, concludes the coverage of titles on my Summer Reads 2016 selection. My picks have been going down well –... Read more

  Posted on 29 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location – Catherine Dunne on Extremadura, Spain

  

  With scorching weather and the start of the school holidays here in the UK, this is the time many of us relish losing ourselves in a good book, whether we’re... Read more

  Posted on 21 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• On Female Sexuality and Motherhood

  

  Another quick link, to my latest guest post related to Paris Mon Amour: today I’m really excited to be featured on Naomi Frisby’s The Writes of Woman. Read more

  Posted on 20 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Love Affair with France

  

  It’s been a busy and exciting time lately, with wonderful reviews of Paris Mon Amour appearing all over the place – one reader wrote to me when she finished it... Read more

  Posted on 14 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location – Leila Segal on the Pinar Del Río Province, Cuba

  

  On a glorious day in early May – it’s been the kind of summer where those stick in my mind – I crossed London to attend an event featuring local writers at the... Read more

  Posted on 13 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Kit De Waal on Judgement

  

  The Literary Sofa is a place to share love of stories and ideas and appreciation for the people who write them. Every author who has joined me as a guest has... Read more

  Posted on 06 July 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Helen MacKinven: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

  

  Today it’s a huge pleasure to welcome Scottish author Helen MacKinven back to the Literary Sofa on publication of her second novel Buy Buy Baby. Read more

  Posted on 30 June 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Seven Years to Publication, Seven Things I’ve Learned

  

  In view of the appreciative response to the above piece I wrote for the Writers’ Workshop (York Festival of Writing) blog, I thought I’d also post the link... Read more

  Posted on 27 June 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Publishing My Debut Novel – How Does It Feel?

  

  How does it feel? everyone keeps asking me, to see my first novel Paris Mon Amour published? A week has passed and I’m still not sure I have the words to... Read more

  Posted on 21 June 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What the French Taught Me About Sex (and Writing It)

  

  It’s nearly a week since my debut novel Paris Mon Amour came out and I’ll be writing about that incredible experience very soon…But in the meantime – and becaus... Read more

  Posted on 19 June 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author – Avril Joy on Setting Her Novel in a Place She’s Never Been

  

  Following last week’s Writers on Location about Chicago from Douglas Cowie, coverage of my Summer Reads 2016 selection continues today. I’m already receiving... Read more

  Posted on 09 June 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writers on Location – Douglas Cowie on Chicago

  

  Last week there was a very enthusiastic response to my latest selection, Summer Reads 2016 – thank you for reading and sharing it far and wide, something I... Read more

  Posted on 01 June 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Summer Reads 2016

  

  Welcome to the 10th Literary Sofa selection of new and forthcoming fiction, and what a incredible year for books 2016 is proving to be! Read more

  Posted on 25 May 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Guest Author: Louisa Treger – From Violinist to Writer

  

  Firstly, along with everyone involved in the publication of my novel, I was overwhelmed by the response to the cover and first page reveal on Monday – many... Read more

  Posted on 11 May 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Paris Mon Amour – Cover Reveal and First Page

  

  With only five weeks until publication of my novel on 13 June I am very excited to unveil the beautiful cover today.  It’s been fun to hear early readers... Read more

  Posted on 09 May 2016 BOOKS, CULTURE