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|category=interviewslists|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jon MayhewTop Ten Self-Published Books 2023|summary=We loved [[The Demon Collector by Jon Mayhew]], his follow've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up to [[Mortlock by Jon Mayhew|Mortlock]]there with the best of traditional publishing. We couldnHere't resist the opportunity to ask him some questionss our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author.
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|category=newslettersinterviews|title=February 2011 NewsletterThe Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn|summary=Hello! Happy February! What do we think to library closures then? Are we not too worried? After allJill enjoyed [[Radio Free Olympia by Jeffrey Dunn|Radio Free Olympia]], people are able to buy books for a penny at Amazon story blending prose and tuppence or threepence at The Book People these days. And anywaypoetry with themes of ecology, we'll all be reading via download soonfolklore, wonlove and loss. She didn't we? Why do we still need libraries? That's think it was the argumenteasiest read, isn't it? Unsurprisingly, we at Bookbag don't agreebut a rewarding one.
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|category=interviewscomments|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa WarehamFull Guide|summary=We Fantasy has always been our way out of the real world's limitations. It's a space where magic is real, mythical creatures roam, and heroes go on epic quests. This genre is loved [[Take Me Home: Tales of Battersea Dogs by Melissa Wareham]], her stories people of what life in Battersea Dogs is really like, especially adapted for childrenall ages and backgrounds. We couldn't resist the opportunity It allows us to ask her some questionsexplore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.}}
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=January 2011 NewsletterHow Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices|summary=Hello! Happy New Year! How was Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your Christmas? We had rather marvellous ones, helped along by our new Kindlesvocabulary. We're all used Not only does it expose you to this new reading experience nowwords and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and we're feeling very positive about ebooks. Although we are still miffed about using them being VAT-able. Still, you can't have everythingcorrectly. We also broke out With the bubbly when some kindly soul became our 4rise of language learning apps,000th Twitter follower. It's very gratifying to think that more than 4such as Promova,000 many people are interested in what we have turned to technology to sayimprove their vocabulary. Perhaps they're just being kind! If you'd like site updates more often than once However, reading remains a month via this newsletter, then why not join the throng? tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries.
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dan Abnett3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters|summary=Dan AbnettHow much do you know about ghostwriters? These professionals lurk in the shadows of the publishing industry (both self- and traditional publishing), with most members of the public having only ever heard of them because of the Pierce Brosnan film. Given the awkwardness a lot of people feel toward ghostwriters, it's [[Primeval: Extinction Event by Dan Abnett|Primeval: Extinction Event]] is no surprise that there are a perfect tie-in novel with lots number of Cretaceous critters for fansmisconceptions about what they do, and a very good action fantasy for anyone else. We couldnso I't wait m hoping to interview him!clarify three important things in this post.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Savita KalhanConrad Delacroix|summary=Savita Kalhan's Sue really enjoyed [[The Long Weekend Lensky Connection by Savita KalhanConrad Delacroix|The Long WeekendLensky Connection]] is an incredibly tense , a thriller with set primarily in Russia. She had quite a really important message about 'stranger danger'. We leapt at the opportunity to interview herfew questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|category=interviewslists|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John SaundersTop Ten Self-Published Books 2022|summary=John SaundersWe' [[The Vernham Chronicles by John Saunders|The Vernham Chronicles]] is set in re constantly amazed at the beautiful countryside quality of Vernbury Vale. There you'll meet the villagers of Vernham. They're distinctly odd but self-published books which come our way and we promise that you'll like them. We were delighted to interview John about his humorous storiesve seen some real gems in 2022. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author:
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Richard Denning3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents|summary=Richard DenningIf you's re all set to publish your novel, it might be time to [[Tomorrow's Guardian by Richard Denning|Tomorrow's Guardianhttps://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-find-a-literary-agent/ get yourself a literary agent]] is an action-filled children. Since you's story about re essentially picking the quest person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to save two universesthe world, that will really appeal this is no easy task. When you've sent your [https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to many younger readers-write-a-query-letter/ query letters] and started getting responses, especially if they're interested in historythese tips will help you choose the right person for you. We couldn't wait to interview him!
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The InterviewLolita Book Review: Bookbag Talks To Philip ThreadneedleMost Important Things to Know|summary=[[The Astronaut's Apprentice by Philip Threadneedle]] is a hoot of Lolita, a jaunt through space for tweens with Grandpahighly controversial book, Bradley and Headliceis not subject to bans in American schools. We couldn't resist Here are the opportunity most important things you need to ask Philip Threadneedle some questionsknow about it.
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=November 2010 NewsletterStylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews|summary=Hello! It's that time of year. You know the one. The obsessive time during which you simply cannot find Crucible is a space free of festive featurestragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. The time of relentless commercialism disguising the season's real message of goodwill to all menIts current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. We're not sure where one finds all this goodwill amongst the adverts, are you? Or is that too cynical? There is goodwill, of course, but it does tend Keep reading to get buried under the flurries of suggestions for things to buy. Well, Bookbag's no differentfind out more.
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|title=Amazon KindleHow Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math|summary=Are ebooks the future Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of books? Is it the right time to get an ebook reader? We thought about it long and hard. Yes we did. We don't often think about things this long or presenting this hard, because it hurtsscience. But sometimes, cogitations are necessary. We wouldn't Parents and teachers will be here at Bookbag if we didn't love books but we knew that more able to understand and more people were enjoying ebooks. It was time explain to find out what it was really like to have up to 3,500 books in your pocket or your bagchildren the simplest mathematical processes using images. 3,500! Yikes!
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mary E MartinFinding More Time For Reading|summary=If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's [[The Drawing LessonA Bookbagger's View: The First in the Trilogy of Remembrance by Mary E MartinWhat it's like to be a reviewer|The Drawing Lessonliterature]] is the first book in Mary E Martin. Plenty of us have gone through this experience of suddenly finding that we are not reading as much as we used to. There are a lot of possible reasons for this, and it's Trilogy something that you might be able to approach in a number of Remembranceways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. We thoroughly enjoyed But one of the book most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and took the opportunity to ask Mary some questionsthat can be harder than you might initially think.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To H A GoodmanGerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand|summary=Sue was absolutely riveted to [[Logic of DemonsDisaster in the Boardroom: The Quest for Nadine's Soul Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by H A GoodmanGerry Brown and Randall S Peterson]] is a helterskelter ride through the afterlife that asks the reader to think about the consequences - intended and unintended - of their actions. It's a highly imaginative, sometimes touching, story, told with great pace brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and enthusiasmlivelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctional. We couldn't resist the opportunity Sue wanted to ask H A Goodman some questionsknow more.
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|title=Top Ten Historical Novels of 2010Self-Published Books 2021|summary=We love thought that 2020 was a bit strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of historical fiction here at Bookbagself-published books which have come our way. ItLast year's a wide genre, ranging from a bit top ten consisted of escapist reading eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to serious social comment. And the past often has a great deal have to tell us about the present, so make it can be instructive tooa baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are our favourite historical novels from 2010, in alphabetical order, by author. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about yours?
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
|summary=Book reviews are a crucial tool for the reading community — it’s via these that opinions are exchanged, ideas discussed, and recommendations found. But though the growth of book review sites is promising for readers, a saturated market also means that it’s getting increasingly difficult to make your mark as a book reviewer.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marcus ChownGerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society|summary=We've always enjoyed Marcus Chown's work, from Sue was an enthusiastic reader of [[Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do by Marcus Chown|Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You]] to his children's book [[Felicity Frobisher Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and the Three-headed Aldebaran Dust Devil by Marcus ChownFilipe Morais|Felicity Frobisher The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and the Three-headed Aldebaran Dust Devilwhat to do]]. After devouring [[We Need To Talk About Kelvin by Marcus Chown|We Need To Talk About Kelvin]], we leapt at and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the opportunity to ask Marcus some questionsauthors when they popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=October 2010 NewsletterComic Books Where the Bad Guys Won|summary=Right. This month we are avoiding all talk of politics Comic books and spending cuts. Now the Chilean miners movies, in general, have been rescued - did you cry? We did - what we need is a given the portrayal of good book to take our minds off all ; always winning and saving the cuts doom and gloom, which has been going on since forever and a day. Just do it already! Have you heard however, thanks to the creativity of the British Library's web archive? It's a thing writers, we've been meaning to tell you about for have a long time and failed miserably in getting around few writers of comics who have managed to. Basicallyalter this unsaid rule, it's a collection sites evil wins at the end of cultural, historical and political importance to the UK and you can have day'. While it may not be a look at great thought to bear in mind, it here. Part of the plan is still something a bit fascinating to keep a record of how the web has evolved over the years by taking 6-monthly snapshots of a selection of cultural websitesdwell on. And guess what? Bookbag , we believe that it is included in the blog section - are we a blog? - and snapshots breath of our site have been archived for posterity since 2008. It tickles us pink fresh air to think discover that we've been includedhave something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor. Take a look - the whole website is just fascinating!
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lorraine JenkinGerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way|summary=Lorraine Jenkin has long been one of our favourite authors here at Bookbag Towers and we couldnGerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there't resist the opportunity to ask her s a few questionsfree digital [https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/580618 download] of this £42 book.
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|title=Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020|summary=Following hot on the footsteps In this strangest of [[Guardian Childrenyears we's Fiction Prize 2009|last yearve been delighted by the self-published books we's]] winner, [[Exposure by Mal Peet]], comes another wonderful selection of childrenve read and they's re all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the 2010 Guardian Childrensame genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's Fiction Prizetop ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mick O'HareOlga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander|summary=Sue was so impressed by [[The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New Scientist's annual books of answers to tantalising questions have always entertained and educated us here at Bookbag, so the opportunity to interview Mick O'Hare about this year's offering Novel or Game- [[Why Can't Elephants Jump? Changing Breakthroughs by Mick O'Hare|Why Can't Elephants Jump?Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander]] was too that she wished that she had a good to missbusiness idea of her own so that she could use the book.}} {{newfeature|category=lists|title=Man Booker Prize 2010|summary=We ''know'' Perhaps that the judges are going was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to have a difficult time in choosing a winner - we wouldn't like chat to have their job!us.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To L A WeatherlyAndrew Hampshire|summary=If youTechnology can seem frightening to people who don're into that whole paranormal romance thing, you're going to love t have the background. In [[Angel Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business by L A WeatherlyAndrew Hampshire|Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business]]. It's a breathtaking helter-skelter of a story in which two young people learn to trust in and love one another as they battle predatory angels. L A Weatherly is doing Andrew Hampshire discusses the rounds on a blog tour and she kindly called in on Bookbag. We persuaded her tech that can add quantifiable value to tell us all about ''Angel'' your business and how she came to write get the most out of it. Oh, He and if you've happened along before the closing date (31 October 2010), hurry over Sue had a lot to the [[Angel by L A Weatherly|review page]], because you could win yourself a copy!chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers.
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=September 2010 NewsletterStand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner|summary=Have you bought a Kindle or another e-reader or an iPad? We Bookbaggers haven't - yetIn every generation, there are kids who become bullies. It's not that we're Luddites. We're waiting until things settle downThey bully their siblings, neighbor kids, everyone's stopped arguing and we can see the lie of the landtheir classmates. There's much They seem to believe that other kids look up to tempt us in electronic books them and a lighter suitcase when we go on holiday respect them. That is only the beginning. Imagine the richness possible. Imagine the convenience. And - hopefully self- imagine the better prices we're all going to get. Welldelusion, we as most adults areaware, arenbut kids don't we? But let's face it. We readers might be ready, but is have the product? Too many electronic books are badly designed, little more than a scan of the print version. What a waste. The publishers do need experience to catch up. And properly judge what's going to happen with DRM? Will we have to stop passing our books on to friends is respect and family? And as web publishers, what about our review copies? The finished ones? Will we have to stop donating them to school libraries? Has anybody thought this through? is merely fear.
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The InterviewFrom Sci Fi to Reality: Bookbag Talks To Andy MulliganHow Dreams Turn Into Innovations|summary=The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You will probably know Andy Mulligan best for [[Ribblestrop by Andy Mulligan|Ribblestrop]], his wonderfully absurdist comedy set don’t have to go that far back in a boarding school. Now he's turned his attention time to social issues and mystery adventures see huge developments in [[Trash by Andy Mulligan|Trash]]technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, a gorgeous fable that is bound to win awards. You shouldn't miss it. Andy was kind enough to but if you don’t have a chat with usone in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch.
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Leigh Hodgkinson5 Great AI books to read in 2020|summary=Bookbag Artificial intelligence (AI) has long loved Leigh Hodgkinson's work with its unique design and great sense expanded into one of humourthe most important technologies in human history. When [[Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson|Limelight Larry]] and [[Scrummy! by Leigh Hodgkinson|Scrummy!]] were both released in close proximityIt comes with so many benefits, we couldn't resist from improving the opportunity efficiency of simple, basic tasks to ask her a few questionshelping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets.
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|category=interviewslists|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ken HowardA Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out|summary=Ken HowardAre you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out? We's [[The Young Chieftain by Ken Howard|The Young Chieftain]] is a really unusual story about an American boy who finds himself on a remote Scottish island in the middle of ve come up with a clan conflict. Itbaker's easy to read, but with several layers to peel back. We loved the mix dozen of modernity and tradition and jumped at the chance books to ask Ken give you some questions about writing itbrilliant ideas.
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|category=interviewslists|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rebecca ElliottTop Ten Self-Published Books 2019|summary=Bookbag really enjoyed [[MiloWe's Pet Egg by Rebecca Elliott|Milove seen some cracking self-published books this year and they's Pet Egg]] and jumped at re all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the chance to ask Rebecca Elliott some questionssame genres. Wereally couldn're delighted we did as shet narrow the choice down any further - so this year's provided some fascinating responses! We've subsequently read [[Just Because by Rebecca Elliott|Just Because]] which we loved all the moretop ten consists of eleven books and here they are, and [[Cub's First Winter in alphabetical order by Rebecca Elliott|Cub's First Winter]] which also really charmed usauthor...
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=August 2010 NewsletterDesiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review|summary=Hello! How are you? We're all good here at Bookbag Towers. Jill is dealing with a glut of runner beans. Sue is enjoying her new office. Keith is making new pals in deepest Wales. And we're all reading lots and lots of lovely books. As we now have more than four thousand reviews on the site, we were wondering how you prefer to navigate them, and so we thought we'd tell you about our [[Recommendations|recommendations]] page this month. It gives some good options for finding Writing a book youreview isn'd really like to read. If you're into all things newt difficult, you can check out the [[:Category:New Reviews|newest reviews sorted by category]]. If it's themes you're looking forknow, try our extensive list of [[:Category:Lists|top tens]]. The [[Highest Rated Reviews By Genre|highest rated reviews by genre]] but there are the creme de la creme, although if you like browsing a bit more broadly, then few things you'll enjoy rummaging through all the [[:Category:5 Star Reviews|5 star reviews]]need to keep us in mind. On the other hand, if you're feeling lucky, you can just read a [[Special:Random|random review]] Desiree Villena gives us five tips.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan DurantMelanie Martin|summary=Bookbag fell head over heels in love with |summary=In [[Unfortunately War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by Alan Durant Melanie Martin|War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and Simon Rickertydevotion in occupied Amsterdam]] - unfortunately we can't stop reading it, but fortunately itMelanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII. It's supera highly compelling if occasionally shocking read. We leapt at Days after she finished the opportunity book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to ask Alan Durant some questionschat with her.
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=July 2010 NewsletterFraming the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception|summary=It's windy and rainy today, here Loobna Joomun looks at Bookbag Towers. What's going on? Where's our sunshine? Do we have how Brexit is likely to leave affect the shores of this sceptr'd isle to catch some rays, always, every single time? Sometimes, it sure does feel like it. Jill doesn't mind: she's swanning off to Tuscany for a fortnight, publishing industry - and it's bound to be hot there, right? Right?! We've been taking stock this monththe wider country. We're not far away from a site containing five thousand book reviews and approaching that milestone has pulled us up short. At Bookbag's birth five years ago, if you'd told us
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David Gatward8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi|summary=Bookbag thought [[The Dead (The Dark) by David Gatward|The Dark]], Ever felt that you've hit a book of zombie horror positioning itself firmly in the Darren Shan market, provided strong characters, an interesting premise and a wonderful sufficiency of gore. So, naaturally, we enjoyed asking David Gatward all about brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing itagain.
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Bookbag Greg Hickey Talks To Melanie WelshBookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction|summary=Bookbag thought [[Mistress of the Storm by Melanie Welsh|Mistress of the Storm]] was full of seafaring adventure, mystery and intrigue. Naturally, we jumped at the chance to shiver some timbers Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and buckle some swash with her. This is what we talked about!''Brave New World''?
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|category=interviewslists|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Heather GudenkaufTop Ten Self-Published Books 2018|summary=Bookbag found [[The Weight of Silence Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2018 was difficult as we're constantly surprised at just how good some self-published books are. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by Heather Gudenkauf|The Weight of Silence]] to be an impressive debut with plenty of suspense and unexpected twistsauthor.. We were delighted by the opportunity to ask Heather Gudenkauf some questions about it.
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=June 2010 NewsletterJames Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle|summary=Vuvuzelas, eh? WhoOne of the finest storytellers you'd 'ave 'em? Personallyve never heard of, here who died in September 2018 at Bookbag Towers, we prefer vuvuzelas to the World Cup but even we know that's a sacrilegious remark and so we shall say no more about it... ... ahem. Possibly a more constructive topic is holiday reading. Do you pack books? Or do you rely on airport potboilers? Or stick to newspapers and magazines? We Bookbaggers obviously have a separate piece age of luggage just for our books, and we carry it everywhere we go, no matter how heavy it gets58. Fancy being stuck on holiday with nothing to read! Now that '''is''' sacrilege!
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Joel StewartMelissa Leet|summary=Bookbag has really enjoyed Joel Stewart's recent work, including Sue was impressed when she read [[Dexter Bexley And The Big Blue Beastie On The Road Landslide by Joel StewartMelissa Leet|Dexter Bexley And The Big Blue Beastie On The RoadLandslide]] and [[Have You Ever Seen A Sneep? by Tasha Pym Melissa Leet and Joel Stewart|Have You Ever Seen A Sneep?]] We were delighted when he agreed was surprised to answer some of our find that it was a debut novel. She had quite a few questionsfor Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|category=interviewscomments|title=The Interview: Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag Talks To Anthony Browneabout how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives|summary=Bookbag Every child has long loved Anthony Browne's work - particularly [[Little Beauty by Anthony Browne|Little Beauty]]. After being enthralled by the Children's Laureate's latest offering, [[Me and You by Anthony Browne|Me and You]], we jumped at the chance a right to ask him some questions.medical care
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|category=interviewscomments|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Joanne OwenAbout A Few Of Her Favourite Things|summary=Bookbag was really intrigued by [[The Alchemist and the Angel by Joanne Owen]]. It''We could definitely make a flying car – but that's a rather unique historical fantasy, well-researched and bursting with fascinating detail. Those with a taste for colourful and slightly gothic folklore will love it, and Bookbag was delighted to ask Joanne Owen some questionsnot the hard part.}} {{newfeature|category=interviews|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Pete Johnson|summary=Bookbag really enjoyed [[The Vampire Blog by Pete Johnson]]hard part is, with its one liners and how do you make a horror element at a level perfect for late primary school readers. We jumped at the opportunity to interview Pete Johnson, flying car that's super safe and are glad we didquiet?'': there's an exclusive revelation about a sequel!Elon Musk
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mavis CheekDaniel Peltz|summary=We thought that Mavis CheekSue wasn's t expecting to enjoy a novel about a ''building'', but was surprised by just how compelling she found [[Truth to Tell The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria by Mavis CheekDaniel Peltz|Truth to TellThe Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria]] . There was a good story, thought-provoking, beautifully written and laugh out loud funny in places. We wondered what more we could want and decided that we couldn't resist the opportunity lot to ask Mavis a few questions.}} {{newfeature|category=newsletters|title=May 2010 Newsletter|summary=The good: huzzah! The sun has finally come out. The bad: spending cuts are upon us. The ugly: there's worse in the offing. But fret ye not: there is a silver lining in every cloud and we at chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers see a good book as the best response to all of the above. Books don't cost a great deal of money and most of us can afford to buy them, even in these straitened times. And even if we can't, we can always go to the library. And what better way to spend an afternoon than reading a good book in a sunny garden? You see? A good book. The answer to everything. And there's plenty to choose from on the site at the moment, so if you haven't paid us a visit lately, do come along and have a look. We've reviewed 84 books this month alone.
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|title=Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2010Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017|summary=We ''know'' that Choosing the judges are going to have a difficult time top ten self-published books we read in choosing 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a winner - we wouldngreat deal of discussion. Here't like to have their job!s our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gregory HughesChit Dubey|summary=Gregory Hughes's Sue was quietly impressed when she read [[Unhooking the Moon 21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Gregory Hughes|Unhooking the MoonChit Dubey]] came straight at us as it chimed with her personal view of leftfield and is one of our favourite books of the year so farlife. It's a bittersweet road trip of a novel, featuring a loyal brother, a street hustler, a cigar smuggler, a chart-topping rapper, some goddamn paedophiles, and the most entrancing central character you're ever likely She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to meet. Unsurprisingly, we jumped at the chance of asking Gregory a few questionsus.
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|category=newsletterscomments|title=April 2010 NewsletterMelita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary|summary=We've been reading like crazy this month as the books have been pouring in - and there have been some very positive reviews from very satisfied reviewers, so do come visit. There's bound to be something you like. Overall, we're feeling rather happy here at Bookbag Towers. We have good books to read. The sun has come out. We weren't abroad when the volcanic ash cloud hit and we didn't know anybody Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was, either - although we did feel very sorry for the poor people who were. Volcanos, eh? Who'd 'ave 'em? a true Renaissance Princess
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anthony McGowanElizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte|summary=Bookbag has always loved Anthony McGowan's work, including Peter thought that [[The Knife That Killed Me Ten Golden Rules of Leadership by Anthony McGowanElizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte|The Knife That Killed MeTen Golden Rules of Leadership]] was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and [[Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan|Henry Tumour]]. After laughing throughout his latest work ([[Einstein's Underpants - And How They Saved The World by Anthony McGowan|Einstein's Underpants - And How They Saved The World]]) we he couldn't resist the opportunity to ask him some asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions.}} {{newfeature|category=newsletters|title=March 2010 Newsletter|summary=Looking forward when they came to the Easter break? We certainly are - and if someone doesn't buy Jill an egg from Montezuma's this year, her nearest and dearest are going to be very, very sorry. We have been busy fund-raising for Sport Relief, gadding about in London meeting publicists and going to birthday parties, and helping our heirs Bookbag Towers to plan gap year expeditions chat to Borneo - interestingly, we've also read two gap year novels recently, [[In the Trees by Pauline Fisk]] and [[The Island by Sarah Singleton]]. They're very different books, but they're both greatus.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Julie CohenGabe Riggs|summary=Julie Cohen's Luke thought that [[Nina Jones and the Temple of Gloom Punk Love Foucault by Julie Cohen|Nina Jones and the Temple of GloomGabe Riggs]] is funnywas an intense, quirkyemotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, compelling and intelligent - chick lit at its best - so we jumped at the opportunity capable prose. There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to interview herus.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ellie SandallSandra Aragona|summary=Ellie SandallSue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised [[Birdsong Sorting the Priorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Ellie SandallSandra Aragona|Birdsongautobiography]] features of life as a superb rhyme woven around lots of different bird callsdiplomatic spouse. It's There was a picture book lot that any young book fan will love, so we jumped at the opportunity she wanted to interview herask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gary BlackwoodK J Lawrence|summary=Bookbag devoured Gary Blackwood's Sue was delighted when she read [[Mysterious Messages - A History of Codes and Ciphers The Cossack by Gary BlackwoodK J Lawrence|Mysterious Messages - A History of Codes and CiphersThe Cossack]] and couldn't resist as it restored her faith in the opportunity to ask him a few questionsthriller genre.}} {{newfeature|category=newsletters|title=November 2009 Newsletter|summary=Firstly When the author, K J Lawrence, an apology: if you have visited popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us and had problems over the last few weeks, then we are very sorry. We Sue had some problems (you might even call them arguments) with our hosting company and we have now moved to quite a home that is much more welcoming. It's more suited to our needs and we're sure there won't be any more of that nasty downtime getting in your way of a good book recommendation or two. few questions ready!
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Paul HowardStuart Burrell|summary=Bookbag really enjoyed Paul HowardSue found Start Burrell's illustrations in book [[Twelve Times To The Penguin Who Wanted To Find Out Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records by Jill Tomlinson and Paul HowardStuart Burrell|Twelve Times To The Penguin Who Wanted To Find OutMax: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records]] and couldn't resist the opportunity an inspiring, feel-good read. She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to ask him a few questionsus.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Hilary McKayWes Stuart|summary=Bookbag really Luke enjoyed Hilary McKay's the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in [[Wishing For Tomorrow My Name is Sam by Hilary McKayWes Stuart|Wishing For TomorrowMy Name is Sam]] (the sequel to [[A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett]]) and couldn't resist the opportunity to ask her he had quite a few questions.}} {{newfeature|category=lists|title=Top Ten Picture Books For Halloween|summary=Boo! If our [[Top Ten Books For Children Who Love To Be Scared Silly]] was too... well, scary for you, then this is the selection for you. There are witches, pumpkins and black cats in abundance, so the littlest ones can join in with the Halloween fun, but there's nothing that'll give them nightmares. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?}} {{newfeature|category=newsletters|title=October 2009 Newsletter|summary=Hi again from author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers. The banner headline this month: one of to chat to us had suspected swine flu. Nobody will actually give you a diagnosis though, so you lay sweating and shivering on the sofa and take your Tamiflu, but you've no idea at all whether or not you'll have to go through it all again when you actually ''do'' get it. Bah. The other banner headline, of course, is that the Booker judges met with our approval this year by giving [[Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel|Wolf Hall]] the big prize. If you haven't read it yet, you really are remiss. It's an absolutely wonderful book and will stay with you for a long, long time.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ian StewartB C R Fegan|summary=Bookbag loved Ian Stewart's Sue giggled like a child when she read [[Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Treasures Henry and the Hidden Treasure by Ian Stewart|Hoard of Mathematical TreasuresB C R Fegan and Lenny Wen]] and couldn: it't resist the opportunity s a good story with some valuable lessons. It was a real pleasure to chat to ask him a few questionswriter B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers. We're delighted we did, as his answers are fascinating!
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David BarrieAnnie Ingram|summary=Bookbag Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was impressed by David Barrie's debut novelsomething of a relief when Sue met author, Annie Ingram. She has lengthy conversations with her cocker spaniel Kammie and has shared them with us in her [[Wasp-Waisted Conversations with Kammie by David BarrieAnnie Ingram|Wasp-Waistedbook]] and couldn't resist the opportunity . There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to ask him a few questionsus.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K S TurnerStephan Santiago|summary=Bookbag thinks that Kate Turner's Ani was quietly moved by [[Before the Gods (Chronicles of Fate and Choice) Returning Home by K S TurnerStephan Santiago|Before the GodsReturning Home]] is something rather special and we couldn't resist the opportunity there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to ask her a few questionsus.
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