Difference between revisions of "Features"

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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->
Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].<!-- Remove -->
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Robert Parker
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|title=Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth
|summary=Being from the other side of the Pennines, Sue's not renowned for her love of Manchester, but she was impressed by the way the city came across in [[The Baby and the Brandy by Robert Parker|The Baby and the Brandy]] the first book in a planned new series by Robert Parker.  She had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Reading provides insights and techniques for both personal and professional development, making it a potent tool for self-improvement. However, the impact of reading largely depends on choosing the right books to match your objectives. To simplify this process, consider using the Headway app – a platform that provides users with key insights from top research-based books through audio and text summaries, making it easier to incorporate learning into a busy schedule.
 
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|title=Fletcher Moss Talks To Bookbag About His Obsession With Age
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|title=How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft
|summary=When Fletcher Moss, author of [[The Poison Boy by Fletcher Moss|The Poison Boy]] popped in to see us he had us spellbound when he told us that his obsession with age began when he was in his twenties.
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|summary=Need help on how to do a book report? Check out our step-by-step guide at thebookbag.co.uk and learn to craft compelling reports that impress today!
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Book report writing shouldn't be a headache! It's almost like telling a friend about a book but with a bit of structure.
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|title=February 2014 Newsletter
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|title=How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read
|summary=
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|summary=With technology gradually encroaching on every area of our lives, the change extends to literature as well. This brings serialized stories into focus, which overtook our reading habits with its stages, or small sequential parts of a narrated story. In this sense, this new approach is doing more than just changing how we read but also how authors will write, publishers, promote, and readers experience these works. The rise of digital platforms and book writing apps (e.g. [https://www.chapterly.com/ Chapterly]) are at the forefront of this change.
 
 
Hey! How are you? Guess what? We have exciting news to report!
 
 
 
You'll remember that we chose our [[Top Ten Self-Published Books 2013| top ten self-published books]] of last year a couple of months ago. Well, now we can share our excitement that one of them has been picked up for a traditional publishing contract. How great is that? [[Burden of the Desert by Justin Huggler]] is a story about the men, women and children in post-Saddam Iraq as well as those trying to project their voices and protect their lives. And it really is great. You can read our interview with Justin [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Justin Huggler|here]] and you can even win a copy of the book if you enter our [[Burden of the Desert by Justin Huggler|competition]]. Congratualations to Justin from all at Bookbag Towers.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Nikki Sheehan
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023
|summary=Linda loved [[Who Framed Klaris Cliff? by Nikki Sheehan]] but it was Robert who won the competition to ask the questions.
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|summary= We've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up there with the best of traditional publishing.  Here's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jane Elson
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn
|summary=Jill and Robert both loved [[A Room Full of Chocolate by Jane Elson|A Room Full of Chocolate]]. Jill got to do the review, but Robert was at the front of the queue with the questions when Jane popped in to see us.
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|summary=Jill enjoyed [[Radio Free Olympia by Jeffrey Dunn|Radio Free Olympia]], a story blending prose and poetry with themes of ecology, folklore, love and loss. She didn't think it was the easiest read, but a rewarding one.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Leila Sales
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|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide
|summary=Robert thought that he should have been able to give [[This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales|This Song Will Save Your Life]] a sixth star. Unfortunately he couldn't - but he could chat to author Leila Sales when she popped in to see us.
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|summary=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 by people of all ages and backgrounds. It allows us to explore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.
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But what if you could do more than just visit these magical lands? What if you could create your own? This is the magic of writing a fantasy novel. You have the power to build worlds with your words. You can turn simple ink and paper into landscapes that readers can explore.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tom Avery
 
|summary=Robert thought that [[My Brother's Shadow by Tom Avery|My Brother's Shadow]] was a well-written story about a young girl grieving for her older brother. He had quite a few questions for Tom Avery when he popped into Bookbag Towers.  
 
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So, get ready for an adventure. This journey is not just about castles and wizards. It's also about the craft of writing. You'll learn to use language and imagination to make a rich, varied story. And who knows what unexplored realms you'll discover along the way?
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Suzanne Rindell
 
|summary=Robert was completely blown away by [[The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell|The Other Typist]] and he had quite a few questions for author Suzanne Rindell when she popped in to see us.
 
 
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|title=January 2014 Newsletter
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|title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices
|summary=
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|summary=Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your vocabulary. Not only does it expose you to new words and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and using them correctly. With the rise of language learning apps, such as Promova, many people have turned to technology to improve their vocabulary. However, reading remains a tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries.
 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
 
 
 
Everyone at Bookbag Towers wishes you the best 2014 you could possibly imagine. Health, wealth, happiness to you, and, of course, a good book or two. We wanted to offer a wee thank you for reading our ramblings every month and so we have instituted a monthly prize draw for all newsletter subscribers. If you are our first lucky winner, congratulations! You'll find an Amazon voucher winging its way to you very soon.
 
 
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|title=J Courtney Sullivan Talks To Bookbag About Eavesdropping
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|title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters
|summary=Sue loved [[The Engagements by J Courtney Sullivan]] and she was fascinated when the author popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us about Eavesdropping.
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|summary=How 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 no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions about what they do, so I'm hoping to clarify three important things in this post.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B R Collins
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix
|summary=Both Jill and Robert were impressed by [[Love in Revolution by B R Collins]] but it was Robert who won the battle to ask the questions when the author popped in to see us.
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|summary=Sue really enjoyed [[The Lensky Connection by Conrad Delacroix|The Lensky Connection]], a thriller set primarily in Russia.  She had quite a few questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2013
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022
|summary=We've the utmost admiration for indie authors who go it alone in what's a very tough market and each year we pick the ten books which stood out for usThese are the ones we loved in 2013...
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|summary=We're constantly amazed at the quality of the self-published books which come our way and we've seen some real gems in 2022Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author:
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dom Conlon
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|title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents
|summary=Sue had a lovely time reading Dom Conlon's [[I Am A Giant (Tiny the Giant) by Dom Conlon and Nicola Anderson|I Am A Giant]] and [[Tommy Tickletail: A Tall Tale by Dom Conlon and Carl Pugh|Tommy Tickletail: A Tall Tale]] and she was eager to chat to the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=If you're all set to publish your novel, it might be time to [https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-find-a-literary-agent/ get yourself a literary agent]. Since you're essentially picking the person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to the world, this is no easy task. When you've sent your [https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to-write-a-query-letter/ query letters] and started getting responses, these tips will help you choose the right person for you.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alex Kovacs
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|title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know
|summary=Sue was slightly unnerved by the prospect of interviewing an author whose protagonist interviews himself (after allowing a suitable time lapse between preparing the questions and answering them) in [[The Currency of Paper by Alex Kovacs|The Currency of Paper]], but the opportunity to chat to Alex Kovacs was not one to miss.
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|summary=Lolita, a highly controversial book, is not subject to bans in American schools. Here are the most important things you need to know about it.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matthew Crow
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|title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews
|summary=We thought that [[In Bloom by Matthew Crow|In Bloom]] was a highly-enjoyable, life-affirming novel and with a lot more laughs than you would expect from a book about two teens with cancer. Robert had quite a few questions for author Matthew Crow when he popped in to see us.
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|summary=The Crucible is a tragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. Its current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. Keep reading to find out more.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mark Lingane, Again
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|title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math
|summary=Author Mark Lingane describes his latest book, [[I Love Lucid by Mark Lingane|I Love Lucid]] cyber-techno-thriller-alternate reality-procedural-pseudophilospophical dark comedy. Ani wasn't about to disagree but she had a few questions for Mark when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images.  
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rosie Best
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|title=Finding More Time For Reading
|summary=Robert thought that [[Skulk by Rosie Best]] was a wonderful urban fantasy with an outstanding heroine and an excellent plot.  He was delighted when Rosie popped in to Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
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|summary=If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's [[A Bookbagger's View:What it's like to be a reviewer|literature]]. 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 something that you might be able to approach in a number of ways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. But one of the most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and that can be harder than you might initially think.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Richard Smith
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand
|summary=Jill thought that [[Time Trap by Richard Smith]] was a riproaring adventure and loved the real locations and the book's interactive websiteShe had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Sue was absolutely riveted to [[Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson]].  It's brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and livelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctionalSue wanted to know more.
 
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|title=November 2013 Newsletter
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021
|summary=
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|summary= We thought that 2020 was a strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of self-published books which have come our way. Last year's top ten consisted of eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to have to make it a baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author...
 
 
Hi, hello and how the devil are you?
 
 
 
Did you know that 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the [http://www.thecwa.co.uk/ Crime Writers' Association]? To celebrate, they held a poll to find the greatest crime writer, crime series and crime novel. The fantabulous [[The Grand Tour: Letters and photographs from the British Empire expedition by Agatha Christie and Mathew Prichard (editor)|Agatha Christie]] topped the ratings for greatest writer with her novel ''The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'' as the greatest novel. [[Eliminate the Impossible: An Examination of the World of Sherlock Holmes on Page and Screen by Alistair Duncan and Steve Emecz|Sherlock Holmes]] was the greatest series. No surprises then, but it shows how much Christie and Conan Doyle are a part of our national pride and discourse.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephanie Elmas
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
|summary=Sue was completely captivated by [[The Room Beyond by Stephanie Elmas]] and there was quite a lot to talk about when Stephanie popped in to Bookbag Towers.
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|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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If you’re looking for ways to freshen your voice and make a stronger impression, I’ve got a few tips that might help. As an avid reader of book reviews, I’ve noticed that the ones that stay with me usually follow these three guidelines.
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kristen Zimmer
 
|summary=Robert was impressed when he read [[The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer|The Gravity Between Us]] and delighted when author Kristen Zimmer popped in for an interview.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sebastiana Randone
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society|summary=Sue was an enthusiastic reader of [[The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do by Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais|The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do]] and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers.
|summary=Jill thought that [[The House by Sebastiana Randone]] was genre busting and she had quite a few questions for the author when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kristen Zimmer
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|title=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won
|summary=Robert was impressed when he read [[The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer|The Gravity Between Us]] and delighted when author Kristen Zimmer popped in for an interview.
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|summary=Comic books and movies, in general, have been given the portrayal of good; always winning and saving the day. however, thanks to the creativity of writers, we have a few writers of comics who have managed to alter this unsaid rule, 'evil wins at the end of the day'. While it may not be a great thought to bear in mind, it is still something a bit fascinating to dwell on. And, we believe that it is a breath of fresh air to discover that we have something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Julie Berry
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way
|summary=Robert thought that Julie Berry's exploration of the story of a voiceless girl was worth reading. He had quite a few points to raise when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Gerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there's a free digital [https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/580618 download] of this £42 book.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Howard Webster
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020
|summary=Sue thought that [[Canton Elegy: A Father's Letter of Sacrifice, Survival and Love by Stephen Jin-Nom Lee and Howard Webster]] was compelling and life-affirming reading. She had quite a few questions for co-author Howard Webster.
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|summary= In this strangest of years we've been delighted by the self-published books we've read and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Angela Young
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander
|summary=Sue thought that [[Speaking of Love by Angela Young|Speaking of Love]] was one of the most compelling pictures of mental illness which she'd readThere was quite a lot to talk about when author Angela Young popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
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|summary=Sue was so impressed by [[The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New, Novel or Game-Changing Breakthroughs by Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander]] that she wished that she had a good business idea of her own so that she could use the bookPerhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sharmi Albrechtsen
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire
|summary=Jill learned a great deal about Danes, about Americans and about herself when she read [[A Piece of Danish Happiness by Sharmi Albrechtsen|A Piece of Danish Happiness]].  She had quite a few things to discuss with author Sharmi Albrechtsen when she popped in to Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Technology can seem frightening to people who don't have the background. In [[Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business by Andrew Hampshire|Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business]] Andrew Hampshire discusses the tech that can add quantifiable value to your business and how to get the most out of itHe and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=October 2013 Newsletter
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|title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner
|summary=
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|summary=In every generation, there are kids who become bullies. They bully their siblings, neighbor kids, and their classmates. They seem to believe that other kids look up to them and respect them. That is self-delusion, as most adults are aware, but kids don't have the experience to properly judge what is respect and what is merely fear.
 
 
We wanted to talk a little bit about dyslexia this month. And in particular, about the way dyslexia affects potential readers, especially young readers. If you don't know much about this condition, you can find out more at the [http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ British Dyslexia Association] and [http://dyslexiaaction.org.uk/ Dyslexia Action]. Dyslexic readers often struggle with books: they have problems with fonts, text size, background colours, vocabulary and all sorts of other things. We at Bookbag want parents to be able to find reading that will suit dyslexic children and so we have a dedicated category for [[:Category:Dyslexia Friendly|dyslexia friendly]] books. You'll find stories by great writers there: Anthony McGowan, Michael Morpurgo, Darren Shan, Tom Palmer, Meg Rosoff, Eoin Colfer and many more.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Eric Lindner
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|title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations
|summary=Jill thought that [[Hospice Voices: Lessons for Living at the End of Life by Eric Lindner]] was touching, illuminating and uplifting.  She was delighted when the author popped in to chat to us.
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|summary=The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You don’t have to go that far back in time to see huge developments in technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, but if you don’t have one in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch.
 
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|title=Tom Moorhouse Talks To Bookbag About Fantasy, Reality and Water Voles
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|title=5 Great AI books to read in 2020
|summary=Anne loved The River Singers by Tom Moorhouse|The River Singers]] and we were delighted when Tom Moorhouse popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us about his favourite childhood books and how they've influenced him.
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|summary=Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded into one of the most important technologies in human history. It comes with so many benefits, from improving the efficiency of simple, basic tasks to helping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cora Harrison
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|title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out
|summary=It took Robert a long time to write his review of [[Debutantes: In Love by Cora Harrison]] because all he really wanted to say was ''Oh wow, oh wow, I loved this book and you need to go out and get it '''right now!''' ''  When Cora popped ito Bookbag Towers they had lots to chat about.
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|summary= Are you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out?  We've come up with a baker's dozen of books to give you some brilliant ideas.
 
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|title=Simon Packham Talks To Bookbag About Going Back To School
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019
|summary=Simon Packham was surprised when he realisedhow much of his writing involved school. Now he realises that it was inevitable.
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|summary= We've seen some cracking self-published books this year and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres.  We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
 
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|title=Marcus Sedgwick Talks To Bookbag About Co-inky-dinks
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|title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review
|summary=We were blown away by Marcus Sedgwick's [[She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick|She Is Not Invisible]] and we wondered what he wanted to chat to us about when he popped into Bookbag TowersWell, it was Co-inky-dinks.
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|summary=Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mindDesiree Villena gives us five tips.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Deborah Schwartz
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin
|summary=Sue was hooked on [[Woman on Top by Deborah Schwartz|Woman on Top]] from the first page and she had more than a few questions for author Deborah Schwartz when she popped in to see us.
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|summary=|summary=In [[War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by Melanie Martin|War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam]] Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII.  It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read.  Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tony Robinson OBE
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|title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception
|summary=Sue reads quite a lot of business books but very few have such an engaging mix of satire and sage business advice as [[Freedom from Bosses Forever by Tony Robinson OBE|Freedom from Bosses Forever]].  It's mainly about Canadian businesswoman Leonora Soculitherz, but Sue had quite a few questions for author Tony Robinson OBE when he popped in to see us.
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|summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country.
 
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|title=September 2013 Newsletter
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|title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi
|summary=
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|summary=Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again.
Hi there. How is everything your way? Good, we hope. Summer is over. The children are going back to school. Jill's oldest son is heading off to university, as is Bookbag reviewer Nigethan. We hope all goes well for them both - and Jill hasn't shed a single tear at the loss of her oldest, honest!
 
 
 
As the evenings begin to draw in, you may be in need of some satisfying reading material. Read on for some recommendations. And don't forget that the [[Man Booker Prize 2013|Booker shortlist]] is out. Who will win? We have a sneaky feeling Eleanor Catton's [[The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton|The Luminaries]] will take it. We've reviewed the entire long list though - never let it be said we leave you wanting more!
 
 
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|title=Man Booker Prize 2013
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|title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction
|summary=The longlist was announced on 23 July. The shortlist is in the diary for 10 September and the winner will be announced on 15 October.
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|summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''?
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David Canning
 
|summary=Sue enjoyed [[Out of the Clouds of Deceit by David Canning|Out of the Clouds of Deceit]] despite the fact that she doesn't usaully like reading military fiction.  She and author David Canning had quite a lot to chat about when he popped in to see us.
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Philippa Gregory
 
|summary=Robert has been blown away by [[Changeling by Philippa Gregory|Changeling]] and [[Stormbringers by Philippa Gregory|Stormbringers]] so he was delighted when author [[:Category:Philippa Gregory|Philippa Gregory]] popped in to see us.
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Bridget Tyler
 
|summary=Robert was blown away by [[Drummer Girl by Bridget Tyler]] and it grabbed him from the first paragraph.  He had quite a few questions for the author when she popped in to see us.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|category=lists
|title=Jill's Top Ten YA novels of 2012
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018
|summary=2012 was a great year for YA fiction. Here are Jill's favourites. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about yours?
+
|summary= 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 author...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Mairi Kidd Talks To Bookbag About The Founding Of Barrington Stoke
+
|title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle
|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we love books and reading and it horrifys us that many children can't share that love because they suffer from dyslexia.  To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the founding of Barrington Stoke, MD Mairi Kidd popped in to tell us how it all began.
+
|summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Candy Harper
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet
|summary=Robert was ''seriously'' impressed when he read [[Have a Little Faith by Candy Harper|Have a Little Faith]] and he had plenty of questions for author Candy Harper when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
+
|summary=Sue was impressed when she read [[Landslide by Melissa Leet|Landslide]] by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel.  She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=newsletters
 
|title=August 2013 Newsletter
 
|summary=
 
Hi, hello and how the devil are you? Enjoying the summer? Looking for books to read while you're on holiday? Looking for books for the children to read while they're on holiday? Look no further. We'll give you our picks of the month and more.
 
 
What do you think to Jane Austen being depicted on the £10 note? We like it! We also like the suggestions from Abe Books about other authors and other currencies. Take a look at their ideas and see what you think!
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Emily Diamand Talks To Bookbag About how scary should it be?
+
|title=Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives
|summary=We loved Emily Diamand's [[Ways To See a Ghost by Emily Diamand|Ways To See a Ghost]] and when we plucked up the courage to peep out from under the covers we were fascinated to hear what Emily had to say about how scary children's fiction should be.
+
|summary=Every child has a right to medical care
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Jillian Larkin Talks To Bookbag About The Flappers
+
|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things
|summary=Robert was very impressed by ''The Flappers'', but he was keen to find out how Jillian Larkin felt about the series and what she had planned for the future.
+
|summary=''We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?'': Elon Musk
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=interviews
|title=July 2013 Newsletter
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz
|summary=
+
|summary=Sue wasn't expecting to enjoy a novel about a ''building'', but was surprised by just how compelling she found [[The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria by Daniel Peltz|The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria]]. There was a lot to chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers.
Hi, hello, how are you?
 
 
 
We have exciting news! Bookbag reviewer Robin Stevens has signed a deal with Random House for three books about a children's detective agency. Hooray! Robin has a day job working for Orion Children's Books. She writes [[:Category:Reviewed by Robin Stevens|reviews]] for us and an interesting [http://redbreastedbird.blogspot.co.uk/ blog]. And she writes novels too! What a woman. Where does she find the time? Seriously - congratulations to Robin. The deal is richly deserved.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=lists
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Simon Pont
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017
|summary=Before she started [[Remember to Breathe by Simon Pont|Remember to Breathe]] Sue wondered if it was going to be the sort of book she would enjoy, but she loved it and had quite a few questions for author Simon Pont when he popped in to see us.
+
|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion.  Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tom Clempson
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey
|summary=Robert thought that [[One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend: In the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson]] was rude and crude, but seriously funny and recommended reading - as long as you're not on public transport!
+
|summary=Sue was quietly impressed when she read [[21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey]] as it chimed with her personal view of life.  She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Dan Smith talks to Bookbag about Paper Movies
+
|title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary
|summary=Jill was mightily impressed by Dan Smith's debut novel for young people,  [[My Friend the Enemy by Dan Smith|My Friend the Enemy]] and loved Dan's YouTube videos about it. Here, he tells us about the making of...
+
|summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rick Yancey
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte
|summary=Robert thought that [[The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey|The 5th Wave]] was tough, brutal and completely gripping and he was delighted when author Rick Yancey popped in to see us.
+
|summary=Peter thought that [[The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership by Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte|The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership]] was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Sophia Bennett Talks To Bookbag About Books She Loved When She Was A Teenager
 
|summary=Robert was blown away when he read [[You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett]] and they got chatting about books Sophia read when she was a teenager.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Siobhan Curham
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs
|summary=Robert thought that [[Shipwrecked by Siobhan Curham|Shipwrecked]] had brilliant charaterisation and a really interesting settingHe had a few questions when author Siobhan Curham popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.  
+
|summary=Luke thought that [[Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs]] was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable proseThere was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=newsletters
 
|title=June 2013 Newsletter
 
|summary=
 
Hi, hello and good reading to you.
 
 
We'd just like to say a sad goodbye to Iain Banks, who died this month, long before his time. He was two brilliant authors, and we will miss him.
 
 
The [[The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2013|Desmond Eilliott Prize]] shortlist is out. It's for debut fiction published in the UK in 2013 and we have reviewed all three books. Take a look. You should read all three - of course! - but [[The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan]] has a special place in a corner of Bookbag's heart. We defy you to read our review and fail to rush out and buy a copy!
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Jackie Marchant Talks To Bookbag About Mice and Tarantulas - the things we do for research
 
|summary=Jackie is terrified of spiders but with the boy-next-door, [[:Category:Dougal Trump|Dougal Trump]] she's just written [[I'm Dougal Trump . . . Where's My Tarantula? by Dougal Trump|a book about tarantulas]].
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ben Mezrich
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona
|summary=Robert doesn't often say that a book should have been longer, but [[Straight Flush by Ben Mezrich|Straight Flush]] was one of the rare exceptions.  There were quite a few questions he wanted to ask Ben.
+
|summary=Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised [[Sorting the Priorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|autobiography]] of life as a diplomatic spouse.  There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sophia Bennett
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence
|summary=When Robert reviewed [[You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett]] he couldn't bring himself to say too much about it in case he gave any spoilersHe did take the opportunity to chat to Sophia when she popped in to see us though!  
+
|summary=Sue was delighted when she read [[The Cossack by K J Lawrence|The Cossack]] as it restored her faith in the thriller genreWhen the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready!
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Joe Craig
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell
|summary=Robert is a great fan of Joe Craig and he had a whole list of questions for him when he poppoed in to chat to us.
+
|summary=Sue found Start Burrell's book [[Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records by Stuart Burrell|Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records]] an inspiring, feel-good read. She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Simon Packham Talks To Bookbag About ''Firewallers''
 
|summary=One of the highlights of the first few months of 2013 for Robert was reading a new book by [[:Category:Simon Packham|Simon Packham]], one of the most consistently excellent YA contemporary authors writing today. Firewallers is a fantastic read, so he was thrilled when Simon agreed to write a guest post for us.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|title=The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2013
 
|summary=We've reviewed the shortlisted books!
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lynne Thomas
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart
|summary=Jill thought that [[Jelly Cooper: Alien by Lynne Thomas|Jelly Cooper: Alien]] was a fun book about a teenager with special powers and she had a few questions she wanted to ask author Lynne Thomas when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
+
|summary=Luke enjoyed the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in [[My Name is Sam by Wes Stuart|My Name is Sam]] and he had quite a few questions for author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Katie McGarry
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan
|summary=Robert enjoyed [[Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry]] and he was delighted when the author popped in to see us.
+
|summary=Sue giggled like a child when she read [[Henry and the Hidden Treasure by B C R Fegan and Lenny Wen]]: it's a good story with some valuable lessons.  It was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steve Cole
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram
|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we're massive fans to Steve Cole and we thought his [[Magic Ink by Steve Cole|latest book]] was just brilliant, but when we heard that Steve was popping in to chat to us we decided that we needed an expert to conduct the interview - eight-year-old Billy Young. Over to you, Billy!
+
|summary=Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something 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 [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|book]].  There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To O H Robsson
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago
|summary=Sue thought that [[The Spark by O H Robsson]] was a rewarding read for those who like to get to know their characters - and that it was likely to tempt you into planning a holiday in western Norway.  She had quite a few questions when the author popped in to see us.
+
|summary=Ani was quietly moved by [[Returning Home by Stephan Santiago|Returning Home]] and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
  
Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].
+
Move to [[Recommended Resources]]
 
 
 
[[Category:Features|*]]
 
[[Category:Features|*]]

Latest revision as of 08:41, 3 October 2024

Check out the full lists of interviews, top tens and articles.

Bookcomments.jpg Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth

Reading provides insights and techniques for both personal and professional development, making it a potent tool for self-improvement. However, the impact of reading largely depends on choosing the right books to match your objectives. To simplify this process, consider using the Headway app – a platform that provides users with key insights from top research-based books through audio and text summaries, making it easier to incorporate learning into a busy schedule. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft

Need help on how to do a book report? Check out our step-by-step guide at thebookbag.co.uk and learn to craft compelling reports that impress today!

Book report writing shouldn't be a headache! It's almost like telling a friend about a book but with a bit of structure. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read

With technology gradually encroaching on every area of our lives, the change extends to literature as well. This brings serialized stories into focus, which overtook our reading habits with its stages, or small sequential parts of a narrated story. In this sense, this new approach is doing more than just changing how we read but also how authors will write, publishers, promote, and readers experience these works. The rise of digital platforms and book writing apps (e.g. Chapterly) are at the forefront of this change. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023

We've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up there with the best of traditional publishing. Here's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn

Jill enjoyed Radio Free Olympia, a story blending prose and poetry with themes of ecology, folklore, love and loss. She didn't think it was the easiest read, but a rewarding one. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide

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 by people of all ages and backgrounds. It allows us to explore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.

But what if you could do more than just visit these magical lands? What if you could create your own? This is the magic of writing a fantasy novel. You have the power to build worlds with your words. You can turn simple ink and paper into landscapes that readers can explore.

So, get ready for an adventure. This journey is not just about castles and wizards. It's also about the craft of writing. You'll learn to use language and imagination to make a rich, varied story. And who knows what unexplored realms you'll discover along the way? Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices

Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your vocabulary. Not only does it expose you to new words and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and using them correctly. With the rise of language learning apps, such as Promova, many people have turned to technology to improve their vocabulary. However, reading remains a tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters

How 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 no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions about what they do, so I'm hoping to clarify three important things in this post. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix

Sue really enjoyed The Lensky Connection, a thriller set primarily in Russia. She had quite a few questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022

We're constantly amazed at the quality of the self-published books which come our way and we've seen some real gems in 2022. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author: Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents

If you're all set to publish your novel, it might be time to get yourself a literary agent. Since you're essentially picking the person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to the world, this is no easy task. When you've sent your query letters and started getting responses, these tips will help you choose the right person for you. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know

Lolita, a highly controversial book, is not subject to bans in American schools. Here are the most important things you need to know about it. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews

The Crucible is a tragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. Its current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. Keep reading to find out more. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math

Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Finding More Time For Reading

If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's literature. 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 something that you might be able to approach in a number of ways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. But one of the most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and that can be harder than you might initially think. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand

Sue was absolutely riveted to Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson. It's brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and livelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctional. Sue wanted to know more. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021

We thought that 2020 was a strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of self-published books which have come our way. Last year's top ten consisted of eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to have to make it a baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market

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.

If you’re looking for ways to freshen your voice and make a stronger impression, I’ve got a few tips that might help. As an avid reader of book reviews, I’ve noticed that the ones that stay with me usually follow these three guidelines. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society

Sue was an enthusiastic reader of The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won

Comic books and movies, in general, have been given the portrayal of good; always winning and saving the day. however, thanks to the creativity of writers, we have a few writers of comics who have managed to alter this unsaid rule, 'evil wins at the end of the day'. While it may not be a great thought to bear in mind, it is still something a bit fascinating to dwell on. And, we believe that it is a breath of fresh air to discover that we have something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way

Gerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there's a free digital download of this £42 book. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020

In this strangest of years we've been delighted by the self-published books we've read and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander

Sue was so impressed by The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New, Novel or Game-Changing Breakthroughs by Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander that she wished that she had a good business idea of her own so that she could use the book. Perhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire

Technology can seem frightening to people who don't have the background. In Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business Andrew Hampshire discusses the tech that can add quantifiable value to your business and how to get the most out of it. He and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner

In every generation, there are kids who become bullies. They bully their siblings, neighbor kids, and their classmates. They seem to believe that other kids look up to them and respect them. That is self-delusion, as most adults are aware, but kids don't have the experience to properly judge what is respect and what is merely fear. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations

The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You don’t have to go that far back in time to see huge developments in technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, but if you don’t have one in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 5 Great AI books to read in 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded into one of the most important technologies in human history. It comes with so many benefits, from improving the efficiency of simple, basic tasks to helping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets. Read more...

Booklists.jpg A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out

Are you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out? We've come up with a baker's dozen of books to give you some brilliant ideas. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019

We've seen some cracking self-published books this year and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review

Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mind. Desiree Villena gives us five tips. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin

In War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII. It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read. Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception

Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi

Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction

Where do you go when you move beyond classics like 1984 and Brave New World? Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018

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 author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle

One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet

Sue was impressed when she read Landslide by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel. She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives

Every child has a right to medical care Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things

We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?: Elon Musk Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz

Sue wasn't expecting to enjoy a novel about a building, but was surprised by just how compelling she found The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria. There was a lot to chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017

Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey

Sue was quietly impressed when she read 21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey as it chimed with her personal view of life. She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary

Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte

Peter thought that The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs

Luke thought that Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable prose. There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona

Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised autobiography of life as a diplomatic spouse. There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence

Sue was delighted when she read The Cossack as it restored her faith in the thriller genre. When the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready! Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell

Sue found Start Burrell's book Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records an inspiring, feel-good read. She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart

Luke enjoyed the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in My Name is Sam and he had quite a few questions for author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan

Sue giggled like a child when she read Henry and the Hidden Treasure by B C R Fegan and Lenny Wen: it's a good story with some valuable lessons. It was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram

Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something 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 book. There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago

Ani was quietly moved by Returning Home and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

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