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]].__NOTOC__<!-- Remove --> | ||
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|category=lists | |category=lists | ||
| − | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023 |
| − | |summary= We've seen some | + | |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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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn |
| − | |summary=Jill | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| + | 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? | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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| − | |title= | + | |title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
| − | |category= | + | |category=interviews |
| − | |title= | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=lists | |category=lists | ||
| − | |title=Top Ten | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022 |
| − | |summary= We' | + | |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 2022. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author: |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents |
| − | |summary= | + | |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= | + | |title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know |
| − | |summary= | + | |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= | + | |title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Finding More Time For Reading |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=interviews |
| − | |title= | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand |
| − | |summary= | + | |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 dysfunctional. Sue wanted to know more. |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=lists | |category=lists | ||
| − | |title=Top Ten | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021 |
| − | |summary= We | + | |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... |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. | ||
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |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. |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=lists |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020 |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander |
| − | |summary= | + | |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 book. Perhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire |
| − | |summary= | + | |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 it. He and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers. |
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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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| − | |title= | + | |title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations |
| − | |summary= | + | |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= | + | |title=5 Great AI books to read in 2020 |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=lists |
| − | |title= | + | |title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=lists |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019 |
| − | |summary= | + | |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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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=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. |
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|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin |
| − | |summary= | + | |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= | + | |title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country. |
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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again. |
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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''? |
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| − | |category= | + | |category=lists |
| − | |title= | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018 |
| − | |summary= | + | |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... |
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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title= | + | |title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58. |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet |
| − | |summary=Sue | + | |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. |
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| + | {{newfeature | ||
| + | |category=comments | ||
| + | |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=Every child has a right to medical care | ||
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| − | |category= | + | |category=comments |
| − | |title=The | + | |title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things |
| − | |summary= | + | |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 |
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|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |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. |
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| − | |title= | + | |title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017 |
| − | |summary= | + | |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... |
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| − | |title= | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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| − | |title=The | + | |title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess |
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{{newfeature | {{newfeature | ||
|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs |
| − | |summary= | + | |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 prose. There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. |
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| − | |title= | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence |
| − | |summary= | + | |summary=Sue was delighted when she read [[The Cossack by K J Lawrence|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! |
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| − | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell | |
| − | + | |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. | |
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| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | ||
| − | |summary=Sue | ||
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| − | |title= | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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|category=interviews | |category=interviews | ||
| − | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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| − | |title= | + | |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago |
| − | |summary= | + | |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. |
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| − | + | Move to [[Recommended Resources]] | |
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[[Category:Features|*]] | [[Category:Features|*]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:01, 29 December 2023
Check out the full lists of interviews, top tens and articles.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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