Features

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

The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2013

We've reviewed the shortlisted books! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lynne Thomas

Jill thought that 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Katie McGarry

Robert enjoyed Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry and he was delighted when the author popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steve Cole

Here at Bookbag Towers we're massive fans to Steve Cole and we thought his 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! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To O H Robsson

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. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg May 2013 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how are you?

What are you reading? And is it any good? Choosing books is tricky, isn't it? Nobody chooses a book they think they'll hate. It can be even more tricky for reviewers, who have less choice in the books they read. We try to do things a little differently here at Bookbag. Our reviewers choose their own books from our review-copy stock. So they choose, mostly, the books they think they'll like. This does mean that our reviews are skewed to the positive - but it does mean that fans of chick lit are reading reviews by people who also enjoy reading chick lit, not by people who enjoy snotting all over it. So we think our policy leads not only to a happy place for its contributors, but also to a place where niche fans can find reviews by their peers. We like this policy, but we can see why some people wouldn't. And that's why Michael Deacon's hilarious take-down of Dan Brown over at the Telegraph made us laugh this month. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Clive Lawton

Jill really enjoyed Flowers From Fukushima by Clive Lawton, a haunting story of two survivors in a Japanese post-disaster wasteland. She and Clive ha a lot to talk about when he popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andy Robb

Robert loved the live-action role playing in Geekhood: Mission Improbable and he had quite a few questions for author Andy Robb. Read more...

Emily Murdoch Talks To Bookbag About The Way To Fairyland

Emily Murdoch talks to us about the tenuous balance between the head and the heart for an author. Read more...

Phil Earle Talks To Bookbag About Book Covers

Phil Earle thought that he knew about the perfect cover for his book, until the booksellers told him otherwise. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Will Hill

Robert gave five stars to teen novel Department 19: Battle Lines and he had quite a few questions for author Will Hill when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg April 2013 Newsletter

It still doesn't feel like spring, does it? A bright and breezy greeting is rather beyond us this month. We have gone into a slough of despond about the weather - and the loss of most of the soft fruit that should have been coming from our gardens this summer. Meh.

On the upside, Granta have produced their list of the best of young British novelists for the twenty-teens. You can see who they are here. Do you agree with the choices? If not, who would have been your choices? Everyone on the list is getting a turn on Radio 4's Book at Bedtime at the moment. We don't listen at bedtime any more, but we always catch up on iPlayer. Gotsta love the good old interweb, aintcha? Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To SJ Griffin

Jill thought that The Vanguard by SJ Griffin was an enjoyable post-catastrophe mystery thriller with enough twists and turns to shake a stick at with a super, unexpected ending and absorbing characters. She and SJ had plenty to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Graham Thomas

Jill enjoyed Maria & The Devil by Graham Thomas. It's a dark revenge fantasy with a western flavour in which themes of revenge, strong storytelling and evocative descriptions of landscape and setting combine to create a thoroughly enjoyable read. There was planty to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Janine A Southard

Jill thought that Queen & Commander by Janine A Southard was an enjoyable space opera and a fun read with plenty of potential to take the disparate central characters further. She had a few questions for Janine when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Laura Jarratt

Robert loved By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt and thought it just as good as her debut Skin Deep, so he was delighted when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mac Carty

Sue found The Vagaries Of Swing (Footprints on the Margate Sands of Time) by Mac Carty thought provoking and she loved the humour. There was quite a lot she wanted to discuss with the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mark Lingane

Ani really enjoyed Mark Lingane's genre-busting novel Beyond Belief and she had quite a few questions for him when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Luisa Plaja

One of our favourite authors, Luisa Plaja has been involved in something rather exciting. She popped in to bookbag Towers to tell us all about it. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lauren Oliver

Robert thought that Requiem by Lauren Oliver was an absolutely stunning read and the best in the Delirium trilogy. As you can imagine they had a lot to chat about when Lauren popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Justin Huggler

Ani was very impressed when she read Burden of the Desert by Justin Huggler and there was a great deal to discuss when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gail Carriger

Robert enjoyed YA novel Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger, famed for her adult Parasol Protectorate series and he was keen to chat to her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg March 2013 Newsletter

Oh, oh, oh. OH! It is March. And it is snowing. What is going on? Snow, fun though it is, does not belong in March. Daffodils belong in March. Where are the daffodils? Meh. Snow aside, how are you? Read more...

The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013

We've reviewed the books on the shortlist. The winner will be announced at an afternoon ceremony at the Natural History Museum on Wednesday 19 June 2013. Read more...

Joe Craig Talks To Bookbag About Words, Death and Dilemmas

Joe Craig popped ito Bookbag Towers to tell us 'What I’m thinking when I think I’m learning about my audiences (but I’m probably not)'! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Antony Wootten

Sue thought that Grown-ups Can't be Friends with Dragons by Antony Wootten was the perfect book for the child who struggles with childhood and can't seem to do anything right. It's not just a good story - there's a subtle message that life will improve. Sue had quite a few questions for Antony when he popped into Bookbag Towers Read more...

Romantic Novel of the Year 2013

When the categary winners were announced on 26 February Sophie Kinsella was awarded a lifetime achievement award for her continued contribution to the wordl of romantic fiction.

The five category winners compete for the overall prize which will be announced at the RNA summer party on 16 May. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marie-Louise Jensen

Robert thought that Smuggler's Kiss was an excellent historical adventure with a feisty, resourceful narrator and a wonderful supporting cast. He was keen to chat to author Marie-Louise Jensen when she popped into Boobag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Holly Smale

Robert enjoyed Geek Girl by Holly Smale and he had plenty of questions for her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Daniela Sacerdoti Talks To Bookbag About Her Love Of Reading

Robert was impressed when he read Dreams, the first of the Sarah Midnight Trilogy by Daniela Sacerdoti and we were delighted she popped ito Bookbag Towers to tell us about her love of reading. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg February 2013 Newsletter

Here's a fun piece of book-related news, especially for those of you living in the capital. On the 24th March the National Literacy Trust is organising the first ever UK Fun Run to be run exclusively for an educational or literacy focussed charity. The race will take place in London’s Victoria Park and begin at 11am. With a Where’s Wally? theme they are hoping to attract a wide range of participants, young and old, from the book-loving community. 1 in 6 adults in the UK have poor literacy which impacts their standard of living, independence and mental wellbeing, so you can see it's a really great cause. Find out more here. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To J E Ryder

Sue hadn't really intended to stay up until four o'clock in the morning reading Blood Pool by J E Ryder but once she got into the story she had to know what happened next. When J E Ryder popped in to Bookbag Towers Sue had quite a few questions for her. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Patricia Watkins

Sue thoroughly enjoyed The Wayward Gentleman: John Theophilus Potter and the Town of Haverfordwest and she was delighted when author Patricia Watkins popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Paula Weston Talks To Bookbag About Her Dream Dinner Party

We were very impressed by Shadows by Paula Weston, a book that promises thrilling plots, chemistry between the sassy lead characters and action and delivers. When she mentioned her dinner party we had to know who's been invited. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Laura Lam

Robert thought that Laura Lam's Pantomime was nearly as impossible to review as it was to put down and that this enthralling fantasy was a stunning debut. We had to have a chat with Laura. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Arthur Plotnik

Robert thought that Better Than Great by Arthur Plotnik was truly better than great and a fifty-carat, finger-licking-fabulous book which flies in the face of mediocrity. We had to chat to the author. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg January 2013 Newsletter

Hi! Hello! Happy New Year! We hope you had a marvellous festive season, weren't in trouble with floods and are about to be happily snowballing rather than in trouble with the white stuff.

We have some great news! Read more...

Annabel Pitcher Talks To Bookbag About Her New Year Resolutions

We fell for Annabel Pitcher when we read My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and we knew that she was one of our favourite authors when we finished Ketchup Clouds. She popped into Bookbag Towers to tell us about her New Year resolutions. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Natasha Farrant

We loved The Things We Did for Love by Natasha Farrant so there was lots to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Eve Ainsworth

Jill's cheeks ached when she read The Blog of Maisy Malone, so we were really looking forward to a chat with her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To R Julian Cox

Sue was impressed when she read R Julian Cox’s eco-thriller SHADOW ON THE SUN, an elegant conflation of fact and fiction which kept her on the edge of her seat. She and Julian had quite a few things to chat about when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Damian O'Brien

Words have long fascinated Zoë and after reading If Houses Why Not Mouses? by Damian O'Brien she had quite a few questions to ask the author when he called in to Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Guy Booth

Sue realised that The Arthur Moreau Story by Guy Booth could be read on two levels - and that both were terrifying. When Guy popped in to Bookbag Towers there were questions to which we needed answers! Read more...

Nefertaru's Story by Deborah White

This is the story of Nefertaru, a dancer and priestess at the temple of Sekhmet in Ancient Egyptian times. She appears briefly in both Wickedness and Deceit but is at the heart of the plot of both novels. Sekhmet was the divine consort of the god Ptah, who in later Ancient Egyptian history became merged with the god Thoth. Read more...

Richard and Judy Book Club Spring 2013

Richard and Judy have chosen some very good books for us - now we just want spring to hurry up and arrive! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rosanne Licata

Jill thought that Blood Bonds: The Caravan by Rosanne Licata was enchanting, romantic and a multi-faceted story. There was plenty to chat about when Roseanne popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andy Briggs

We're really pleased to present an interview with Andy Briggs, author of the excellent Hero.com and Villain.net series and of the superb Tarzan reboot (we can't wait for book 3 in February!) amongst his many other talents! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To A R Yoba

They Call Me... Montey Greene is a exciting crime crossing Italy and France and ending up back in the USA. We managed to catch Abdul as he popped into Bookbag Towers - and we had a few questions for him. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Patrick Kingsley

We loved How To Be Danish: From Lego to Lund. A Short Introduction to the State of Denmark by Patrick Kingsley and when he popped into Bookbag Towers there were quite a few questions we wanted answering! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To HM Castor

We loved HM Castor's VIII - the story of Henry VIII and we were fascinated by what she had to tell us when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To A K Hill

We were quietly impressed by A Mediocre Man and particularly by the way that it touched on so much which is wrong with our world without ever being depressing. When author A K Hill popped in to Bookbag Towers we had quite a few questions for him. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg November 2012 Newsletter

Hi, hello and welcome! The dreaded Christmas shopping season is rapidly approaching. In fact, by the time this newsletter goes out, you'll probably be stuck in already. So we'll say what we say to you every year: don't forget to buy at least one person at least one book! If you're stuck for ideas, you could always look at our lists section. You'll find many of our favourites, all organised in a way that makes it easy to find a good book for any recipient, no matter their age or interests. We hope you find great gifts for everyone on your list - literary or not - and that you receive some great gifts yourself. And we also hope that the entire shopping experience doesn't make you lose the will to live. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stefan Bachmann

Three years ago a young man emailed to ask if he could review for us. Normally we wouldn't have considered him - he was fifteen and we don't like putting commercial pressures on people who are still at school. He lived in Zurich and we don't post books outside the UK. There was just one thing that we couldn't pass. He wrote like an angel and over the course of a year Stefan gave us some wonderful reviews. We're not surprised that he has a deal with a major publisher but we are delighted and we certainly were not going to pass the chance to ask Stefan a few questions. Read more...

Savita Kalhan Talks To Bookbag About The Long Weekend – The Unused Quote

We were impressed by The Long Weekend and Savita had an interesting story for us when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Louisa Reid Talks To Bookbag About All Kinds Of Nasty

We thought that Black Heart Blue was incredibly powerful and more than a little bit frightening. Louisa Reid popped into Bookbag Tower to tell us about All Things Nasty. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cath Crowley

This has been an incredible year for YA contemporary books, and James would be hard-pressed to choose his favourite. A strong contender, though, would be the long-awaited UK release of Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon, an enchanting story of one incredible night. It's lyrical, romantic, and full of wonderful characters. He was absolutely thrilled to be able to talk to Cath Crowley about it! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Danaan Elderhill

Danaan Elderhill brought a little magic into our lives with her book The Magic Book of Cookery. We had quite a few questions for her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Adam Hamdy

Battalion is an action-packed adventure set some twenty yeas into the future. It's a thriller in the true sense of the word and we'd only just caught our breaths after finishing the book when author Adam Hamdy popped in to see us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg October 2012 Newsletter

Woohoo! Jill's personal favourite, Bring up the Bodies won this year's Booker Prize, making Hilary Mantel the first woman AND the first Briton to win twice. We are very happy about that, as we are about Mantel's rehabilitation of Thomas Cromwell. Which of the shortlist would you have chosen?

And now, we suppose, thoughts will turn to Christmas. Will you be buying books as gifts? How about a Kindle? The Kindle Fire is out later this month. Are you going to buy one? We're still thinking about it but will let you know what we think if and when we plump for one. You let us know, too. We'd be interested to hear your views. Read more...

Luisa Plaja Talks To Bookbag About Contemporary Series for Young Adults

When I read this great post about series at YA Contemporary, my first thought was, But I have shelves full of YA contemporary series! Surely there are lots of memorable ones still being published? Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rob Keeley

Last year we were delighted by Rob Keeley's first collection of short stories. This year it was a real pleasure to read The (Fairly) Magic Show and Other Stories. We had quite a few questions to ask him when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephanie Burgis

We've been thrilled by Stephanie Burgis' Magick series and delighted that she was able to find the time to pop into Bookbag Towers to have a chat with us. Read more...

Keren David Talks To Bookbag About Choosing Archie Stone As The Narrator Of Another Life

It's always fascinating to find out what makes an author write a book in a particular way. We've loved Keren David's series about Ty Lewis since we first read When I Was Joe so the opportunity to chat to her about the third book in the series was not one we were prepared to miss. Read more...

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