Features

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan Hamilton

Sue was blown away when she read Stalemate, a reworking of the unsolved murder of Julia Wallace in Liverpool between the wars. Even knowing how it had to work out she still couldn't put the book down - and she had a lot to ask author Alan Hamilton when he popped in to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To N S Blackman

Jill thought that The Secret Dinosaur: Giants Awake was a super-fun adventure and she had quite a few questions when author N S Blackman popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Sarah Skilton Talks To Bookbag About Writing ''High and Dry''

Jim was very impressed by Sarah Skilton's High and Dry particularly because it was very differet to her last novel. Sarah chatted to us about the books. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg June 2014 Newsletter

Hello there! We're writing this in the midst of World Cup fever. We don't mind a bit of football at .Bookbag Towers but we really don't get feverish about it. If you're the same, read on. We have plenty of reading recommendations for you and you might need them if all around you has gone Rio mad. Read more...

Robert James Talks To Bookbag About Popular: The Launch

Jim went to the launch of Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek (A Memoir) by Maya Van Wagenen. We insisted that he tell us all about it. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matt Carrell

Sue was impressed by Vortex by Matt Carrell and the opportunity to ask the author a few questions when he popped into Bookbag Towers was simply too good to miss. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To W Scott Beaven

Ani enjoyed W Scott Beaven's coming of age crime story about the temptations and troubles facing young people. She had quite a few questions for the author when he popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To R J Morgan

Jim thought that Fifteen Bones by R J Morgan was a stunning debut dealing with some dark topics, but the great voice and gallows humour drew him in. He and Rebecca had lots to chat about when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Adrian Harvey

Sue loved Being Someone by Adrian Harvey - the story of a relationship and how early the seeds of destruction were sown. She thought it was an intriguing tale, exquisitely written. There was quite a lot to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Keris Stainton

Kicking off the Countdown to 5th June tour Keris Stainton popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. You'll find all the tour dates here. Read more...

Candy Harper Talks To Bookbag About The Inspiration For The ''Faith'' Series

Candy popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us about some stuff which helped her write some other stuff. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Robin Lloyd

Ani enjoyed Rough Passage to London: A Sea Captain's Tale, a Novel by Robin Lloyd and was intrigued by the background to the story. There were quite a few questions she wanted to ask when Robin popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Michael Grant Talks To Bookbag About The ''GONE'' TV Show

One of Jim's favourite authors popped in to chat to us about the screen version of Gone. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg April 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello, and what are you reading?

Most importantly this month, we'd like to say RIP Sue Townsend. Her creation, Adrian Mole, began with the teenager navigating adolescence in Thatcher’s Britain and followed him struggling into middle age during Tony Blair's third way. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sara Crowe

Jim gave five stars to Bone Jack by Sara Crowe and thought it was classic fantasy at its finest. He really couldn't wait when Sara popped in to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cat Clarke Again

Jim loved A Kiss In The Dark by Cat Clarke and he had quite a few questions for Cat when she popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Clementine Beauvais and Sarah Horne

Jim can't stop talking about the Sesame Seade Mysteries so he was delighted when author Clementine Beauvais and ilustrator Sarah Horne popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tess Sharpe

Robert thought that Far From You by Tess Sharpe was very difficult to review without giving away too much of the plot - but he had lots of questions ready when the author popped in to see us. Read more...

Sally Green Talks To Bookbag About Her Desert Island Books

Sally's hoping that she won't need a stack of 'how to' books and that she'll be able to indulge herself with some excellent books. We're just wondering how she's going to get them all there! Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg March 2014 Newsletter

Greetings, fellow book lovers. What have you been reading?

Children up and down the country have been reading thanks to World Book Day, which took place earlier this month. We love World Book Day here at Bookbag Towers. Some fantastic titles by some fantastic authors were included this year. There's Robert Muchamore, Lauren St John, David Melling. There's even a Horrible History in there. All these books cost just £1, thanks to the annual celebration of reading. What a wonderful thing. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lauren St John

Robert thinks that the Laura Marlin mysteries is one of the best series for tweens and younger teens. He was delighted when author Lauren St John popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Robert Parker

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 the first book in a planned new series by Robert Parker. She had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Fletcher Moss Talks To Bookbag About His Obsession With Age

When Fletcher Moss, author of 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. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg February 2014 Newsletter

Hey! How are you? Guess what? We have exciting news to report!

You'll remember that we chose our 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 here and you can even win a copy of the book if you enter our competition. Congratualations to Justin from all at Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Nikki Sheehan

Linda loved Who Framed Klaris Cliff? by Nikki Sheehan but it was Robert who won the competition to ask the questions. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jane Elson

Jill and Robert both loved 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Leila Sales

Robert thought that he should have been able to give 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tom Avery

Robert thought that 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Suzanne Rindell

Robert was completely blown away by The Other Typist and he had quite a few questions for author Suzanne Rindell when she popped in to see us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg January 2014 Newsletter

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. Read more...

J Courtney Sullivan Talks To Bookbag About Eavesdropping

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B R Collins

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. Read more...

Top Ten Self-Published Books 2013

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 us. These are the ones we loved in 2013... Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dom Conlon

Sue had a lovely time reading Dom Conlon's I Am A Giant and Tommy Tickletail: A Tall Tale and she was eager to chat to the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alex Kovacs

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, but the opportunity to chat to Alex Kovacs was not one to miss. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matthew Crow

We thought that 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mark Lingane, Again

Author Mark Lingane describes his latest book, 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rosie Best

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Richard Smith

Jill thought that Time Trap by Richard Smith was a riproaring adventure and loved the real locations and the book's interactive website. She had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg November 2013 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how the devil are you?

Did you know that 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Crime Writers' Association? To celebrate, they held a poll to find the greatest crime writer, crime series and crime novel. The fantabulous Agatha Christie topped the ratings for greatest writer with her novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as the greatest novel. 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephanie Elmas

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kristen Zimmer

Robert was impressed when he read The Gravity Between Us and delighted when author Kristen Zimmer popped in for an interview. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sebastiana Randone

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kristen Zimmer

Robert was impressed when he read The Gravity Between Us and delighted when author Kristen Zimmer popped in for an interview. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Julie Berry

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Howard Webster

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Angela Young

Sue thought that Speaking of Love was one of the most compelling pictures of mental illness which she'd read. There was quite a lot to talk about when author Angela Young popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sharmi Albrechtsen

Jill learned a great deal about Danes, about Americans and about herself when she read A Piece of Danish Happiness. She had quite a few things to discuss with author Sharmi Albrechtsen when she popped in to Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg October 2013 Newsletter

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 British Dyslexia Association and 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 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Eric Lindner

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. Read more...

Tom Moorhouse Talks To Bookbag About Fantasy, Reality and Water Voles

Anne loved The River Singers by Tom Moorhouse Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cora Harrison

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. Read more...

Simon Packham Talks To Bookbag About Going Back To School

Simon Packham was surprised when he realisedhow much of his writing involved school. Now he realises that it was inevitable. Read more...

Marcus Sedgwick Talks To Bookbag About Co-inky-dinks

We were blown away by Marcus Sedgwick's She Is Not Invisible and we wondered what he wanted to chat to us about when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Well, it was Co-inky-dinks. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Deborah Schwartz

Sue was hooked on 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tony Robinson OBE

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. 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. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg September 2013 Newsletter

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 Booker shortlist is out. Who will win? We have a sneaky feeling Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries will take it. We've reviewed the entire long list though - never let it be said we leave you wanting more! Read more...

Man Booker Prize 2013

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David Canning

Sue enjoyed 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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Philippa Gregory

Robert has been blown away by Changeling and Stormbringers so he was delighted when author Philippa Gregory popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Bridget Tyler

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. Read more...

Jill's Top Ten YA novels of 2012

2012 was a great year for YA fiction. Here are Jill's favourites. Why not tell us about yours? Read more...

Mairi Kidd Talks To Bookbag About The Founding Of Barrington Stoke

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. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Candy Harper

Robert was seriously impressed when he read Have a Little Faith and he had plenty of questions for author Candy Harper when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2013 Newsletter

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! Read more...

Emily Diamand Talks To Bookbag About how scary should it be?

We loved Emily Diamand's 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. Read more...

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