Features

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dee Blick

When Sue finished reading The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Marketing a Bestselling Book on a Shoestring Budget she was enthused to write a book - until she realised that she was one of the few people who didn't have a book inside her - but there was still a lot to talk about when author Dee Blick popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg November 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how are you?

November 17-21 was Anti-Bullying week here in the UK. And we were really happy to see the world of books get involved. Penguin launched a campaign called Choose Kind that ties in with the gorgeous Wonder by R J Palacio, a book about a disfigured young boy attending school for the first time. We at Bookbag are all for anything that tries to inspire all people to be a little bit kinder to each other and so we'd like to add our voice to the chorus asking everyone to #choosekind. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Konstantina Sozou-Kyrkou

Sue enjoyed Black Greek Coffee, a series of short stories which look at the darker side of Greek domestic life and had quite a few questions when Konstantina popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Christopher Bowden

Jill thought that The Green Door was an absorbing,evocative and truly enjoyable read. She had a few questions for author Christopher Bowden when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg October 2014 Newsletter

Hello! How's it going? What have you been reading? There's so much good stuff about that we bet you are spoiled for choice. Read on for some of our recommendations for a fabulous reading experience this month. However, you don't have to wait until the end of the month to find out which books we're enjoying. You can always follow us on Twitter, where we post links to reviews of the books we liked every single day. Get ahead of the Bookbag curve! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Leigh Russell

Peter thought that author Leigh Russell captured the atmosphere of the racecourse well in Race to Death and he had quite a few questions for Leigh when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matthew Tree

Sue thought that Snug was a deceptively simple novel with unsuspected layrs. It left her thinking about our colonial history and when Matthew Tree popped ino Bookbag Towers she had quite a few questions for the author. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg September 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello and we hope all is well with you. Summer, what we had of it, is over. And it's time for the autumn books release rush. There's an awful lot of good stuff coming out over the next few weeks. Ian McEwan, Will Self, David Mitchell, Martin Amis, Sarah Waters, Howard Jacobson and Ali Smith all have new books to come. So keep an eye peeled on on the Bookbag homepage]. We'll be reviewing as much as we can as quickly as we can, promise! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To P De V Hencher

Jill thought that The Leopard of Dramoor by P De V Hencher had an intricate and interesting plot with a vivid sense of time and place. She had a few questions for the author when he popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ed Straw

Jill's not easily impressed by political books but she did enjoy Stand and Deliver: A Design for Successful Government by Ed Straw. She had quite a few questions for Ed when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2014 Newsletter

Ok. Hi. We hope all is well with all of you. World news this month has been so horribly unhappy and depressing, hasn't it? Sometimes, it makes you feel utterly hopeless. We don't have any answers here at Bookbag but we do wish peace for all people in every country and we hope that one day humanity will achieve it. One possible way is, in the words of the proverb, to walk a mile in another man's shoes. Books can help us do this. Books allow us to see the world through someone else's eyes, to put ourselves in someone else's place. They can be distractions but they can also be tools of comings-together. And it's in that spirit of comings-together that we bring you this month's newsletter. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To The Queen

Her Majesty does not do interviews, but all at Bookbag dropped their Union Jack flags and waved a curtsy when The Queen of Twitter made a royal visit to Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kim Staflund

Sue was so convinced by Kim Staflund's book How to Publish a Bestselling Book ... and Sell It Worldwide Based on Value, Not Price! that she was tempted to give it a go - and she hasn't even written a book. When Kim popped in to see us she had a few questions to ask. Read more...

Jim's Top 15 Books Reviewed in the Last 5 Years

We couldn't believe it when we realised that it was five years since Jim first reviewed for Bookbag. Time goes so quickly when you're enjoying yourself! It was a tough job but Jim rose to the challenge of selecting his top fifteen books. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melvin Burgess

Jill thought that Doing It by Melvin Burgess was a funny and truthful peek into the minds of sex-obsessed teenage boys. Girls aren't left out, either. Parents might find it shocking but the kids will find it real. When Melvin popped into Bookbag Towers it was Jim who was on hand to ask some questions. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg July 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello, how are you? Happy summer! Got your holiday reading sorted out yet? If not, read on. We have plenty of recommendations for you.

Guess what? We have some great news! The weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July saw the UK's first ever YA Literature Convention, held as part of the established London Film and Comic Con. Curated by Malorie Blackman, Children's Laureate and author of many of our favourite books, including Noble Conflict, and organised with the help of Booktrust, LFCC organisers Showmasters, and many of the top YA publishers around, the event, held in Earls' Court 2, was a staggering success. Our man Jim was there and had a wonderful time. If you want to read more about, you can read all about his adventures over the weekend. Let's hope it all happens again next year! Read more...

Rebecca Mascull Talks To Bookbag About Writing Historical Fiction

Ani thought that The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull was a beautifully crafted mesh of conquering adversity/hist-fict/ghost story with a murder investigation slipped in for good measure and a satisfying novel that's worth every penny and, indeed, every moment spent in its company. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lorraine Jenkin Again

On a warm summer's day Sue sat in the garden and sank gratefully into Jam Tomorrow by Lorraine Jenkin. There were quite a few questions she wanted to ask Lorraine when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Jim Dean Talks To Bookbag About The UK's First Ever YA Literature Convention

The weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July saw the UK's first ever YA Literature Convention, held as part of the established London Film and Comic Con. Curated by Malorie Blackman, Children's Laureate and author of many of our favourite books, including Noble Conflict, and organised with the help of Booktrust, LFCC organisers Showmasters, and many of the top YA publishers around, the event, held in Earls' Court 2, was a staggering success. Read more...

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...

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