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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=February 2015 Newsletter
|summary= Hi, hello, and how the devil are you? Reading feverishly, we hope. As ever, we've rounded up our favourite books out this month and hopefully you'll find something you - or your children - will enjoy in the picks.
The first reviews for the film adaptation of [[Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James]] are out. Most are suggesting that the film is better than the book. It's a polarising volume, isn't it? Our reviewer Zoe is in the positive camp but there are many who aren't. It will be interesting to see what readers think: few of us ''ever'' prefer the film to the book.
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|summary=Rebecca thought that [[The Virtuoso by Virginia Burges|The Virtuoso]] was a sensitive portrayal of a life in transition. She had quite a few questions when author Virginia Burges popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Jill thought that [[One Shot at Glory by P J Davitt|One Shot at Glory]] was a truly relatable story about football hopefuls and author P J Davitt makes it warts and all. She had quite a few questions she wanted to ask when Paddy popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Sue thought that [[A Word Glittering with Spikes by Nigel McClea|A Word Glittering with Spikes]] was a long, indulgent, romantic read and she had quite a few questions for author Nigel McClea when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|category=comments
|summary=Leonce Gaiter is a prolific African American writer and proud Harvard Alum. His writing has appeared in the NYTimes, NYT Magazine, LA Times, Washington Times, and Washington Post, and he has written two novels. His newly released novel, [http://bit.ly/ZyqSuN In the Company of Educated Men] is a literary thriller with socio-economic, class, and racial themes.
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|summary=Ani was quietly impressed by debut author Rachael Shanks' [[A Reverie of Brothers by R D Shanks|A Reverie of Brothers]] and she had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers.
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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=January 2015 Newsletter
|summary= Hi, hello and a very happy New Year. May 2015 be healthy, happy and fulfilling for each and every one of you.
We have the most wonderful book story for you this month. For the last three years, an anonymous artist has been leaving sculptures made from old books in and around Edinburgh. The sculptures are absolutely beautiful: delicate, evocative, inspiring. We at Bookbag love a bit of book art. Anf finally, the artist has spoken in an [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30697553 interview with the BBC]. She still doesn't say who she is, though! We love this story.
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{{newfeature |category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Femi Bolaji
|summary=Sue was moved when she read [[God Tells the Sun to Shine: An Amazing Story of Love and Forgiveness by Femi Bolaji|God Tells the Sun to Shine: An Amazing Story of Love and Forgiveness]] and there were was quite a bit to chat about when author Femi Bolaji popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Jim was blown away when he read [[The Last of the Spirits by Chris Priestley|The Last of the Spirits by Chris Priestley|The Last of the Spirits]] and he was delighted when author Chris Priestley popped into Bookbag Towers to chat about it.
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|summary=When Sue finished reading [[The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Marketing a Bestselling Book - on a Shoestring Budget by Dee Blick|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.
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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=November 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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.
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|summary=Jill thought that [[The Green Door by Christopher Bowden|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.
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|category=newsletters
|title=October 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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 [https://twitter.com/TheBookbag Twitter], where we post links to reviews of the books we liked every single day. Get ahead of the Bookbag curve!
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|summary=Peter thought that author Leigh Russell captured the atmosphere of the racecourse well in [[Race to Death (DI Ian Peterson 2) by Leigh Russell|Race to Death]] and he had quite a few questions for Leigh when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Sue thought that [[Snug by Matthew Tree|Snug]] was a deceptively simple novel with unsuspected layers. 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.
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|category=newsletters
|title=September 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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!
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|summary=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.
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|category=newsletters
|title=August 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=Sue was so convinced by Kim Staflund's book [[How to Publish a Bestselling Book ... and Sell It Worldwide Based on Value, Not Price! by Kim Staflund|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.
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|category=comments
|summary=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.
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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=July 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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 by Malorie Blackman|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 [[Jim Dean Talks To Bookbag About The UK's First Ever YA Literature Convention|his adventures]] over the weekend. Let's hope it all happens again next year!
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|category=comments
|summary=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.
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{{newfeature
|category=comments
|summary=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 by Malorie Blackman|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.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|category=newsletters
|title=June 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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.
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|category=comments
|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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 [http://www.countdownya.com here].
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{{newfeature
|category=comments
|summary=Candy popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us about some stuff which helped her write some other stuff.
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|category=interviews
|summary=One of Jim's favourite authors popped in to chat to us about the screen version of [[Gone by Michael Grant|Gone]].
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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=April 2014 Newsletter
|summary= 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 [[The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend|navigating adolescence]] in Thatcher’s Britain and followed him [[Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years by Sue Townsend|struggling into middle age]] during Tony Blair's third way.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=Jim can't stop talking about the [[Sesame Seade Mysteries 1: Sleuth on Skates by Clementine Beauvais and Sarah Horne|Sesame Seade Mysteries]] so he was delighted when author Clementine Beauvais and ilustrator Sarah Horne popped in to see us.
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|summary=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.
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{{newfeature
|category=comments
|summary=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!
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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=March 2014 Newsletter
|summary= Greetings, fellow book lovers. What have you been reading?
Children up and down the country have been reading thanks to [http://www.worldbookday.com/ 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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=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.
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|category=interviews
|summary=When Fletcher Moss, author of [[The Poison Boy by Fletcher Moss|The Poison Boy]] popped in to see us he had us spellbound when he told us that his obsession with age began when he was in his twenties.
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{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=February 2014 Newsletter
|summary= Hey! How are you? Guess what? We have exciting news to report!
You'll remember that we chose our [[Top Ten Self-Published Books 2013| top ten self-published books]] of last year a couple of months ago. Well, now we can share our excitement that one of them has been picked up for a traditional publishing contract. How great is that? [[Burden of the Desert by Justin Huggler]] is a story about the men, women and children in post-Saddam Iraq as well as those trying to project their voices and protect their lives. And it really is great. You can read our interview with Justin [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Justin Huggler|here]] and you can even win a copy of the book if you enter our [[Burden of the Desert by Justin Huggler|competition]]. Congratualations to Justin from all at Bookbag Towers.
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|category=interviews
|summary=Jill and Robert both loved [[A Room Full of Chocolate by Jane Elson|A Room Full of Chocolate]]. Jill got to do the review, but Robert was at the front of the queue with the questions when Jane popped in to see us.
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|summary=Robert thought that he should have been able to give [[This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales|This Song Will Save Your Life]] a sixth star. Unfortunately he couldn't - but he could chat to author Leila Sales when she popped in to see us.
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|summary=Robert thought that [[My Brother's Shadow by Tom Avery|My Brother's Shadow]] was a well-written story about a young girl grieving for her older brother. He had quite a few questions for Tom Avery when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Suzanne Rindell
|summary=Robert was completely blown away by [[The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell|The Other Typist]] and he had quite a few questions for author Suzanne Rindell when she popped in to see us.
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