Changes

The shortlist for the 2013 Carnegie Medal was announced earlier this month. You can see the chosen few [http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=The_CILIP_Carnegie_Medal_2013 [The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013|here]]. Which one would you like to see win? The winner will be announced at an afternoon ceremony at the Natural History Museum on Wednesday 19 June.

If you're going to be in the capital next month, we'd like to give you a heads up about Cityread London. This year they’re reading A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks. This state-of-the-nation novel set in London on the eve of the financial crash in 2007 explores themes such as terrorism, reality TV and drug addiction. Taking the themes of the novel as a starting point, they’ve lined up an amazing month of events taking place across London. Join a library book group, discover the history of the Tube, or swing by your local cinema. And if you're not in London, you can take part in our their virtual book group without even leaving your sofa. Check it out [http://www2.cityreadlondon.org.uk/calendar.html here].

In the run up to the publication of the new Jimmy Coates book (''Jimmy Coates: Blackout'') in June, Joe Craig [[Joe Craig Talks To Bookbag About Words, Death and Dilemmas|popped into]] Bookbag Towers to tell us what he's thinking when he thinks he's learning about his audiences (but is probably not)'! He's a funny guy!

Lovers of romantic fiction should check out our feature on the [[Romantic Novel of the Year 2013]]. When the categary winners were announced on 26 February [[:Category:Sophie Kinsella|Sophie Kinsella]] was awarded a lifetime achievement award for ''her continued contribution to the wordl world of romantic fiction''. The five category winners compete for the overall prize which will be announced at the RNA summer party on 16 May.

Of course, we have been interviewing authors for you, too. Robert enjoyed [[Geek Girl by Holly Smale]] and he had [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Holly Smale|plenty of questions]] for her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Robert's been a busy boy: he also thought that [[Smuggler's Kiss by Marie-Louise Jensen|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 [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marie-Louise Jensen|popped in]] to see us. 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 [[[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Antony Wootten|turned up]] in these 'ere parts.