Difference between revisions of "Features"

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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->
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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].<!-- Remove -->
 
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|title=Jill's Top Ten YA novels of 2012
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|title=Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth
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|summary=2012 was a great year for YA fiction. Here are Jill's favourites. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about yours?
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|summary=Reading provides insights and techniques for both personal and professional development, making it a potent tool for self-improvement. However, the impact of reading largely depends on choosing the right books to match your objectives. To simplify this process, consider using the Headway app – a platform that provides users with key insights from top research-based books through audio and text summaries, making it easier to incorporate learning into a busy schedule.
 
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|title=How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft
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|summary=Need help on how to do a book report? Check out our step-by-step guide at thebookbag.co.uk and learn to craft compelling reports that impress today!
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Book report writing shouldn't be a headache! It's almost like telling a friend about a book but with a bit of structure.
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|title=Mairi Kidd Talks To Bookbag About The Founding Of Barrington Stoke
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|title=How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read
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|summary=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.
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|summary=With technology gradually encroaching on every area of our lives, the change extends to literature as well. This brings serialized stories into focus, which overtook our reading habits with its stages, or small sequential parts of a narrated story. In this sense, this new approach is doing more than just changing how we read but also how authors will write, publishers, promote, and readers experience these works. The rise of digital platforms and book writing apps (e.g. [https://www.chapterly.com/ Chapterly]) are at the forefront of this change.
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023
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|summary= We've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up there with the best of traditional publishing.  Here's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Candy Harper
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn
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|summary=Robert was ''seriously'' impressed when he read [[Have a Little Faith by Candy Harper|Have a Little Faith]] and he had plenty of questions for author Candy Harper when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
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|summary=Jill enjoyed [[Radio Free Olympia by Jeffrey Dunn|Radio Free Olympia]], a story blending prose and poetry with themes of ecology, folklore, love and loss. She didn't think it was the easiest read, but a rewarding one.
 
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|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide
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|summary=Fantasy has always been our way out of the real world's limitations. It's a space where magic is real, mythical creatures roam, and heroes go on epic quests. This genre is loved by people of all ages and backgrounds. It allows us to explore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.
  
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But what if you could do more than just visit these magical lands? What if you could create your own? This is the magic of writing a fantasy novel. You have the power to build worlds with your words. You can turn simple ink and paper into landscapes that readers can explore.
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|title=August 2013 Newsletter
 
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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.
 
  
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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!
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So, get ready for an adventure. This journey is not just about castles and wizards. It's also about the craft of writing. You'll learn to use language and imagination to make a rich, varied story. And who knows what unexplored realms you'll discover along the way?
 
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|title=Emily Diamand Talks To Bookbag About how scary should it be?
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|title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices
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|summary=We loved Emily Diamand's [[Ways To See a Ghost by Emily Diamand|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.
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|summary=Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your vocabulary. Not only does it expose you to new words and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and using them correctly. With the rise of language learning apps, such as Promova, many people have turned to technology to improve their vocabulary. However, reading remains a tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries.
 
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|title=Jillian Larkin Talks To Bookbag About The Flappers
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|title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters
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|summary=Robert was very impressed by ''The Flappers'', but he was keen to find out how Jillian Larkin felt about the series and what she had planned for the future.
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|summary=How much do you know about ghostwriters? These professionals lurk in the shadows of the publishing industry (both self- and traditional publishing), with most members of the public having only ever heard of them because of the Pierce Brosnan film. Given the awkwardness a lot of people feel toward ghostwriters, it's no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions about what they do, so I'm hoping to clarify three important things in this post.
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|title=July 2013 Newsletter
 
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Hi, hello, how are you?
 
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We have exciting news! Bookbag reviewer Robin Stevens has signed a deal with Random House for three books about a children's detective agency. Hooray! Robin has a day job working for Orion Children's Books. She writes [[:Category:Reviewed by Robin Stevens|reviews]] for us and an interesting [http://redbreastedbird.blogspot.co.uk/ blog]. And she writes novels too! What a woman. Where does she find the time? Seriously - congratulations to Robin. The deal is richly deserved.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Simon Pont
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix
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|summary=Before she started [[Remember to Breathe by Simon Pont|Remember to Breathe]] Sue wondered if it was going to be the sort of book she would enjoy, but she loved it and had quite a few questions for author Simon Pont when he popped in to see us.
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|summary=Sue really enjoyed [[The Lensky Connection by Conrad Delacroix|The Lensky Connection]], a thriller set primarily in Russia.  She had quite a few questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tom Clempson
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022
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|summary=Robert thought that [[One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend: In the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson]] was rude and crude, but seriously funny and recommended reading - as long as you're not on public transport!
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|summary=We're constantly amazed at the quality of the self-published books which come our way and we've seen some real gems in 2022.  Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author:
 
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|title=Dan Smith talks to Bookbag about Paper Movies
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|title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents
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|summary=Jill was mightily impressed by Dan Smith's debut novel for young people, [[My Friend the Enemy by Dan Smith|My Friend the Enemy]] and loved Dan's YouTube videos about it. Here, he tells us about the making of...
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|summary=If you're all set to publish your novel, it might be time to [https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-find-a-literary-agent/ get yourself a literary agent]. Since you're essentially picking the person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to the world, this is no easy task. When you've sent your [https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to-write-a-query-letter/ query letters] and started getting responses, these tips will help you choose the right person for you.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rick Yancey
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|title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know
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|summary=Robert thought that [[The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey|The 5th Wave]] was tough, brutal and completely gripping and he was delighted when author Rick Yancey popped in to see us.
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|summary=Lolita, a highly controversial book, is not subject to bans in American schools. Here are the most important things you need to know about it.
 
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|title=Sophia Bennett Talks To Bookbag About Books She Loved When She Was A Teenager
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|title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews
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|summary=Robert was blown away when he read [[You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett]] and they got chatting about books Sophia read when she was a teenager.
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|summary=The Crucible is a tragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. Its current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. Keep reading to find out more.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Siobhan Curham
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|title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math
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|summary=Robert thought that [[Shipwrecked by Siobhan Curham|Shipwrecked]] had brilliant charaterisation and a really interesting setting. He had a few questions when author Siobhan Curham popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.  
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|summary=Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images.  
 
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|title=June 2013 Newsletter
 
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Hi, hello and good reading to you.
 
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We'd just like to say a sad goodbye to Iain Banks, who died this month, long before his time. He was two brilliant authors, and we will miss him.
 
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The [[The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2013|Desmond Eilliott Prize]] shortlist is out. It's for debut fiction published in the UK in 2013 and we have reviewed all three books. Take a look. You should read all three - of course! - but [[The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan]] has a special place in a corner of Bookbag's heart. We defy you to read our review and fail to rush out and buy a copy!
 
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|title=Jackie Marchant Talks To Bookbag About Mice and Tarantulas - the things we do for research
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|title=Finding More Time For Reading
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|summary=Jackie is terrified of spiders but with the boy-next-door, [[:Category:Dougal Trump|Dougal Trump]] she's just written [[I'm Dougal Trump . . . Where's My Tarantula? by Dougal Trump|a book about tarantulas]].
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|summary=If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's [[A Bookbagger's View:What it's like to be a reviewer|literature]]. Plenty of us have gone through this experience of suddenly finding that we are not reading as much as we used to. There are a lot of possible reasons for this, and it's something that you might be able to approach in a number of ways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. But one of the most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and that can be harder than you might initially think.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ben Mezrich
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand
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|summary=Robert doesn't often say that a book should have been longer, but [[Straight Flush by Ben Mezrich|Straight Flush]] was one of the rare exceptions.  There were quite a few questions he wanted to ask Ben.
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|summary=Sue was absolutely riveted to [[Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson]].  It's brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and livelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctional.  Sue wanted to know more.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sophia Bennett
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021
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|summary=When Robert reviewed [[You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett]] he couldn't bring himself to say too much about it in case he gave any spoilers. He did take the opportunity to chat to Sophia when she popped in to see us though!
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|summary= We thought that 2020 was a strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of self-published books which have come our way. Last year's top ten consisted of eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to have to make it a baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author...
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Joe Craig
 
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|summary=Robert is a great fan of Joe Craig and he had a whole list of questions for him when he poppoed in to chat to us.
 
 
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|title=Simon Packham Talks To Bookbag About ''Firewallers''
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
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|summary=One of the highlights of the first few months of 2013 for Robert was reading a new book by [[:Category:Simon Packham|Simon Packham]], one of the most consistently excellent YA contemporary authors writing today. Firewallers is a fantastic read, so he was thrilled when Simon agreed to write a guest post for us.
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|summary=Book reviews are a crucial tool for the reading community — it’s via these that opinions are exchanged, ideas discussed, and recommendations found. But though the growth of book review sites is promising for readers, a saturated market also means that it’s getting increasingly difficult to make your mark as a book reviewer.
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If you’re looking for ways to freshen your voice and make a stronger impression, I’ve got a few tips that might help. As an avid reader of book reviews, I’ve noticed that the ones that stay with me usually follow these three guidelines.
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|title=The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2013
 
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|summary=We've reviewed the shortlisted books!
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lynne Thomas
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society|summary=Sue was an enthusiastic reader of [[The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do by Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais|The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do]] and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Jill thought that [[Jelly Cooper: Alien by Lynne Thomas|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.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Katie McGarry
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|title=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won
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|summary=Robert enjoyed [[Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry]] and he was delighted when the author popped in to see us.
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|summary=Comic books and movies, in general, have been given the portrayal of good; always winning and saving the day. however, thanks to the creativity of writers, we have a few writers of comics who have managed to alter this unsaid rule, 'evil wins at the end of the day'. While it may not be a great thought to bear in mind, it is still something a bit fascinating to dwell on. And, we believe that it is a breath of fresh air to discover that we have something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steve Cole
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way
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|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we're massive fans to Steve Cole and we thought his [[Magic Ink by Steve Cole|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!
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|summary=Gerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there's a free digital [https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/580618 download] of this £42 book.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To O H Robsson
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020
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|summary=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.
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|summary= In this strangest of years we've been delighted by the self-published books we've read and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
 
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|title=May 2013 Newsletter
 
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|summary=Hi, hello and how are you?
 
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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 [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10049454/Dont-make-fun-of-renowned-Dan-Brown.html take-down of Dan Brown] over at the Telegraph made us laugh this month.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Clive Lawton
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander
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|summary=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.
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|summary=Sue was so impressed by [[The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New, Novel or Game-Changing Breakthroughs by Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander]] that she wished that she had a good business idea of her own so that she could use the book.  Perhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andy Robb
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire
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|summary=Robert loved the live-action role playing in [[Geekhood: Mission Improbable by Andy Robb|Geekhood: Mission Improbable]] and he had quite a few questions for author Andy Robb.
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|summary=Technology can seem frightening to people who don't have the background. In [[Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business by Andrew Hampshire|Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business]] Andrew Hampshire discusses the tech that can add quantifiable value to your business and how to get the most out of it.  He and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=Emily Murdoch Talks To Bookbag About The Way To Fairyland
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|title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner
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|summary=Emily Murdoch Talks To Bookbag About The Way To Fairyland
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|summary=In every generation, there are kids who become bullies. They bully their siblings, neighbor kids, and their classmates. They seem to believe that other kids look up to them and respect them. That is self-delusion, as most adults are aware, but kids don't have the experience to properly judge what is respect and what is merely fear.
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|summary=Emily Murdoch talks to us about the tenuous balance between the head and the heart for an author.
 
 
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|title=Phil Earle Talks To Bookbag About Book Covers
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|title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations
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|summary=Phil Earle thought that he knew about the perfect cover for his book, until the booksellers told him otherwise.
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|summary=The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You don’t have to go that far back in time to see huge developments in technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, but if you don’t have one in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Will Hill
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|title=5 Great AI books to read in 2020
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|summary=Robert gave five stars to teen novel [[Department 19: Battle Lines by Will Hill|Department 19: Battle Lines]] and he had quite a few questions for author Will Hill when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded into one of the most important technologies in human history. It comes with so many benefits, from improving the efficiency of simple, basic tasks to helping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets.
 
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|title=April 2013 Newsletter
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|title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out
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|summary=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.
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|summary= Are you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out? We've come up with a baker's dozen of books to give you some brilliant ideas.
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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 [http://www.granta.com/Archive/123 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 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s0f63 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?
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To SJ Griffin
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019
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|summary=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.
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|summary= We've seen some cracking self-published books this year and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres.  We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Graham Thomas
 
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|summary=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.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Janine A Southard
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|title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review
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|summary=Jill thought that [[Queen & Commander (A Hive Queen Novel) by Janine A Southard|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.
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|summary=Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mind. Desiree Villena gives us five tips.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Laura Jarratt
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin
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|summary=Robert loved [[By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt]] and thought it just as good as her debut [[Skin deep by Laura Jarratt|Skin Deep]], so he was delighted when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
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|summary=|summary=In [[War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by Melanie Martin|War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam]] Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII.  It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read.  Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her.
 
}}
 
}}
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mac Carty
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|title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception
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|summary=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.
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|summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country.
 
}}
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mark Lingane
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|title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi
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|summary=Ani really enjoyed Mark Lingane's genre-busting novel [[Beyond Belief by Mark Lingane|Beyond Belief]] and she had quite a few questions for him when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again.
 
}}
 
}}
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Luisa Plaja
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|title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction
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|summary=One of our favourite authors, [[:Category:Luisa Plaja|Luisa Plaja]] has been involved in something rather exciting.  She popped in to bookbag Towers to tell us all about it.
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|summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''?
 
}}
 
}}
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lauren Oliver
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018
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|summary=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.
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|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2018 was difficult as we're constantly surprised at just how good some self-published books are.  Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Justin Huggler
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|title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle
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|summary=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.
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|summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58.
 
}}
 
}}
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gail Carriger
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet
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|summary=Robert enjoyed YA novel [[Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger|Etiquette and Espionage]] by Gail Carriger, famed for her adult  [[Soulless: The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger|Parasol Protectorate]] series and he was keen to chat to her when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
+
|summary=Sue was impressed when she read [[Landslide by Melissa Leet|Landslide]] by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel.  She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
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|title=March 2013 Newsletter
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|title=Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives
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|summary=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?
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|summary=Every child has a right to medical care
 
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|title=The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013
 
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|summary=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.
 
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|title=Joe Craig Talks To Bookbag About Words, Death and Dilemmas
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|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things
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|summary=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)'!
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|summary=''We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?'': Elon Musk
 
}}
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Antony Wootten
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz
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|summary=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
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|summary=Sue wasn't expecting to enjoy a novel about a ''building'', but was surprised by just how compelling she found [[The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria by Daniel Peltz|The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria]].  There was a lot to chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
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|title=Romantic Novel of the Year 2013
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017
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|summary=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 of romantic fiction''.
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|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion.  Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
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The five category winners compete for the overall prize which will be announced at the RNA summer party on 16 May.
 
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marie-Louise Jensen
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey
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|summary=Robert 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 popped into Boobag Towers.
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|summary=Sue was quietly impressed when she read [[21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey]] as it chimed with her personal view of life.  She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Holly Smale
 
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|summary=Robert enjoyed [[Geek Girl by Holly Smale]] and he had plenty of questions for her when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=Daniela Sacerdoti Talks To Bookbag About Her Love Of Reading
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|title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary
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|summary=Robert was impressed when he read [[Dreams (Sarah Midnight Trilogy) by Daniela Sacerdoti|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.
+
|summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess
 
}}
 
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|category=newsletters
 
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|title=February 2013 Newsletter
 
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|summary=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 [http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/support/fundraising_and_events/fun_run here].
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To J E Ryder
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte
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|summary=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.
+
|summary=Peter thought that [[The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership by Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte|The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership]] was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Patricia Watkins
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs
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|summary=Sue thoroughly enjoyed [[The Wayward Gentleman: John Theophilus Potter and the Town of Haverfordwest by Patricia Watkins|The Wayward Gentleman: John Theophilus Potter and the Town of Haverfordwest]] and she was delighted when author Patricia Watkins popped into Bookbag Towers.
+
|summary=Luke thought that [[Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs]] was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable prose.  There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
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|title=Paula Weston Talks To Bookbag About Her Dream Dinner Party
 
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|summary=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.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Laura Lam
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona
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|summary=Robert thought that Laura Lam's [[Pantomime by Laura Lam|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.
+
|summary=Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised [[Sorting the Priorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|autobiography]] of life as a diplomatic spouse.  There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Arthur Plotnik
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence
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|summary=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.
+
|summary=Sue was delighted when she read [[The Cossack by K J Lawrence|The Cossack]] as it restored her faith in the thriller genre.  When the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready!
 
}}
 
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|title=January 2013 Newsletter
 
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|summary=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.
 
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We have some great news!
 
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|title=Annabel Pitcher Talks To Bookbag About Her New Year Resolutions
 
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|summary=We fell for Annabel Pitcher when we read [[My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher|My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece]] and we knew that she was one of our favourite authors when we finished [[Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher|Ketchup Clouds]].  She popped into Bookbag Towers to tell us about her New Year resolutions.
 
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{{newfeature
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Natasha Farrant
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell
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|summary=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.
+
|summary=Sue found Start Burrell's book [[Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records by Stuart Burrell|Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records]] an inspiring, feel-good read.  She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
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{{newfeature
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Eve Ainsworth
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart
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|summary=Jill's cheeks ''ached'' when she read [[The Blog of Maisy Malone by Eve Ainsworth|The Blog of Maisy Malone]], so we were really looking forward to a chat with her when she popped into Bookbag Towers.  
+
|summary=Luke enjoyed the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in [[My Name is Sam by Wes Stuart|My Name is Sam]] and he had quite a few questions for author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
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{{newfeature
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To R Julian Cox
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan
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|summary=Sue was impressed when she read R Julian Cox’s eco-thriller [[Shadow on the Sun by R Julian Cox|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.
+
|summary=Sue giggled like a child when she read [[Henry and the Hidden Treasure by B C R Fegan and Lenny Wen]]: it's a good story with some valuable lessons.  It was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Damian O'Brien
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram
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|summary=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.
+
|summary=Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something of a relief when Sue met author, Annie Ingram.  She has lengthy conversations with her cocker spaniel Kammie and has shared them with us in her [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|book]].  There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Guy Booth
 
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|summary=Sue realised that [[The Arthur Moreau Story by Guy Booth|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!
 
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|title=Nefertaru's Story by Deborah White
 
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|summary=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 by Deborah White|Wickedness]] and [[Deceit by Deborah White|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.
 
 
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|title=Richard and Judy Book Club Spring 2013
 
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|summary=Richard and Judy have chosen some very good books for us - now we just want spring to hurry up and arrive!
 
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rosanne Licata
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago
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|summary=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.
+
|summary=Ani was quietly moved by [[Returning Home by Stephan Santiago|Returning Home]] and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
  
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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].
+
Move to [[Recommended Resources]]
−
 
 
 
[[Category:Features|*]]
 
[[Category:Features|*]]

Latest revision as of 08:41, 3 October 2024

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

Bookcomments.jpg Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth

Reading provides insights and techniques for both personal and professional development, making it a potent tool for self-improvement. However, the impact of reading largely depends on choosing the right books to match your objectives. To simplify this process, consider using the Headway app – a platform that provides users with key insights from top research-based books through audio and text summaries, making it easier to incorporate learning into a busy schedule. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft

Need help on how to do a book report? Check out our step-by-step guide at thebookbag.co.uk and learn to craft compelling reports that impress today!

Book report writing shouldn't be a headache! It's almost like telling a friend about a book but with a bit of structure. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read

With technology gradually encroaching on every area of our lives, the change extends to literature as well. This brings serialized stories into focus, which overtook our reading habits with its stages, or small sequential parts of a narrated story. In this sense, this new approach is doing more than just changing how we read but also how authors will write, publishers, promote, and readers experience these works. The rise of digital platforms and book writing apps (e.g. Chapterly) are at the forefront of this change. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023

We've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up there with the best of traditional publishing. Here's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn

Jill enjoyed Radio Free Olympia, a story blending prose and poetry with themes of ecology, folklore, love and loss. She didn't think it was the easiest read, but a rewarding one. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide

Fantasy has always been our way out of the real world's limitations. It's a space where magic is real, mythical creatures roam, and heroes go on epic quests. This genre is loved by people of all ages and backgrounds. It allows us to explore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.

But what if you could do more than just visit these magical lands? What if you could create your own? This is the magic of writing a fantasy novel. You have the power to build worlds with your words. You can turn simple ink and paper into landscapes that readers can explore.

So, get ready for an adventure. This journey is not just about castles and wizards. It's also about the craft of writing. You'll learn to use language and imagination to make a rich, varied story. And who knows what unexplored realms you'll discover along the way? Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices

Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your vocabulary. Not only does it expose you to new words and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and using them correctly. With the rise of language learning apps, such as Promova, many people have turned to technology to improve their vocabulary. However, reading remains a tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters

How much do you know about ghostwriters? These professionals lurk in the shadows of the publishing industry (both self- and traditional publishing), with most members of the public having only ever heard of them because of the Pierce Brosnan film. Given the awkwardness a lot of people feel toward ghostwriters, it's no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions about what they do, so I'm hoping to clarify three important things in this post. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix

Sue really enjoyed The Lensky Connection, a thriller set primarily in Russia. She had quite a few questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022

We're constantly amazed at the quality of the self-published books which come our way and we've seen some real gems in 2022. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author: Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents

If you're all set to publish your novel, it might be time to get yourself a literary agent. Since you're essentially picking the person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to the world, this is no easy task. When you've sent your query letters and started getting responses, these tips will help you choose the right person for you. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know

Lolita, a highly controversial book, is not subject to bans in American schools. Here are the most important things you need to know about it. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews

The Crucible is a tragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. Its current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. Keep reading to find out more. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math

Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Finding More Time For Reading

If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's literature. Plenty of us have gone through this experience of suddenly finding that we are not reading as much as we used to. There are a lot of possible reasons for this, and it's something that you might be able to approach in a number of ways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. But one of the most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and that can be harder than you might initially think. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand

Sue was absolutely riveted to Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson. It's brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and livelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctional. Sue wanted to know more. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021

We thought that 2020 was a strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of self-published books which have come our way. Last year's top ten consisted of eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to have to make it a baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market

Book reviews are a crucial tool for the reading community — it’s via these that opinions are exchanged, ideas discussed, and recommendations found. But though the growth of book review sites is promising for readers, a saturated market also means that it’s getting increasingly difficult to make your mark as a book reviewer.

If you’re looking for ways to freshen your voice and make a stronger impression, I’ve got a few tips that might help. As an avid reader of book reviews, I’ve noticed that the ones that stay with me usually follow these three guidelines. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society

Sue was an enthusiastic reader of The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won

Comic books and movies, in general, have been given the portrayal of good; always winning and saving the day. however, thanks to the creativity of writers, we have a few writers of comics who have managed to alter this unsaid rule, 'evil wins at the end of the day'. While it may not be a great thought to bear in mind, it is still something a bit fascinating to dwell on. And, we believe that it is a breath of fresh air to discover that we have something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way

Gerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there's a free digital download of this £42 book. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020

In this strangest of years we've been delighted by the self-published books we've read and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander

Sue was so impressed by The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New, Novel or Game-Changing Breakthroughs by Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander that she wished that she had a good business idea of her own so that she could use the book. Perhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire

Technology can seem frightening to people who don't have the background. In Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business Andrew Hampshire discusses the tech that can add quantifiable value to your business and how to get the most out of it. He and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner

In every generation, there are kids who become bullies. They bully their siblings, neighbor kids, and their classmates. They seem to believe that other kids look up to them and respect them. That is self-delusion, as most adults are aware, but kids don't have the experience to properly judge what is respect and what is merely fear. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations

The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You don’t have to go that far back in time to see huge developments in technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, but if you don’t have one in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 5 Great AI books to read in 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded into one of the most important technologies in human history. It comes with so many benefits, from improving the efficiency of simple, basic tasks to helping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets. Read more...

Booklists.jpg A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out

Are you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out? We've come up with a baker's dozen of books to give you some brilliant ideas. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019

We've seen some cracking self-published books this year and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review

Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mind. Desiree Villena gives us five tips. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin

In War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII. It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read. Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception

Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi

Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction

Where do you go when you move beyond classics like 1984 and Brave New World? Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018

Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2018 was difficult as we're constantly surprised at just how good some self-published books are. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle

One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet

Sue was impressed when she read Landslide by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel. She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives

Every child has a right to medical care Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things

We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?: Elon Musk Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz

Sue wasn't expecting to enjoy a novel about a building, but was surprised by just how compelling she found The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria. There was a lot to chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017

Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey

Sue was quietly impressed when she read 21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey as it chimed with her personal view of life. She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary

Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte

Peter thought that The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs

Luke thought that Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable prose. There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona

Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised autobiography of life as a diplomatic spouse. There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence

Sue was delighted when she read The Cossack as it restored her faith in the thriller genre. When the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready! Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell

Sue found Start Burrell's book Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records an inspiring, feel-good read. She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart

Luke enjoyed the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in My Name is Sam and he had quite a few questions for author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan

Sue giggled like a child when she read Henry and the Hidden Treasure by B C R Fegan and Lenny Wen: it's a good story with some valuable lessons. It was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram

Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something of a relief when Sue met author, Annie Ingram. She has lengthy conversations with her cocker spaniel Kammie and has shared them with us in her book. There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago

Ani was quietly moved by Returning Home and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

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