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 -->
 
 
Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].
 
 
 
 
 
 
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|title=We loved [[The Repossession by Sam Hawksmoor]], a stunning sci-fi novel for teens, with an exceptionally likeable central pairing and a fast-moving and exciting plot. It's totally crazy in the very best way. We couldn't resist asking a few questions when Sam popped into see us.
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|title=Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sadie S Forsythe
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|title=How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft
|summary=Jill enjoyed [[The Weeping Empress by Sadie S Forsythe|The Weeping Empress]] finding it enjoyably direct with a satisfying plot. It was a real pleasure when Sadie popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
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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=February 2012 Newsletter
 
|summary=Hello, how are you? We've been finding out all sorts of interesting stuff this month. Not long ago Sue was introduced to the work of Scottish Book Trust and was surprised by how little she knew about it and that its work was not restricted to Scotland. We persuaded Beth Bottery to tell us more about the work the Trust does and how schools (and adults) across the UK and the rest of the world can benefit.  You can - and should! - read all about it [[Beth Bottery Talks To Bookbag About Scottish Book Trust|here]].
 
 
 
We've also been reading like mad and have all sorts of recommendations to make!
 
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|title=Beth Bottery Talks To Bookbag About Scottish Book Trust
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|title=How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read
|summary=Not long ago Sue was introduced to the work of Scottish Book Trust and was surprised by how little she knew about it and that its work was not restricted to Scotland. We persuaded Beth Bottery to tell us more about the work the Trust does and how schools (and adults) across the UK and the rest of the world can benefit.  
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Edward Hogan
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023
|summary=We were very impressed when we read [[Daylight Saving by Edward Hogan|Daylight Saving]], a gripping thriller with a superb central pairing and tons of atmosphereWe knew that he was an author to watch so we couldn't miss the opportunity to have a chat with Ed.
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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 publishingHere's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tim Bowler
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn
|summary=Blade is one of Bookbag's favourite series for children ever - and we mean ''ever''. OUP are giving it a reissue with four books in longer instalments rather than the original eight books in very short ones. Whatever the size of the package, this is one series you shouldn't miss. So of course, we jumped at the chance to ask Tim Bowler a few questions.
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Danielle Joseph
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|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide
|summary=We really enjoyed Danielle's book [[Indigo Blues by Danielle Joseph|Indigo Blues]] and the chance to chat to us was too good to miss.
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Helena Close
 
|summary=Here at Bookbag we were very impressed by Helena Close's novel [[The Clever One by Helena Close|The Clever One]] and we were delighted when she dropped by for a chat.
 
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|title=January 2012 Newsletter
 
|summary=Hello and a belated ''Happy New Year'' to you all. Did you have a super-duper festive season? Was it busy-busy-busy or laid-back and relaxed? Did you receive nice presents? More importantly, were any of them books?
 
 
 
We're back in the saddle here at Bookbag Towers and we have been reviewing as busily as ever. There's some wonderful stuff around at the moment and you can read about our favourites right here in this newsletter.
 
  
Before we go any further, though, we did want to tell you about the Bloomsbury Institute. Have you ever wanted to get a glimpse inside the world of publishing? Rub shoulders with authors and listen to their talks? Well, now you can. Bloomsbury are organising a series of events at their London home in Bedford Square. The first is on 31st January and features two Bookbag favourites, [[:Category:Stephen Kelman|Stephen Kelman]] and [[:Category:Nick Lake|Nick Lake]]. You can find out more - and sign up to attend - by looking at the [http://pages.bloomsbury.com/bloomsburyinstitute website]. What a great initiative!
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Katie Dale
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|title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices
|summary=What do you do when your mother dies of Huntington's Disease and you find out that she wasn't your mother at all? And that there is a person - a sister? - out there who may carry the gene for this terrible disease? Brilliant premise for a YA novel, no? So you can imagine we were very keen to chat to author Katie Dale about her debut book [[Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale|Someone Else's Life]].
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Maudie Smith
 
|summary=We were completely blown away when we read [[Opal Moonbaby by Maudie Smith|Opal Moonbaby]] and we were sure that it was going to be great fun when Maudie Smith came in to talk to us and as Opal would have said, we had a balloon.
 
 
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|title=Cliff McNish Talks To Bookbag About The Hunting Ground
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|title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters
|summary=Cliff McNish, author of [[The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish|The Hunting Ground]] popped in to Bookbag Towers to talk to us about ghosts. We're ''almost'' convinced: see what you think!
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Monica Carly
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix
|summary=Here at Bookbag we were lucky to read [[The Golden Thread by Monica Carly|The Golden Thread]] before it was published - and even luckier to be able to chat to Monica Carly about how she came to write the book.
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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 Anne-Marie Conway
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022
|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we've really enjoyed [[Phoebe Finds Her Voice (Star Makers Club) by Anne-Marie Conway|Phoebe Finds Her Voice]] and  [[Star Makers Club: Polly Plays Her Part by Anne-Marie Conway|Polly Plays Her Part]] from Anne-Marie Conway's Star Makers Club series.  We couldn't resist the opportunity to ask her a few questions.
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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=November 2011 Newsletter
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|title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents
|summary=Well, world news isn't exactly encouraging, is it? Everywhere a crisis. It's times like these when books become even more important. They give us the chance to escape the misery for a while and indulge in a bit of escapism. And, with a cash-strapped Christmas coming up for many of us, books also make great value presents that won't break the bank. With this in mind, we've collected some of our favourite books from 2011 as recommendations for Christmas gifts. We think it has something for everyone - including a [[Amazon Kindle|Kindle]] for those who aren't quite boracic. Take a [[Christmas Gift Recommendations 2011|look]] at our list if you're in need of ideas. We've also updated our [[Amazon Kindle|review]] of the Kindle to include the lovely new dinky version.
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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 Pauline Fisk
 
|summary=Pauline has produced a reissue of her Smarties Prize-winning [[Midnight Blue by Pauline Fisk|Midnight Blue]] for Kindle herself. It has a gorgeous new cover image and lots of interesting stuff about the various inspirations that led her to write the book. We were lucky enough to chat to Pauline about the book, the reissue and about writing in general.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ellie Irving
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|title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know
|summary=We really enjoyed Ellie Irving's [[For the Record by Ellie Irving|For the Record]], an engaging story full of the best kind of English eccentrics trying to save their Jersey village from the bulldozers. It's charming and fun - just like Ellie herself!
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Keren David
 
|summary= Keren David's latest book is something of a departure - although she tells us that there are similarities.  We couldn't resist asking her a few questions.
 
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|title=October 2011 Newsletter
 
|summary=Happy autumn, fellow bookworms! How goes it? Did you cope well in during the mini Indian summer at the start of the month? It came as such a shock to Jill that she almost got the vapours. Short-sleeved t-shirts? In October? ''October?!''Thankfully, her sanity was saved by some jolly good young adult fiction making its way onto bookshelves near you.
 
 
Well, after all the fuss about the ''dumbing down'' of the [[Man Booker Prize 2011|Booker]] in 2011, can you believe they decided to give to the man who's made a career of writing about the chattering classes? You really can't help but laugh, can you?! Anyway, we're happy. We loved [[The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes]] and if you haven't read it yet, you should put it on your list.
 
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|title=Ilkley Literature Festival 2011
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|title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews
|summary=When we think about literature festivals it tends to be the big names which spring to mind – Hay and Edinburgh to name but two – but there's an awful lot to be said for the smaller events and Sue has been investigating the Ilkley Literature Festival.  
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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=Marcus Sedgwick Talks To Bookbag About Special Places
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|title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math
|summary=Marcus Sedgwick, author of [[Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick|Midwinterblood]] popped into Bookbag Towers on his blog tour and if you look carefully at this feature you'll find a link to some secret content on Marcus' [http://www.marcussedgwick.com/Marcus_Sedgwick/Home.html website] which is only available to our readers.
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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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|category=comments
|title=Helen Moss on Lashings of Ginger Ale
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|title=Finding More Time For Reading
|summary=Helen Moss, author of [[Adventure Island: The Mystery of the Whistling Caves by Helen Moss|the Adventure Island series]] popped into Bookbag Towers and she was obviously determined to make us very hungry!
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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 Paul Stewart And Chris Riddell
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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
|summary= Linda loved [[Muddle Earth Too by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell|Muddle Earth Too]] and the chance to chat to the authors was just too good to miss.
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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=September 2011 Newsletter
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021
|summary=Hello, hello, hello!
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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...
 
 
The [[Man Booker Prize 2011|Booker shortlist]] is out. We've reviewed them all, so if you've missed any, now's your chance to catch up. We think it's too close to call the eventual winner. What do you think?
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan Titchmarsh
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
|summary=Alan Titchmarsh writes his novels in between making television series. We managed to catch him for a chat on the day that his [[The Haunting by Alan Titchmarsh|latest book]] was published.
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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=Man Booker Prize 2011
 
|summary=Thirteen books on the longlist with the shortlist announced on 6 September and the winner declared on 18 October. Who's your money on?
 
 
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|title= The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Hayley Long
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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.
|summary=Here at Bookbag we're really enjoying [[:Category:Hayley Long|Hayley Long's]] Lottie Biggs books, so we couldn't pass up the chance to ask her a few questions.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Martin King
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|title=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won
|summary=We were rather taken by Martin King's debut novel [[Jack Hunter - Secret of the King by Martin King|Jack Hunter - Secret of the King]] and the opportunity to chat to him was too good to miss.
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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=August 2011 Newsletter
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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
|summary=Hello fellow bibliophiles!
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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.
 
 
It hasn't been a very nice month, has it? Global financial meltdown. Again. London burning. Real life has just been too depressing for words. Thank heavens for books and a bit of escapism.  
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lydia Ola Taiwo
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020
|summary=We were shocked [[A Broken Childhood: A True Story of Abuse by Lydia Ola Taiwo|to read]] about how little Ola's childhood was literally broken as she moved from a happy foster home to live with her abusive and neglectful bioloigical parents. She's now an amazingly balanced person and we were delighted to take the opportunity to find out how she came through her experiences with so little bitterness.
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jackie Martin
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander
|summary= Here at Bookbag we enjoyed [[Burglar Boy by Jackie Martin|Burglar Boy]], a positive and uplifting story about a boy with a good heart but in the worst of circumstancesIt was good to have the opportunit to talk to Jackie Martin.
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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 bookPerhaps 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 Alex Woolf
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire
|summary=The second volume of the futuristic ''Chronoshpere'' series sees the heroes learn more of where they're spending their time-suspended lives. We were keen to take the opportunity to ask Alex Woolf a few questions.
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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=Carnegie Medal 2011
 
|summary=A worthy winner this year, in Patrick Ness, but are our thoughts on [[White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick|White Crow]] on the money? The Carnegie judges disagreed!
 
 
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|title=Mary Hoffman on the inspiration for David
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|title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner
|summary=As part of her very busy blog tour, Mary Hoffman dropped by Bookbag Towers to tell us all about how she was inspired to write [[David by Mary Hoffman|David]], the story of the creation of the famous statue by Michelangelo.
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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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|title=July 2011 Newsletter
 
|summary=Buongiorno! Even though Jill is not going this year, she wants you to know that she's still practising her Italian. In fact, she's practising so hard that she's even finished reading the wondrous [[Skellig by David Almond|Skellig]] in a language that isn't her own. We're only telling you this in our newsletter in the hopes that it will confer sufficient kudos for her to stop boasting.  It's a long shot, but worth taking.
 
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|title=Angel's Fury and the Easter Egg Giveaway
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|title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations
|summary=Bryony Pearce popped into Bookbag Towers and told us about a few things that we hadn't spotted in [[Angel's Fury by Bryony Pearce|Angel's Fury]]. We were fascinated.
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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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|category=comments
|title=It Takes A Library... by Michael Brooks
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|title=5 Great AI books to read in 2020
|summary=We loved [[Free Radicals by Michael Brooks]], and were delighted to hear about the research process, including Michael's love of libraries and admiration of JBS Haldane.
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Charlotte Frost
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|title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out
|summary=An up-to-date biography of Sir William Knighton has been long-overdue and we're delighted to have been able to chat to Charlotte Frost about the work that went into writing her [[Sir William Knighton: The Strange Career of a Regency Physician by Charlotte Frost|book]].
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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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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Richard Byrne
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019
|summary=[[This Book Belongs To Aye-Aye by Richard Byrne]] is quirky and amusing tale of Miss Deer's Academy For Aspiring Picture-Book Animals. With its smart plot, intriguing mystery, useful lessons and zingy illustrations, there's plenty to enjoy. We leapt at the chance to interview Richard Byrne.
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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 John Dickie
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|title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review
|summary=Here at Bookbag we were impressed by Professor John Dickie's [[Blood Brotherhoods: The Rise of the Italian Mafias by John Dickie|latest book about the Italian mafias]] - this time looking at their history. The chance to chat to him was an offer we couldn't refuse.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anna Burley
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin
|summary=In [[Bipolar Parent by Anna Burley|Bipolar Parent]] Anna Burley bravely told us about her childhoodWe were delighted when she agreed to tell us a little more about the background to the book.
+
|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 WWIIIt'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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=The Bedtime Picture Book I've Been Trying To Write for Years by David Bedford
+
|title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception
|summary=We loved [[Bouncy Bouncy Bedtime by David Bedford and Julian Russell|Bouncy Bouncy Bedtime]] and it was fascinating to hear that there was a bit of a story behind the book.
+
|summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Speller
+
|title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi
|summary=We've been impressed by Elizabeth Speller as a writer of fiction and non-fiction so the opportunity to ask her a few questions was really too good to miss.  
+
|summary=Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=comments
|title=June 2011 Newsletter
+
|title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction
|summary=Well, summer is coming and your thoughts are probably turning to holidays - and books to take with you. We're busily reviewing away and we think you'll have plenty to choose from over your 2011 sojourn, wherever you're going. Make sure you have a super and relaxing time whatever you read, but if you're looking for some inspiration, you can check out our reviews of the books on [[Richard and Judy's Summer Reading List 2011|Richard and Judy's Summer Reading List]].
+
|summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''?
 
 
[[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2011|The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize]] longlist has been published and there are some corkers on there. We've a sneaky feeling [[My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher]] will win, but each book on the list is wonderful and has a good shot. Which one would you vote for if you were on the panel? Leave a prediction on our [[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2011|list]]!
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=lists
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ian A Griffiths
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018
|summary=[[DMD Life Art and Me by Ian A Griffiths|DMD Life Art and Me]] is one of the most moving autobiographies we've read in a while.  Ian was happy to talk to us and it was just too good an opportunity to miss.
+
|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...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alison Murray
+
|title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle
|summary=[[One Two That's My Shoe by Alison Murray]] is a wonderful counting book, continuing the adventures of Grace and her scampish dog Georgie. ''One Two That's My Shoe'' tweaks the familiar rhyme and tells a fresh story through its outstanding illustrations. We were delighted to interview Alison Murray.
+
|summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|title=Richard and Judy's Summer Reading List 2011
 
|summary=Eight books to take to the beach or settle down with in a shady spot in the garden and all recommended by Richard and Judy
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Glenn Dakin
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet
|summary=[[Candle Man: Society of Dread by Glenn Dakin|The Candle Man]] returns in a second volume about a British - yes, British! - teen superhero. Pacy and packed with rather marvellous villains, this steampunk and comic book-inspired series will be a big hit with tween readers. We asked Glenn Dakin all about it.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|title=Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2011
 
|summary=Following hot on the footsteps of [[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010|last year's]] winner, [[Ghost Hunter by Michelle Paver]], comes another wonderful selection of children's books in the 2011 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Caroline Lawrence's top 5 Western films for kids (and adults!)
+
|title=Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives
|summary=It is always a little worrying when an author finishes a popular and well-loved series to start something new. Will the new characters be as interesting as the old, familiar ones? Will the books just be a pale retelling of the plots in a new context? But fans of Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries need not worry. She's gone Western! To introduce us to the genre, and her new series, Caroline called into Bookbag Towers to tell us all about her favourite Western movies.
+
|summary=Every child has a right to medical care
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Should we popularise mathematics? If so, how? by Ian Stewart
+
|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things
|summary=In support of his book [[Mathematics of Life by Ian Stewart|Mathematics of Life]], Ian Stewart looks at the pros and cons popularising mathematics, through books and other means.
+
|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
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Bali Rai
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz
|summary=[[Killing Honour by Bali Rai|Killing Honour]] is an honest and hard-hitting look at a controversial issue by one of Bookbag's most trusted teen authors. We were delighted to interview Bali Rai.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=lists
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephanie Pain
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017
|summary=[[Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers by Stephanie Pain|Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers]] is another fantastic book from New Scientist, this time looking at odd events on the way to scientific discovery. It's brilliantly written and compiled, and endlessly fascinating. We leapt at the chance to interview editor Stephanie Pain.
+
|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...
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=newsletters
 
|title=May 2011 Newsletter
 
|summary=We keep thinking that we really must update our [[Most Read Reviews on Bookbag|list]] of most-read reviews on the site. We are good at thinking. But thinking isn't doing and since we are are also good at forgetting, we haven't done it yet. It's on the to-do list, though. Last time we did this exercise the redoubtable Delia Smith was in pole position, with her [[Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course by Delia Smith|Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course]]. Some might laugh at the sucking/scrambling eggs episode, but an awful lot more type her name into Google, it's clear.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Hilary Freeman
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey
|summary=We really loved the way that Hilary Freeman's [[Piccadilly Love Stories: Don't Ask by Hilary Freeman|Don't Ask]] looks at the way a lie can spiral and deals with some tough questionsWe couldn't wait to ask her a few questions.
+
|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 lifeShe was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Paul Bress
 
|summary=We were intriqued by [[The Dysfunctional Family by Paul Bress]] written as a diary kept by four members of the titular dysfunctional family and we couldn't resist the temptation of asking him a few questions.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Work At Home or Work Away From Home? Helen Black helps us to decide.
+
|title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary
|summary=It's very tempting to think that someone else's grass is greener than your own, but in the matter of working at home or commuting to your job Helen Black has experienced both and wants us to know that there are a few things you need to consider, not least the fluff in the tumble drier.
+
|summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To The Anonymous Editor
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte
|summary=[[Clients From Hell by ClientsFromHell.net|Clients From Hell]] offers a hilarious collection of user-submitted stories from designers dealing with rude, clueless and demanding clients. We were delighted to interview its Anonymous Editor.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jenn Ashworth
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs
|summary=Sue loved Jenn's latest book, [[Cold Light by Jenn Ashworth|Cold Light]].  She met Jenn a few months ago and really wanted to know how a nice girl like Jenn could think up a plot like thatThankfully, Jenn was ready to talk to us...
+
|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 proseThere was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Peter Gill
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona
|summary=We enjoyed Peter Gill's riff on the number 42 - [[42 - Douglas Adams' Amazingly Accurate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything by Peter Gill|42 - Douglas Adams' Amazingly Accurate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything]] and the chance to ask him some questions was too good to miss.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=interviews
|title=April 2011 Newsletter
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence
|summary=Do you buy books from Tesco? Is your favourite author to be found on the best-selling lists or do you like to search out a wider range of reading matter? In Selling Well Is The Best Revenge, Linda Gillard tells Bookbag why being dropped by her publisher two years ago has turned out to be a positive event. How so? you ask. Well, she published her fourth novel on Amazon for Kindle all by herself - and at a selling price of £1.90 per copy, she is making more than she did from her previous dead tree books. And her book is selling well.
+
|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!
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ali McNamara
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell
|summary=It takes real skill to write a book like [[From Notting Hill with Love... Actually by Ali McNamara|From Notting Hill with Love... Actually]] that's packed with fun and provides comfortable, easy reading, so the opportunity to ask Ali McNamara a few qestions was too good to miss.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Why is it important to have good and challenging fiction for teens? by Gillian Philip
 
|summary=Gillian Philip is one of Bookbag's favourite authors for teens. She can write in any genre and even blends them together sometimes. And she's always real, even when she's writing fantasy. Her latest book, [[The Opposite of Amber by Gillian Philip|The Opposite of Amber]] is a chilling thriller that blends with a realistic story of relationship breakdown and social issues. If anyone can tell us why teens need books to challenge them, it's Gillian. So we thank her for passing by to give us her view - and promise you she is ''nothing'' like as gnarled as Charlie Sheen!
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Selling Well Is The Best Revenge by Linda Gillard
 
|summary=We fell in love with Linda Gillard when we read [[Star Gazing by Linda Gillard|Star Gazing]].  Sue described it as intelligent women's fiction and since then we've searched out and read her back catalogue, but we were getting worried that there wasn't another book for us to read!  Then Linda told us that she was publishing [[House of Silence by Linda Gillard|House of Silence]] as an ebook and she was publishing it herself.  And she's agreed to explain why.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne O'Brien
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart
|summary=We've really enjoyed both [[Virgin Widow by Anne O'Brien|Virgin Widow]] and [[Devil's Consort by Anne O'Brien|Devil's Consort]] so the opportunity to ask Anne O'Brien a few qestions was too good to miss.
+
|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.
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Celia Rees tells us about the inspiration for The Fool's Girl
 
|summary=[[The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees|The Fool's Girl]] is a truly enjoyable mix of Shakespearean characters and historical people and a novel for teens and adults to savour. Here, Celia Rees tells us all about how she came to write it.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Natasha Solomons
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan
|summary=We were really impressed by [[The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons|The Novel in the Viola]], published in May 2011, which took us back to Dorset in the war years and we couldn't pass the opportunity to ask author Natasha Solomons a few questions.
+
|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 lessonsIt was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Research? But it's Only a Romantic Novel! by Sophie Page
 
|summary=When we finished reading [[To Marry A Prince by Sophie Page|To Marry A Prince]] we started wondering exactly how you did the research for a book like thatI mean - you can't just tag along for a couple of week's work experience, can you?  The book gives a real feel for what the life is like so we asked Sophie to tell us how she did it.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephen Mark Norman
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram
|summary=[[:Category:Stephen Mark Norman|Stephen Mark Norman]] is the author of [[Meklyan and the Fourth Piece of the Artefact by Stephen Mark Norman|Meklyan and the Fourth Piece of the Artefact]].  We realised that there was more to the book than met the eye and we couldn't refuse the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annette Hart
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago
|summary=[[:Category:Annette Hart|Annette Hart]] is a teacher, mother of four children and the author of [[Blood and Allegiance by Annette Hart|Blood and Allegiance]], the first of a series of books.  We couldn't resist asking her how she managed to pack so much in to her busy life.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
  
See [[Features page 2|older features]].
+
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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