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= The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2012
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|title=Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth
|summary=The prize of £10,000 will be awarded to one of the three short-listed books on 28 June
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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 Ellen Richardson
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|title=How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft
|summary=We thought that [[The Flip-flop Club: Charmed Summer by Ellen Richardson|Charmed Summer]] was the 'charming' start to what looked like an exciting new series. We couldn't resist having a chat to the author.
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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=May 2012 Newsletter
 
|summary=Are you reading ebooks yet? Or are you still in love with physical books? Either way, it's undeniable that ebooks are becoming more and more popular and their prevalence raises all sorts of questions about the future of publishing generally and about the best ways to market individual books. The [http://authorselectric.blogspot.co.uk/ Authors Electric] group of writers has been giving this some serious thought. Recently, and to coincide with World Book Night, they organised a two-night giveaway. 15 member authors gave away 21 books via the Amazon Select promotion scheme. In all, they gave away 15,353 ebooks. And it paid off. 19 of the titles made Amazon's worldwide top 20 lists. In the UK, 8 made the top 5 and 12 made the top ten. That is some going, don't you think?!
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Francis Bennett
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|title=How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read
|summary=We loved [[The Crabber Stories by Francis Bennett|The Crabber Stories]]- a book of coming-of-age short stories set on Long Island in the nineteen-fifties - and we had plenty to talk about when Francis Bennett popped in to see us.
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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 Karen McCombie
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023
|summary=Here at Bookbag we've always been big fans of Karen McCombie and we particularly enjoyed [[Life According to... Alice B. Lovely by Karen McCombie|Life According to... Alice B. Lovely]] so it was a real pleasure to ask her a few questions.
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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 Daniela Sacerdoti
 
|summary=We liked [[Dreams (Sarah Midnight Trilogy) by Daniela Sacerdoti]], the start to a new teen paranormal series and had a few questions we wanted to ask the author.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn
|summary=We really enjoyed [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen|Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey]] so we had plenty we wanted to talk about when author Anne Allen popped in to see us at Bookbag Towers.
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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=Linda Newbery Talks To Bookbag in Praise of Charity Shops
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|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide
|summary=Here at Bookbag we were blown away by Linda Newbery's latest book [[The Treasure House by Linda Newbery|The Treasure House]] and we couldn't wait to hear about the inspiration behind the story.
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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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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tony Parsons
 
|summary=We enjoyed Tony Parson's latest novel [[Catching the Sun by Tony Parsons|Catching the Sun]] and we really wanted to know more about the background to the book when Tony popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007327811</amazonuk>
 
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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.
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Louisa Reid
 
|summary=We were very impressed by Louisa Reid's debut novel [[Black Heart Blue by Louisa Reid|Black Heart Blue]] and we had lots of questions we wanted to ask her.
 
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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?
|category=comments
 
|title=Jon Mayhew Talks To Bookbag About The Bonehill Curse: Influences and Inspirations
 
|summary=Imagine you had your own magic lamp, just like Aladdin. Think of what you'd wish for!
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Wein
 
|summary=We loved [[Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein|Code Name Verity]] and when author Elizabeth Wein popped into Bookbag Towers we had some searching questions to ask her.
 
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|title=Barbara J Zitwer talks to Bookbag about meeting the ladies at the Hampstead Heath Ladies Pond on the day her mother died
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|title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices
|summary=Barbara J Zitwer on meeting the ladies at the Hampstead Heath Ladies Pond in London on the day her mother died in New York and why these women, alongside her mother were transformed into the main characters for her debut novel, [[The J M Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society by Barbara J Zitwer|The J M Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society]].
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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=Barbara Mitchelhill Talks To Bookbag About Her Favourite Period in History: The Tudors
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|title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters
|summary=We loved Barbara Mitchelhill's [[Road to London by Barbara Mitchelhill|Road to London]] and couldn't wait to hear more about Barbara's fascination with the ''smell'' of Tudor life.
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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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|category=newsletters
 
|title=April 2012 Newsletter
 
|summary=Hello! Is the weather doing weird things around your way? At Bookbag Towers, the weather just can't make up its mind. It's bitterly cold one day and sunshine warm the next. It's playing havoc with our wardrobe choices. Sigh.
 
 
One piece of bookish news that caught our eye this month was about a $20m fund launched by audiobook Audible. Authors signing up to its program will benefit financially if they use social media to promote their work. You can read about it [http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/13/social-media-self-promtion-margaret-atwood here] in The Guardian. Writers will get $1 dollar for every audiobook sold through either Audible or iTunes. A dig at Kindle, we wonder? It's not as though authors aren't already using social media. All the ones we know are, anyway.
 
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|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Liz Kessler
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix
|summary=Robert recently read [[A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler|A Year Without Autumn]].  He was thrilled when Liz popped into Bookbag Towers for a chat.
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|summary=Sue really enjoyed [[The Lensky Connection by Conrad Delacroix|The Lensky Connection]], a thriller set primarily in RussiaShe 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 Jane Prowse
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022
|summary=We came late to the charm of [[Hattori Hachi: The Revenge of Praying Mantis by Jane Prowse|Hattori Hachi]] but when Author Jane Prowse dropped in to see us we had quite a few questions to ask her!
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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=William Poundstone Talks To Bookbag About Job Interviews
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|title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents
|summary=Ever since we read [[Are You Smart Enough To Work At Google? by William Poundstone|Are You Smart Enough To Work At Google?]] we've been trying out the questions on each other. William Poundstone popped into Bookbag Towers and chatted to us about some of the questions which are asked at job interviews.
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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 Olga Levancuka
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|title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know
|summary=After years (a lifetime!) of being told to be less selfish and to put other people first it was a relief to encounter someone who had other ideas - so when Olga Levancuka came to the office with some copies of [[How to Be Selfish (and Other Uncomfortable Advice) by Olga Levancuka|her book]] we couldn't wait to ask her a few questions.
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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 Terry Murphy
 
|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we really enjoyed [[Weekend in Weighton by Terry Murphy]] and we were very taken by his hero, Eddie Greene.  When Terry popped into the office we had a few questions for him.
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cat Clarke
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|title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews
|summary=We've been impressed by both [[Entangled by Cat Clarke|Entangled]] and [[Torn by Cat Clarke|Torn]] by Cat Clarke, so we enticed her into the office to ask her a few questions.
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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 Marc Nash
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|title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math
|summary=We really enjoyed the collection of [[52FF by Marc Nash|flash fiction]] by Marc Nash and it was a real pleasure to chat to him when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Margie Gelbwasser
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|title=Finding More Time For Reading
|summary=We found Margie Gelbwasser's [[Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser|Pieces of Us]] to be one of the most disturbing YA books we've ever read, but it was incredibly well-written. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to find out a bit more about this talented author.
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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=March 2012 Newsletter
 
|summary=Hello! How are things? Read anything good lately?
 
 
Since we last wrote, Bookbag has had its 6th birthday. We can hardly believe we've been around that long, but when we look at the site we can see it's true. We've posted almost seven thousand reviews. Seven thousand! We've chased after more than a hundred authors, waving our interviewing notepads. The authors even turned around and talked to us! Gosh. So we'd like to say a big thank you to the authors, the publishers and especially our reviewers for helping us turn a little acorn of an idea into a big oak tree of a website. And of course we're saving the biggest thank you of all to you, our readers. If you hadn't come, we couldn't have done any of it. Thank you!
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kai Meyer
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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=[[Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer|Arcadia Awakens]]. is a super blend of action thriller and paranormal romance set in Sicily. We recommend it for for interesting characters and wonderful scene-setting and, of course, jumped at the chance to chat to Kai about it.
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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 Megan Miranda
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021
|summary=[[Fracture by Megan Miranda|Fracture]] is an excellent, thought-provoking, teen chiller and a very impressive debut for Megan Miranda. We ''had'' to talk to her!
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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 S B Hayes
 
|summary=We thought that [[Poison Heart by S B Hayes|Poison Heart]] was a really compelling psychological thriller with strong characters and an incredibly tense atmosphere making this one you shouldn't miss. We couldn't miss talking to the author either!
 
 
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|title=Matthew Green Talks To Bookbag About His Own Imaginary Friend
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
|summary=We were impressed by Matthew Green's [[Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green|Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend]] and fascinated to hear about his own friend, called Johnson Johnson.
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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.
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sam Hawksmoor
 
|summary=We loved [[The Repossession by Sam Hawksmoor|The Repossession]], 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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sadie S Forsythe
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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=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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|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=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won
|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=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 Edward Hogan
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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=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 atmosphere.  We 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=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 Tim Bowler
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020
|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= 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 Danielle Joseph
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander
|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=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 Helena Close
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire
|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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|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=January 2012 Newsletter
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|title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner
|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?
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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.
 
 
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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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Katie Dale
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|title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations
|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=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 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=5 Great AI books to read in 2020
|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=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 Monica Carly
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|title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out
|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= 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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=lists
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne-Marie Conway
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019
|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.
+
|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...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=comments
|title=November 2011 Newsletter
+
|title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review
|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.
+
|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 Pauline Fisk
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin
|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.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ellie Irving
 
|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!
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=newsletters
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Ilkley Literature Festival 2011
+
|title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception
|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.  
+
|summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Marcus Sedgwick Talks To Bookbag About Special Places
+
|title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi
|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.
+
|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=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Helen Moss on Lashings of Ginger Ale
+
|title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction
|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!
+
|summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''?
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Paul Stewart And Chris Riddell
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=newsletters
 
|title=September 2011 Newsletter
 
|summary=Hello, hello, hello!
 
 
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?
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan Titchmarsh
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|category=lists
|title=Man Booker Prize 2011
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018
|summary=Thirteen books on the longlist with the shortlist announced on 6 September and the winner declared on 18 OctoberWho's your money on?
+
|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 areHere's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title= The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Hayley Long
+
|title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle
|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.
+
|summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Martin King
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet
|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.
+
|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
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=comments
|title=August 2011 Newsletter
+
|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=Hello fellow bibliophiles!
+
|summary=Every child has a right to medical care
 
 
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.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lydia Ola Taiwo
+
|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things
|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.
+
|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
 
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jackie Martin
 
|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 circumstances.  It was good to have the opportunit to talk to Jackie Martin.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alex Woolf
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz
|summary=The second volume of the futuristic ''Chronoshpere'' series sees the heroes learn more of where they're spending their time-suspended livesWe were keen to take the opportunity to ask Alex Woolf a few questions.
+
|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=lists
 
|category=lists
|title=Carnegie Medal 2011
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017
|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!
+
|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
 
{{newfeature
|category=comments
+
|category=interviews
|title=Mary Hoffman on the inspiration for David
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey
|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.
+
|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=newsletters
 
|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 boastingIt's a long shot, but worth taking.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Angel's Fury and the Easter Egg Giveaway
+
|title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary
|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.
+
|summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=It Takes A Library... by Michael Brooks
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Charlotte Frost
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte
|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]].
+
|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 Richard Byrne
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs
|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.
+
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John Dickie
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona
|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=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=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anna Burley
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence
|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=Sue was delighted when she read [[The Cossack by K J Lawrence|The Cossack]] as it restored her faith in the thriller genreWhen the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready!
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=The Bedtime Picture Book I've Been Trying To Write for Years by David Bedford
 
|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.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Speller
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell
|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=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=newsletters
 
|title=June 2011 Newsletter
 
|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]].
 
 
[[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=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ian A Griffiths
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart
|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=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
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alison Murray
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan
|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=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.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{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 Annie Ingram
|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=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
 
|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
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Caroline Lawrence's top 5 Western films for kids (and adults!)
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|title=Should we popularise mathematics? If so, how? by Ian Stewart
 
|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.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Bali Rai
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago
|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=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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