Difference between revisions of "Features"

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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->
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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andy Briggs
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|title=Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth
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|summary=We're really pleased to present an interview with Andy Briggs, author of the excellent [[Rise of the Heroes (Hero.Com) by Andy Briggs|Hero.com]] and [[Council of Evil (Villain.Net) by Andy Briggs|Villain.net]] series and of the superb [[Tarzan: The Greystoke Legacy by Andy Briggs|Tarzan reboot]] (we can't wait for book 3 in February!) amongst his many other talents!
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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 A R Yoba
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|title=How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft
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|summary=[[They Call Me... Montey Greene by A R Yoba|They Call Me... Montey Greene]] is a exciting crime crossing Italy and France and ending up back in the USA.  We managed to catch Abdul as he popped into Bookbag Towers - and we had a few questions for him.
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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=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Patrick Kingsley
 
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|summary=We loved [[How To Be Danish: From Lego to Lund. A Short Introduction to the State of Denmark by Patrick Kingsley]] and when he popped into Bookbag Towers there were quite a few questions we wanted answering!
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To HM Castor
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|title=How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read
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|summary=We loved HM Castor's [[VIII by HM Castor|VIII]] - the story of Henry VIII and we were fascinated by what she had to tell us when she popped into Bookbag Towers.  
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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 A K Hill
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023
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|summary=We were quietly impressed by [[A Mediocre Man by A K Hill|A Mediocre Man]] and particularly by the way that it touched on so much which is wrong with our world without ever being depressing.  When author A K Hill popped in to Bookbag Towers we had quite a few questions for him.
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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=November 2012 Newsletter
 
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|summary=Hi, hello and welcome! The dreaded Christmas shopping season is rapidly approaching. In fact, by the time this newsletter goes out, you'll probably be stuck in already. So we'll say what we say to you every year: don't forget to buy at least one person at least one book! If you're stuck for ideas, you could always look at our [http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=Category:Lists lists] section. You'll find many of our favourites, all organised in a way that makes it easy to find a good book for any recipient, no matter their age or interests. We hope you find great gifts for everyone on your list - literary or not - and that you receive some great gifts yourself. And we also hope that the entire shopping experience doesn't make you lose the will to live.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stefan Bachmann
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn
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|summary=Three years ago a young man emailed to ask if he could review for us.  Normally we wouldn't have considered him - he was fifteen and we don't like putting commercial pressures on people who are still at school.  He lived in Zurich and we don't post books outside the UK.  There was just one thing that we couldn't pass.  He wrote like an angel and over the course of a year Stefan gave us some [[:Category:Reviewed by Stefan Bachmann|wonderful reviews]].  We're not surprised that he has a deal with a major publisher but we are delighted and we certainly were not going to pass the chance to ask Stefan 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=Savita Kalhan Talks To Bookbag About The Long Weekend – The Unused Quote
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|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide
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|summary=We were impressed by [[The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan|The Long Weekend]] and Savita had an interesting story for us when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
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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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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=Louisa Reid Talks To Bookbag About All Kinds Of Nasty
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|title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices
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|summary=We thought that [[Black Heart Blue by Louisa Reid|Black Heart Blue]] was incredibly powerful and more than a little bit frightening. Louisa Reid popped into Bookbag Tower to tell us about ''All Things Nasty''.
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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 Cath Crowley
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|title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters
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|summary=This has been an incredible year for YA contemporary books, and James would be hard-pressed to choose his favourite. A strong contender, though, would be the long-awaited UK release of Cath Crowley's [[Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley|Graffiti Moon]], an enchanting story of one incredible night. It's lyrical, romantic, and full of wonderful characters. He was absolutely thrilled to be able to talk to Cath Crowley about it!
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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 Danaan Elderhill
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix
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|summary=Danaan Elderhill brought a little magic into our lives with her book [[The Magic Book of Cookery by Danaan Elderhill|The Magic Book of Cookery]].  We had quite a few questions for her when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
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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 Adam Hamdy
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022
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|summary=[[Battalion by Adam Hamdy|Battalion]] is an action-packed adventure set some twenty yeas into the future.  It's a thriller in the true sense of the word and we'd only just caught our breaths after finishing the book when author Adam Hamdy popped in to see us.
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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=October 2012 Newsletter
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|title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents
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|summary=Woohoo! Jill's personal favourite, [[Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel|Bring up the Bodies]] won this year's [[Man Booker Prize 2012|Booker Prize]], making Hilary Mantel the first woman AND the first Briton to win twice. We are very happy about that, as we are about Mantel's rehabilitation of Thomas Cromwell. Which of the shortlist would you have chosen?
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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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And now, we suppose, thoughts will turn to Christmas. Will you be buying books as gifts? How about a [[Amazon Kindle|Kindle]]? The Kindle Fire is out later this month. Are you going to buy one? We're still thinking about it but will let you know what we think if and when we plump for one. You let us know, too. We'd be interested to hear your views.
 
 
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|title=Luisa Plaja Talks To Bookbag About Contemporary Series for Young Adults
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|title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know
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|summary=When I read this great post about series at [http://www.yacontemporary.com/2012/09/where-are-ya-contemporary-series.html YA Contemporary], my first thought was, ''But I have shelves full of YA contemporary series! Surely there are lots of memorable ones still being published?''
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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 Rob Keeley
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|title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews
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|summary=Last year we were delighted by Rob Keeley's [[The Alien in the Garage and Other Stories by Rob Keeley|first collection]] of short stories. This year it was a real pleasure to read [[The (Fairly) Magic Show and Other Stories by Rob Keeley|The (Fairly) Magic Show and Other Stories]]. We had quite a few questions to ask him when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
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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 Stephanie Burgis
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|title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math
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|summary=We've been thrilled by Stephanie Burgis' ''Magick'' series and delighted that she was able to find the time to pop into Bookbag Towers to have a chat with us.
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|summary=Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images.  
 
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|title=Keren David Talks To Bookbag About Choosing Archie Stone As The Narrator Of Another Life
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|title=Finding More Time For Reading
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|summary=It's always fascinating to find out what makes an author write a book in a particular way.  We've loved Keren David's series about Ty Lewis since we first read [[When I Was Joe by Keren David|When I Was Joe]] so the opportunity to chat to her about the [[Another Life by Keren David|third book]] in the series was not one we were prepared to miss.
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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=September 2012 Newsletter
 
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|summary=Hello, hi, how are you? Suffering from Olympic and Paralympic withdrawal? We are. What was your favourite moment? We had so many, we simply couldn't pick just one. And even for bookworms like the team at Bookbag Towers, a summer of sport was a welcome complement to reading. But we are back to normal service now. And to that end, we've been perusing the Booker the shortilist. You can find all it [[Man Booker Prize 2012|here]], together with all the titles on the longlist. It's too close to call a winner, but you're sure to find something you want to read. Take a look!
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David Croydon
 
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|summary=Back in the eighties David Croydon was one of the founders of a sales promotion agency and 'The Unprincipled' tells the story of the twelve years from the agency's founding through to its sale.  We've thought long and hard about finding just one word to describe the book but we really can't do better than 'scurrilous'.  You're best not suggesting that we can have more than one word!  When David popped into Bookbag to chat to us we had quite a few questions which we felt needed an answer.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jackie Marchant
 
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|summary=This is a very special day for Robert James, because it's his first ever double interview! He approached Jackie Marchant, who helped put Dougal Trump's 'scribblings' together to form the wonderful [[I'm Dougal Trump... and it's not my fault! by Dougal Trump|I'm Dougal Trump... And It's Not My Fault]] in the hope of getting an interview with her. Not only did she accept, she also introduced him to the boy who some people are calling 'a modern day William Brown' and he was kind enough to also answer some questions. I hope you enjoy their answers as much as he did!
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chris Worthington
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand
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|summary=We were completely taken by the idea behind [[Setting The Record Straight by Chris Worthington|Setting The Record Straight]] of paying a complete stranger to take revenge on someone who has hurt you and we had quite a few questions to ask author Chris Worthington when he popped in to see us.
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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=Emma Barnes Talks To Bookbag About Everyday Magic in Children's Books
 
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|summary=When Emma Barnes started writing children's books, she wanted to write about real, breathing, contemporary children from everyday families and neighbourhoods having adventures of the kind that might befall anyone.
 
 
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|title=Man Booker Prize 2012
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021
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|summary=The long list was announced on 25 July and we'll know who has made the shortlist on 11 September. The winner will be announced on 16 October.
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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=Rosie Thomas Talks To Bookbag About Whether She Writes And Travels - Or Travels And Writes
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
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|summary=Rosie Thomas popped in to chat to us about have travel lends perspective to her writing.  We were fascinated.
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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=August 2012 Newsletter
 
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|summary=Hi, hello, how are you? Coming down from Olympomania (sic)? It's been marvellous, hasn't it? Even the most dedicated non-sporty geeks amongst us - ahem, Jill - have been beside ourselves with excitement.
 
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Sport over though, we have some fantastic news for you this month! HarperCollins has acquired a fantasy debut by an 18-year-old classical musician, Stefan Bachmann. His book, The Peculiar, will be released in October. You might think that name is familiar - and you'd be right. Stefan is on Bookbag's panel of reviewers and we are so pleased to see he is enjoying such success. He is very talented, but he's also friendly, generous, enthusiastic and generally wonderful to know. You can keep up with Stefan by reading his blog. And watch this space for more about The Peculiar. We're keeping everything crossed for its success!
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Renae Lucas-Hall
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society|summary=Sue was an enthusiastic reader of [[The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do by Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais|The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do]] and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers.
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|summary=We felt that we were in the heart of Japan when we read [[Tokyo Hearts - A Japanese Love Story by Renae Lucas-Hall|Tokyo Hearts - A Japanese Love Story]] and it was a real pleasure to chat to Renae Lucas-Hall when she called in to see us.  
 
 
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|title=July 2012 Newsletter
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|title=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won
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|summary=Hi, hello, how are you? Andy Murray didn't win Wimbledon. Boo!  It keeps raining. Boo!
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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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There's news from The Reading Agency about this year's summer initiative for children. Every year, thousands of families all over the country are involved in the UK's biggest reading event for children in libraries, the Summer Reading Challenge, coordinated by The Reading Agency. In 2012, the Challenge is called Story Lab. The aim of the challenge is to get children to read six books from their library during the summer holidays. Just head to your local library at the beginning of the summer holidays. You can find out more [http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ here].  
 
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Susie Day
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way
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|summary=One of our favourite novels for tweens and younger teens so far this year is the absolutely outstanding [[Pea's Book of Best Friends by Susie Day]] – a definite modern classic! We were thrilled to interview Susie.
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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 Simon Packham
 
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|summary=We thought that Simon Packham's [[Silenced by Simon Packham|latest novel]] tackled a difficult subject with warmth and a surprising amount of humour, so we had quitea few questions for him when he came into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Oldman Brook
 
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|summary=We thought that [[The Wizard of Crescent Moon Mountain by Oldman Brook]] was a real roller-coaster ride.  As soon as we'd picked ourselves up we asked Oldman to pop in and chat to us.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ruth Warburton
 
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|summary=I absolutely loved Ruth Warburton's [[A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton|A Witch in Winter]] and am just about to get my hands on the sequel A Witch In Love (released next week!) so I was thrilled to get the chance to interview her.
 
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|title=Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2012
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020
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|summary=With eight great books on the longlist we're looking forward to finding the winner in November.  
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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 Gerry Wells
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander
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|summary=We were very impressed by Gerry Wells' [[Kicking the Hornets' Nest by Gerry Wells|book of short stories]] based on his experiences of crewing a Sherman tank in WWII.  Chatting to him was too good an opportunity 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 Jenny Smith
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire
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|summary=When we read [[My Big Fat Teen Crisis by Jenny Smith]] we loved Jenny's breezy writing style.  It was a real pleasure to chat to her when she popped in to Bookbag Towers.
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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=Victoria Eveleigh Talks To Bookbag About Why Pony Books Aren't Just For Girls
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|title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner
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|summary=Victoria Eveleigh's [[A Stallion Called Midnight by Victoria Eveleigh|story]] about a friendship between a young girl and a wild stallion kept Sue reading well into the night. We were fascinated when Victoria popped in to tell us why pony books are not just for girls.
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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=June 2012 Newsletter
 
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|summary=Wow. First we get a mini heatwave then the skies open and hundreds of people are flooded out of their homes. Where else but Blighty, eh? On the upside, though, we're loving the Sky Arts TV channels at the moment and in particular their coverage of the Hay Festival. For those of us unable to get our diaries in sufficient order to book accommodation a year in advance, it's been great. We almost, but not quite, felt as though we were there.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cathy Farr
 
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|summary=We loved [[Moon Chase by Cathy Farr|Moon Chase]] and [[Moon Crossing by Cathy Farr|Moon Crossing]] and when author Cathy Farr popped into Bookbag Towers we asked her all about fellhounds, Thesk, and how she feels about being a writer.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David Vann
 
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|summary=It's nearly three years since we first discovered the work of David Vann and we're impressed by his [[Dirt by David Vann|latest book]].  The opportunity to ask the author a few questions was not one to be missed.
 
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=comments
 
|category=comments
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|title=H A Goodman Asks Who Would You Be In An Alternate Reality?
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|title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations
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|summary=We've really enjoyed our trips around Hal Goodman's afterlife universe, with its dark comedy and glossy plot. He wanted us to think about who we would be in an alternate reality when he popped in to see us.
+
|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 Stephanie Guerra
 
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|summary=We reviewed, and really enjoyed, Stephanie Guerra's [[Torn by Stephanie Guerra|Torn]] earlier this year. She was kind enough to do this interview for us.
 
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}}
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Allan Hendry
 
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|summary=We enjoyed [[End Game by Allan Hendry]], a fast-paced and action-packed eco-thriller to make you think exactly where we're going - and who is likely to do something about it.  We had quite a few questions for the author when he popped in to see us.
 
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{{newfeature
 
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|title=Melissa Wareham Talks To Bookbag About How She Became An Accidental Author
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|title=5 Great AI books to read in 2020
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|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we love dogs and people who love dogs, so we knew we'd love Melissa Wareham ''even'' if she wasn't such a good writer.  When she popped in to see us we wanted to know how the girl from the Dogs' Home became a best-selling author.
+
|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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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
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|category=interviews
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|category=lists
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kathryn James
+
|title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out
−
|summary=Kathryn James caught our attention last year with her wonderful portrayal of Nell Beecham, the 13-year-old heroine of her first novel, [[Mist by Kathryn James|Mist]]. We're far from being the only ones who are impressed - in fact, just two days ago she won the Dorset New Horizons Award - congratulations, Kathryn! While we're eagerly awaiting book 2, Frost, we managed to persuade her to take a little time out from writing to answer some questions.  
+
|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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{{newfeature
 
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|category=lists
 
|category=lists
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|title= The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2012
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019
−
|summary=The prize of £10,000 will be awarded to one of the three short-listed books on 28 June
+
|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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{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
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|category=comments
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ellen Richardson
+
|title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review
−
|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.
+
|summary=Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mind.  Desiree Villena gives us five tips.
 
}}
 
}}
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|category=newsletters
 
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|title=May 2012 Newsletter
 
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|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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}}
 
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Francis Bennett
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin
−
|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.
+
|summary=|summary=In [[War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by Melanie Martin|War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam]] Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII.  It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read.  Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
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|category=interviews
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|category=comments
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Karen McCombie
+
|title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception
−
|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.
+
|summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
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|category=comments
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniela Sacerdoti
+
|title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi
−
|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.
+
|summary=Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again.
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen
 
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|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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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
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|title=Linda Newbery Talks To Bookbag in Praise of Charity Shops
+
|title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction
−
|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.
+
|summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''?
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
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|category=lists
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tony Parsons
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018
−
|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.
+
|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2018 was difficult as we're constantly surprised at just how good some self-published books are. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
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|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007327811</amazonuk>
 
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}}
 
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Louisa Reid
 
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|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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{{newfeature
 
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|category=comments
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|title=Jon Mayhew Talks To Bookbag About The Bonehill Curse: Influences and Inspirations
+
|title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle
−
|summary=Imagine you had your own magic lamp, just like Aladdin. Think of what you'd wish for!
+
|summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
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|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Wein
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet
−
|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.
+
|summary=Sue was impressed when she read [[Landslide by Melissa Leet|Landslide]] by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel.  She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
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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
+
|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=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]].
+
|summary=Every child has a right to medical care
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=comments
 
|category=comments
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|title=Barbara Mitchelhill Talks To Bookbag About Her Favourite Period in History: The Tudors
+
|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things
−
|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.
+
|summary=''We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?'': Elon Musk
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
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|category=newsletters
+
|category=interviews
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|title=April 2012 Newsletter
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz
−
|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.
+
|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.
−
 
 
−
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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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
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|category=interviews
+
|category=lists
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Liz Kessler
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017
−
|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.
+
|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion.  Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jane Prowse
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey
−
|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!
+
|summary=Sue was quietly impressed when she read [[21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey]] as it chimed with her personal view of life.  She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
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|category=comments
 
|category=comments
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|title=William Poundstone Talks To Bookbag About Job Interviews
+
|title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary
−
|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.
+
|summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Levancuka
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte
−
|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.
+
|summary=Peter thought that [[The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership by Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte|The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership]] was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Terry Murphy
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs
−
|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.
+
|summary=Luke thought that [[Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs]] was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable prose.  There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Cat Clarke
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona
−
|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.
+
|summary=Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised [[Sorting the Priorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|autobiography]] of life as a diplomatic spouse.  There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marc Nash
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence
−
|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.
+
|summary=Sue was delighted when she read [[The Cossack by K J Lawrence|The Cossack]] as it restored her faith in the thriller genre.  When the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready!
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Margie Gelbwasser
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell
−
|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.
+
|summary=Sue found Start Burrell's book [[Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records by Stuart Burrell|Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records]] an inspiring, feel-good read. She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
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|category=newsletters
+
|category=interviews
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|title=March 2012 Newsletter
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart
−
|summary=Hello! How are things? Read anything good lately?
+
|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 Kai Meyer
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan
−
|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.
+
|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
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
−
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Megan Miranda
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram
−
|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!
+
|summary=Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something of a relief when Sue met author, Annie Ingram.  She has lengthy conversations with her cocker spaniel Kammie and has shared them with us in her [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|book]].  There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To S B Hayes
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago
−
|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!
+
|summary=Ani was quietly moved by [[Returning Home by Stephan Santiago|Returning Home]] and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
  
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+
Move to [[Recommended Resources]]
−
See [[Features page 2|older features]].
 
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[[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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