Who wrote it?

Lesley Howarth has been writing books for children and teenagers for 14 years and is based in the West Country, the source of much of her inspiration.

She has been shortlisted for and won various book awards including:

Shortlisted for Whitbread Prize, 1993 (The Flower King)

Winner, Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, 1995 (MapHead)

Winner 9 – 11 category, Smarties Prize, 1997 (Weather Eye)

What's it about?

Will Dudgeon, a 13 year old boy, has his body stolen by the the ghoulish Hornbeam, the oldest man he has ever seen. Robbed of his youth and faced with the prospect of forever being 84, Will experiences the frustration of living a pensioner’s life and all the attitudes that accompany old age. At least he’s inherited the right job. At Nettlefold and Dad Funeral Directors he can offer really wicked funerals, best and plushest on the terrace! But for how long? Can Will persuade the century-hopping Hornbeam to give him his young body back, or will his next funeral be his own?

Fact File

Lesley Howarth hasn’t always earned her living as a writer, a casual job as a tomato picker in a market garden inspired Maphead.

Who wrote it?

Pete Johnson has been a film extra, film critic, teacher, journalist and author. He says he gets ideas for his writing everywhere. "Real life is always interesting. That is why I carry a notebook with me everywhere. Also, there are certain moments in your life which you can recall with clarity. They are often an excellent springboard for writing."

What's it about?

Five modern children have the chance to find out what World War II was really like. They are taking part in a brand-new reality show, Strictly Evacuees. For three weeks they will live, speak and act as though it is 1939 – and they will be filmed constantly. The contestants have been told to expect the unexpected, but nobody is prepared for the truly astonishing way the show turns out...

Fact File

Pete had an imaginary friend as a child and has used him in one of his books.

Pete’s website is at www.petejohnsonauthor.com

Who wrote it?

Tanya Landman was born and grew up in Kent, but now lives with her family in North Devon.

She has been writing full-time since 1992 and writes for a wide range of readers from toddlers to older teenagers. Her teenage novel Apache was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2008.

Mondays are Murder is the first in a murder mystery series about Poppy Fields and her investigations. There are four titles so far, with another two planned for May 2010.

What's it about?

When Poppy Fields goes on an activity holiday to a remote Scottish island, she is looking forward to a week of climbing, hill-walking and horse-riding.

However things take a bad turn when their instructor has what appears to be a fatal abseiling accident.

When Poppy discovers that his rope was cut and when even more of the instructors start to have "accidents", she and her best friend Graham suspect foul play and decide to investigate.

Fact File

As a child Tanya was often mistaken for a boy because of her cropped hair and scabby knees! She had a number of jobs before becoming an author, including working in a zoo dressed in a bear suit as ‘Kevin the Teddy’. She loves the fact that, as a writer, she is allowed to daydream because she was "always in trouble for it at school". Visit her at www.tanyalandman.com

Who wrote it?

Andy Stanton, who also writes the Mr Gum series. Andy won the first Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 with Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear.

What's it about?

Who on Earth is Matthew Buzzington? Well, in this book he’s just a normal 10-year-old boy but... he can turn into a fly! The problem is he has never managed to make his superpower work. Can he do it now, with robbers and flying pineapples out to get him, just when he really needs it?

Fact File

Andy studied English at Oxford but they kicked him out. He says he likes pizza, dislikes Robbie Williams and is rubbish at chess!

For more information about Andy and his Mr Gum series go to www.mrgum.co.uk

Who wrote it?

Wolven is Di Toft’s first novel and she is currently writing the sequel Learning to Howl.

What's it about?

Wolven is a howlingly hairy adventure! When Nat Carver takes home a strange and smelly mutt, his life is changed forever. Woody is the last of his kind, a Wolven, thought only to exist in legend. Then Nat discovers Woody has escaped from a top-secret science project – and some very bad guys want him back...

Fact File

Di Toft began writing while she was still at school and bribed friends to read her stories. She has a dog called Dave, a dog so large he can actually be seen from space on Google Earth!