Who wrote it?

Katie Davies was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1978. She studied English and Drama at Warwick University and Acting at East 15. She has written and performed various sketches for Radio 4 comedy show, ONE. Katie is currently working on her second children's novel, THE GREAT RABBIT RESCUE, and on a book of poetry for teenage girls.

What's it about?

A very natural and honest version of life's events from the perspective of a young girl - from her suspicions about her neighbours, to her rocky friendship with the girl next door; from the sudden death of her beloved granny to her relentless quest for a pet hamster, only to then find it mysteriously slaughtered - which kickstarts a local investigation of 'suspects'. This is the first in a proposed series of short novels featuring the same characters and setting - with the themes of pets and detective work holding them together.

Fact File

Katie was, like the heroine of The Great Hamster Massacre, thrown out of the Brownies

Katie’s website is: www.katiedaviesbooks.com

Who wrote it?

Sophie McKenzie, who won the Leeds Book Awards in 2009 for her book Blood Ties. She is also the author of the Medusa Project series, about a group of teenagers with special powers.

What's it about?

It all starts when a mysterious train appears in the park. Before they know what’s happening, Joe and Scarlett are whisked away on a journey back in time. Magically transported to World War II, they’re given a mission: to save a young boy’s life. But with bombs falling on London, they find they are counting down to disaster…

Fact File

Sophie has worked as an au-pair and a receptionist in the past, is scared of rats and likes running and boxing.

You can find out more about Sophie by looking at her website www.sophiemckenziebooks.com.

Who wrote it?

Jon Mayhew has been a teacher for over 20 years. He lives on the Wirral Peninsula with his wife, four children and a whole menagerie of dogs and cats and chickens and tortoises. His house overlooks the forbidding marshes of the Dee Estuary which is great for wildlife, spooky mists and wet feet.

As well as writing Jon also loves running and playing the mandolin.

What's it about?

The sister is a knife-thrower in a magician's stage act, the brother an undertaker's assistant. Neither orphan knows of the other's existence. Until, that is, three terrible Aunts descend on the girl's house and imprison her guardian, the Great Cardamom. His dying act is to pass the girl a note with clues to the secret he has carried to his grave. Cardamom was one of three explorers on an expedition to locate the legendary Amarant, a plant with power over life and death. Now, pursued by flesh-eating crow-like ghuls, brother and sister must decode the message and save themselves from its sinister legacy.

Fact File

As a child Jon used to play in the overgrown ruins of a Victorian Zoo, building dens in the bear pits and imagining that some of the animals still lurked in the thick rhododendrons.

For more information on Jon and Mortlock go to www.jonmayhew.co.uk

Who wrote it?

Andrew Newbound studied journalism at college, before dropping out to become a debt collector. Later he switched to managing a few pop bands, and eventually writing award-winning ads. He has had the burning desire to tell stories since the age of nine.

What's it about?

Demons from the Dark Dimension pour through a portal in the wall of Pittingham Manor, the mid-point for an attack on high. They're planning an assault. Into this chaos stumbles 12-year-old ghost busting psychic Alannah Malarra and burglar Wortley Flint. Up until now they've only ever faced tame treasure-hording ghosts, but this is something else. Their only hope is a plucky angel police patrol on a routine earth-monitoring mission. Enter Inspectre Flhi Swift and officers Yell and Gloom.

Fact File

Andrew grew up on the edges of the Rhubarb Triangle in Yorkshire wanting to be a private investigator.

For more information on Andrew and Demon Strike, go to www.goawayghosts.com.

Who wrote it?

Christine and Christopher Russell. Christopher was a postman when he had his first radio play broadcast in 1975, having given up a job in the civil service to do shift work and have more daytime hours for writing. Since 1980, he has been a full-time television and radio script writer, and, more recently a children's novelist. His wife Christine has always been closely involved with his work, storylining and script editing, and has television credits of her own.

What's it about?

A silver object falls mysteriously from the sky and lands on Sal, a matronly Southdown ewe who lives happily with her sheep friends on Eppingham Farm. The sheep are convinced that an ancient ovine prophecy is being fulfilled. They must go North (so to Scotland, perhaps? ), on a mission to aid Lord Aries, Sheep of all Sheepdom, Ram of Rams, in his battle against the powers of darkness in the shape of Lambad the Bad. Thus the Eppingham Posse of Rare Breed Warriors is born. In fact, the silver object is a mobile phone, dropped from a hot air balloon by Luke and Neil, who have been stealing bank money over the internet. They need that phone back to hide the evidence. And a couple of woolbags aren't going to stand in their way! The chase is on...

Fact File

Christine and Christopher live on the Isle of Wight. They love travelling, so when their 3 daughters left home they decided to do just that and in recent years have visited New Zealand, Laos, Cambodia, Chile and The Galapagos Islands.

For more information go to www.christopherrussell.co.uk.