The Guardian Children's Books podcast

Cecelia Ahern explains how she was moved to write her first YA novel, Flawed, by her dismay at society’s increasingly finger-pointing culture. Guardian children’s books site members Harriet, Amy and Rebecca grill her on the book, which is set in a powerfully realised society in which perfection is valued above humanity

Jacqueline Wilson speaks to Michelle Pauli as she launches her creative writing competition for 7 – 12 year olds, where the prize is to have the winning story published in one of her books! Here she gives you tips about getting started, inventing characters and what the judges will be looking for Find out more about the competition and enter here! Plus check out the first chapter of Jacqueline Wilson’s newest book, Rent a Bridesmaid

Harrowing second world war tale Anna and the Swallow Man has taken teen readers by storm. Teen site members Lottie is Dottie and Ayesha got to ask the author about the mythologisation of the Holocaust, deep and dark things, stories without end and the meaning of life Also read Remembering the people of the Holocaust

Get a fascinating insight into the world of teen/YA fantasy in this podcast with four amazing fantasy authors. Samantha Shannon, Sally Green, Lucy Saxon and Alwyn Hamilton talk world building, feminism, sex and why we need to stop comparing all female characters to Katniss Everdeen – however wonderful she is! Enter our signed fantasy books giveaway!

Political commentator Owen Jones is grilled by teen site members CaraErica, Patrick and TheBookAddictedGirl on the writers who inspired his democratic socialist politics, the advice he’d give his 16-year-old self, and how young people should get involved in politics – and why… The Establishment is our current Teen book club read – find out what else is happening here

Find out what Jeff Kinney’s favourite Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is, why he really did wrap himself in toilet paper in Middle School and how he ALWAYS has writer’s block in this fabulous interview by the Eye Boggling Blurbs book group Win signed copies of the complete set of 10 Diary of a Wimpy Kid books

Sandi Toksvig reads from and talks about her latest book, A Slice of the Moon, an action-packed story of one family's journey across the world as they leave behind their home in Ireland during the potato famine and travel to America

Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels, and award-winning picture book creator Oliver Jeffers have paired up to create a book about imaginary friends, Imaginary Fred. Find out how they met by chance, collaborated across continents by skype, and, of course, whether they have their own imaginary friendsBuy Imaginary Fred at the Guardian bookshop

Prepare to be thrilled as Joseph Coelho performs poems from his prize-winning collection, Werewolf Club Rules, and offers his suggestions for your own poetry writing

The author of My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece talks to site member The Dormouse about her new book, Silence is Goldfish, which she wrote for all the limelight-avoiding introverts out there

On the 10th anniversary of her first book I Coriander, Sally Gardner talks to site member Patrick about writing historical novels, the power of fairy tales, dyslexia and why the school system needs a big shake up

The best-selling Gallagher Girls author spills the beans on All Fall Down, the first in her thrilling new Embassy Row series – and answers questions on her life and books from teen site members• Plus we have five signed copies of All Fall Down to give away! See below for details

Mother and daughter writing duo Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer talk to Michelle Pauli about the premise behind their funny YA romance, Off the Page, in which a fairytale prince leaves his storybook to experience life and love in high school, and describe the ups and downs of co-writing with the person who knows you - and sometimes annoys you - best

Site member Tashtastic caught up with Chronicles of Ixia creator Maria V Snyder, when the US novelist was on a rare visit to the UK – listen in to their conversation here!

The bestselling author talks to site member Muchbooks about Hold Me Closer, his new novel written in musical form starring Tiny Cooper, a book companion to Will Grayson, Will Grayson which David wrote with John Green.Read the first chapter of Hold Me Closer

Find out everything you would ever, ever need to know about sustainable, self-restrainable Guillemot, who uses its bill a lot, in this immortal poem by John Hegley

Judith Kerr reads from her award-winning book, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, about her escape from Nazi Germany during the second world war• Judith answers questions from our group site members and shares the real life stories behind her books and paintings in this interview

The winner of Costa children’s books award 2014 talks to site members Noggin and Sailing46 about her sequel to E Nesbit’s Five Children and It, set in the first world war

James Frey is giving $3 million of his own money as a prize for those who can solve the puzzles that run through his new trilogy Endgame. Here he tells site member JBOO1698 all about his crazy, magical idea – and his obsession with hidden history

Listen to John Agard read his well known poem Half Caste and talk about how his Guyanan upbringing helped him become the writer he is today

RJ Palacio reads from Wonder, and talks to Michelle Pauli about writing about a boy that has to face a world every day that can't face him back

Julian Rhind-Tutt reads from Terry Pratchett's new book Dragons at Crumbling Castle• Meet the cast of Dragons At Crumbling Castle – gallery• Take the Terry Pratchett quiz• Find out how Terry Pratchett wrote his first stories as a cub reporter

Site member Katiedoglovesbooks gets to ask Kes Gray just why he ate lollies off the floor when he was a child and about his latest book Daisy and the Trouble with Sports Day

Michael Morpurgo explains to site members Orli and Fernando why he writes about war. Plus hear Michael read a moving contribution from Raymond Briggs for his WW1 anthology Only Remembered

John Klassen talks us through the process of creating I Want My Hat Back and his collaboration with Lemony Snicket: The Dark

Ansel Elgort, star of the film of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, answers questions from the Guardian teens' book community about reading, making TFIOS movie and how the one thing he wants people to take away from watching it is hope

The Norwegian thriller writer talks about his obsession with farting, why he loves writing his Doctor Proctor books for children plus gives a lesson on how to pronounce his name this interview by children's reading group The Book Bunch

Young Samurai author Chris Bradford is grabbed by site member Freddy to talk about how he writes his Bodyguard series. Also hear a thrilling extract from Chris's latest book Bodyguard: Ransom

Lauren reads from Fire Storm, the third book in her One Dollar Horse series. She answers questions from site member Cookonthebrightside on her books and her belief in animal rights

Non Pratt reads from her first book Trouble about a teenage pregnancy and then answers questions from site member Merle NunnelyKeep up to date with the rest of the club, including Non's top ten teens in trouble, her introductory blog and site members' reviews