My fabulous guest this week is the zombiephobic MJ Howes, who grew up by the beautiful coast in Norfolk, and now lives in the East Midlands with her husband and two children. MJ works as a midday supervisor at the local primary school and as an exam invigilator at the high school.

MJ's debut Feed was published earlier this year by Chicken House. Fourteen-year-old Lola lives in a world where an alien race has invaded the Earth, taking humans away during their nightly raids. When her father is taken, Lola knows she has to go after him. But when she deliberately gets herself taken to one of their ships, even she isn’t prepared for the horrors that await her.

1. Uh oh, it's the zombie apocalypse. Which author (living or dead) do you want riding shotgun?

Oh no, did it have to be zombies! I’m such a wimp I’d probably be hiding in the nearest cupboard or under a hedge. So help would definitely be needed. I think Charlie Higson would be a good choice, he seems to know a thing or two about zombies, although many of his characters end up dead, so maybe not. Maybe we should laugh in the face of danger and have the brilliant David Walliams on our side, and who knows, maybe zombies still have their sense of humour intact. Has anyone ever tried telling a joke to a zombie?

2. Look, I got a time machine on eBay! Where do you want to go? (Said time machine may possibly malfunction and leave you there. Possibly. It was *very* cheap.)

What a decision. I’d love to go back to any time and see how accurate the history books are, maybe find out what the Romans were really like. But I don’t want to be stranded there by your cheap time machine. Maybe the future would be a safer bet, 500 years or so, then I could look up my ancestors and find myself amongst them – okay, maybe that would be a bit weird.

3. What's your favourite thing about writing for kids?

They’re such an honest audience, they tell you what they think and that’s brilliant. Children love books, and their enthusiasm is infectious. Plus, I’ve never really grown up.

4. A witch has cast a spell on you (sorry about that) and you've woken up as a character in a children's book - what's your special talent or power?

I want to be invisible. Can you imagine the places you could go and visit, it would be brilliant. All those restricted and roped off areas in museums. Or, if that’s not possible I’d like to be able to fly. Birds have such a superpower, I hope they appreciate it.

5. What's the scariest thing you've ever done?

This is a difficult one for me, because as I’ve already mentioned, I’m such a wimp. I try and avoid danger at all costs. I did go on a Woody Woodpecker rollercoaster once – terrifying. I won’t even go in a lift unless I have to. Maybe one day I will force myself to do something scary, so watch this space!

6. What's something you wish you'd known about writing when you started out? What's something you wish you'd known about publishing?

That less is more. I think any first time writer is amazed when they first work with an editor. The amount of stuff that can be cut, leaving your story the room to breathe and grow. I’ve learnt so much. I write now with a totally different way of thinking.

I didn’t know a huge amount about the publishing world, so I’m still learning every day. I know it’s a big business, but I’ve been amazed at how supportive and friendly other authors have been, it’s a bit like becoming part of a family.

7. What would your daemon be?

Ha, knowing me it would probably be a sloth. I’d like a turtle, but the water thing might be a problem. I don’t know, maybe a white mouse. Always wanted one ever since I watched Play School as a kid, and it would sit neatly in my pocket.

8. My book(s) don’t have dragons, but they do have... flesh-eating aliens, aliens with fiery eyes and aliens with blue hair, in fact a smorgasbord of aliens. Oh, and a dog too.

LOVE that scary cover! And enjoying how popular sloths are as daemons... Find out more about MJ and her books on Twitter and Goodreads.

This week am delighted to have the eternally youthful (see below) Lauren Magaziner as my guest. Lauren recently graduated from Hamilton College. She lives in Brooklyn, New York and works in children's publishing. She is an avid Harry Potter enthusiast, philosophy debater, and chocolate consumer. Her debut novel, The Only Thing Worse Than Witches, releases from Dial/Penguin the day after tomorrow!

In The Only Thing Worse Than Witches, eleven-year-old Rupert cannot resist applying to an advertisement to be a witch's apprentice, but quickly finds himself over his head with the young witch-in-training who desperately needs his help. Roald Dahl meets Eva Ibbotson in this hilarious debut that's perfect for reading aloud!

1. Uh oh, it’s the zombie apocalypse. Which author (living or dead) do you want riding shotgun?

JK ROWLING. JK ROWLING. 1000 TIMES JK ROWLING.

Why? She would have awesome stories, owns all the Hallows (most important in this case, the invisibility cloak), and we can just shout EXPECTO PATRONUM to protect ourselves from zombies. 

2. Look, I got a time machine on eBay! Where do you want to go? (Said time machine may possibly malfunction and leave you there. Possibly. It was *very* cheap.)

Um... is it weird that my first instinct is to go to 399 B.C. to see the trial of Socrates firsthand? I'd probably attempt to stop his execution while I was there, but things always go awry when you try to tamper with time!

Or I'd try to hang out with my grandparents or parents when they were kids. Or maybe I'd go back in time to hang out with my 4th grade self! (I'd have to be very careful not to create a paradox here, though. Murky waters.)

Or I'd go BACK TO THE FUTURE! Like thousands of years into the future! None of this 2100 stuff. Year 500,000 or BUST!

Too many possibilities. I'd probably be paralyzed by the decision--and just stare at the shiny buttons before quietly climbing out.

3. What’s your favourite thing about writing for kids?

The laughs!

4. A witch has cast a spell on you (sorry about that) and you’ve woken up as a character in a children’s book – what’s your special talent or power? 

I would love the power to morph my appearance at will. That way I could fool other characters into telling me information they would only have told a character who wasn't me. (This power would be especially useful in mysteries. But, I guess that means it would also make me the prime suspect... Hmm.... maybe I should rethink this.)

5. What’s the scariest or strangest thing you’ve ever done?

The scariest thing I've ever done: At summer camp, I crashed a sailboat into another boat and caused them both to sink. Moral of the story: never let me drive the sailboat.

The strangest thing I've ever done: In Scotland, I stuck my face in an ice-cold river for seven seconds because it was fabled to be a fairy river of eternal youth.

6. What’s something you wish you’d known about writing when you started out? 

I wish I'd known how to revise. For years, growing up, I thought revising meant line editing. ("Hahahahaha," older Lauren laughs at her younger self.) Who knew that one day, I'd end up cutting full sections of books? Move the end to the beginning, the beginning to the end, and mash it all around! Learning how to revise was a pivotal moment for me--and is actually my favorite part of the process now.

What’s something you wish you’d known about publishing?

I wish I'd known how many years it would take. (11 years, from the time I seriously picked up the pen until publication.)  Actually, scratch that. I guess it was better that I didn't know. 

7. What would your daemon be?

A one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater. Clearly. 

8. My book doesn’t have dragons, but it does have... BUNNIES. Which are more ferocious than dragons. Also it has witches, which are more cackle-y than dragons, and toecorn (chewy, meaty popcorn made from toes), which is a lot tastier than dragons (arguably).

*Watches Lauren carefully for the next decade to see if her face gets any older* And oh yes, the trial of Socrates, I'm so with you! Find out more about Lauren and her books on her website, Twitter and Goodreads page.

This week's dragon is the very talented Emma Carroll. Emma is a graduate of Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. Frost Hollow Hall, her debut novel for Faber, won the North East Book Award.

Emma’s second novel, The Girl Who Walked On Air, is set in a Victorian circus. Tightrope walker Louie is desperate to become a ‘showstopper’. When a mysterious stranger offers her that chance, she grabs it with both hands. Yet nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire, but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus ...

1) Uh oh, it’s the zombie apocalypse. Which author (living or dead) do you want riding shotgun?

Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, because she was incredibly intelligent and brave. In Frankenstein she makes us feel sympathy for the monster. So with her on side maybe we could make friends with the zombies.

2) Look, I got a time machine on eBay! Where do you want to go? (Said time machine may possibly malfunction and leave you there. Possibly. It was *very* cheap.)

Brilliant question! I’d love to have gone to a Frost Fair on the Thames. Imagine the atmosphere-magicians, musicians, pie sellers, fortune tellers whole oxen roasting on spits – and all this happening ON the ice. Sadly the last Frost Fair on the Thames was in 1814, reason enough to not fancy hanging around in that era.

3) What’s your favourite thing about writing for kids?

‘Thing’? You mean I’m only allowed one? Ok, then I’d say it’s meeting people who’ve read and enjoyed my books, or any books, come to think of it. Being around that buzz for reading is completely awesome.

4) A witch has cast a spell on you (sorry about that) and you’ve woken up as a character in a children’s book – what’s your special talent or power?

Ha ha! Rubs hands with glee. As my special power I’d be able to make animals talk. Certain people’s pets could reveal pretty juicy secrets. Imagine what the Queen’s corgis know!

5) What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done?

Going to work (I’m also a teacher) on World Book Day as the poodle from The Curious Incident, wearing a giant black afro and with a plastic fork pinned to my chest. There are plenty of other examples to choose from, but we’ll leave it there...

6) What’s something you wish you’d known about writing when you started out? What’s something you wish you’d known about publishing?

About writing? I wish I’d known it’s ok to write a rubbish first draft, that it’s just the first step in a long process.

About publishing? That no-one really knows how Amazon rankings work

7) What would your daemon be?

A dog. Always a dog.

8) My books don’t have dragons, but they do have... feisty girl characters that, if required, could take on a dragon any day of the week!

Ooh, the Frost Fairs sound completely magical. Find out more about Emma and her books on her website and Goodreads page, and buy The Girl Who Walked On Air here.