Mark Greer

Philanthropy Director, UK Community Foundations

We're not in the business of telling people to give up their money, but we do promote the idea that anyone can be a philanthropist. The word philanthropist isn't just defined by the Bill and Melinda Gates of the world.

Frank Brinkley

Writer, editor, fas-master

In short: Fifty Shades of Grey is erotica and thus disqualified from the Bad Sex in Fiction Award 2012 (or indeed in any other year). Phew.

Andrew Edney

Owner and Editor of Connected Digital World.com and all round geek

This week saw the release of Book of Spells, the first of Sony's Wonderbook titles. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dave Ranyard and Masami Kochi to talk about the origins and evolution of Wonderbook and where it might be going next.

Andy Robertson

Family Gaming Expert on TV, Radio and blogger

This Christmas sees the family space crowded again with Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo each coming to market with strong new ideas - Wonderbook, 2-Way TV and Wii U respectively. I recently had the chance to try out one of these products, Wonderbook, in my own home.

Sean Hewitt

Poet and Writer

But is J.K. Rowling's new book really a new direction, both politically and in terms of her literary output? On the contrary. There's no wonder that the student protests of 2011 featured many Harry Potter inspired slogans.

Jason Holmes

London-based writer

"We all have multiple identities," says Tony Parsons when I ask him whether he feels more of an Englishman or a Londoner, "but I certainly feel like I'm both. But I also feel British.

B.J. Epstein

Lecturer in literature and public engagement, University of East Anglia

Amidst all the wonderful British quirkiness at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, there was a sequence dedicated both to the NHS and children's literature. This might seem like a strange combination, but director Danny Boyle linked them through the Great Ormond Street Hospital, which focuses on children's healthcare.

B.J. Epstein

Lecturer in literature and public engagement, University of East Anglia

But many view children's literature as beneath them. If it's not for 'grownups', it's not worthwhile. But, wait, here's a sneaky little problem: what about all the 'grownups' who read and enjoy Rowling's work and other children's books? Shouldn't we explore why these works appeals to adults who are apparently supposed to know better?

Reno Charlton

Author and copywriter

Imagine if that first Harry Potter manuscript had fallen into the hands of the wrong reader when it was sent to Bloomsbury - we might never have heard of Harry or J.K and the world of children's literature might be very different today.

Tom Hunter

Arts and Geek Culture. Arthur C. Clarke Award Director and Editor-in-Chief at LondonCalling.com

When the conversation turns to favourite books, those people around me who like to affect a public disdain for all things Harry Potter always seem to assume I'm one of them, when the truth is I rather like the idea of Harry and Hogwarts (and especially Snape) and I love the fact that so many people seem to truly love the series.

Alistair Coleman

Writer and award-winning blogger

Nobody likes a clown. I say this for a number of reasons, the first of which being the sight of an entire clown outfit in a hedge by the side of the road on the outskirts of the town where I work.

Selina Wilken

Entertainment news writer

Here's why Harry Potter needs to pull a Lord of the Rings and sweep the Oscars in 2012.

Laila Escartín-Sorjonen

Finnish-Spanish freelance journalist and novelist living in Finland

I can't know if there ever was a better time for authors than today. Judging from what I've read, I guess no. In the olden days those authors and artists who did fine financially came mostly from wealthy families, whilst artists like Van Gogh or Modigliani, or authors like Edgar Allan Poe or Henry Miller struggled with poverty.

Judy Jackson

Food writer and novelist

A self-published fantasy writer has become an e-book phenomenon, earning $2 million. So what hope is there for the rest of us unknown writers?