Contributor(s): James Dawson, Kate Kingsley, Geraldine McCaughrean, Jon Robinson | The culmination of the 2013-14 LSE and First Story creative writing competition sees a panel of award-winning young adult authors discussing self-portraits - how much of themselves do they include in their writing? James Dawson (@_jamesdawson), author of dark teen thrillers Hollow Pike and Cruel Summer, grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. He later turned his talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. Until recently, James worked as a teacher, specialising in PSHCE and behaviour. He is most proud of his work surrounding bullying and family diversity. He now writes full time in London and is published by Indigo/Orion. Kate Kingsley (@KateKingsley) is the author of Young, Loaded & Fabulous, a scandalous YA series about mean teens at British boarding school. After growing up between London and New York City, Kate started her writing career at GQ magazine. She has been published in places like The Sunday Times Magazine and the New York Times. Geraldine McCaughrean (@GMcCaughrean) is one of today's most successful and highly regarded children's authors. She has won the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Children's Book Award (three times), the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Smarties Bronze Award (four times) and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. In 2005 she was chosen from over 100 other authors to write the official sequel to J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Peter Pan in Scarlet was published in 2006 to wide critical acclaim. Geraldine’s latest novel, The Middle of Nowhere, is published by Usborne Publishing and is out now. Jon Robinson (@jonstoryteller) is author of Nowhere, the first novel in a captivating new conspiracy thriller series. When he's not writing, he volunteers for a leading Alzheimer’s charity.