The BBC has launched a search for the nation's favourite novel. STEPHEN LEWIS canvasses a few local votes.

Bill Spence, aka romantic novelist Jessica Blair

Novel: Prester John, by John Buchan. "A great adventure story, which has influenced my writing. I could have chosen most of John Buchan, but this one was one of the first I read."

Non-fiction: The Art Of The Old West, by Paul A Rossi and David C Hunt. "A book of paintings and sketches by well-known artists who devoted their work to the Old West. The reason is that I'm into art of any sort, but I'm also interested in the Old West. This brings the two together. A book you can browse through and enjoy at any time."

Children's book: Peter Pan by JM Barrie. "One of the earliest children's books that I read, and I never wanted to grow up!"

Richard Stansfield, aka Evening Press cartoonist Wolf, of Yorkatt and Eric fame

Novel: 1984 by George Orwell. "1984 can still shock. Difficult sometimes to detect those of Orwell's prophesies that have come true because we now accept them as part of daily life - political correctness, the National Lottery, destruction of the English Language, extreme violence at the cinema and the re-writing of history among them. Often depressing but the best and most thought-provoking novel I have ever read."

Non-fiction: Chambers's English Dictionary, 1875 edition. "I came across this in a charity shop about three years ago. I am in love with this book. Published the year before the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, this dictionary has so many beautiful words that today's Blair-Speak tries so hard to destroy: words such as opprobrium, acrimony, ammanuensis and my favourite, sesquipidalian, referring to someone who likes to use long words."

Children's book: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, illustrated by Nicolas Bentley. "Surreal writing, brilliant pictures and about cats. Had to be this one!"

Charles Whiting, aka Leo Kessler, military historian and bestselling novelist

Novel: The Riddle Of The Sands, by Erskine Childers. Written before the First World War, it is the story of two English yachtsmen who discover German plans to launch an invasion force from the Frisian islands off the German coast. "It was quite a big thing at the time, this idea of spying on what Germany was up to. Ian Fleming in Naval Intelligence later put it forward to his chief, and I think Hitler was even interested for a while."

Non-fiction: A Military History of Western Europe, by Major General Fuller. "As a military author, I thought I'd better put that down. It makes it look as if I'm very professional."

Children's book: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. "You cannot beat Treasure Island as a pure adventure."

Donna Hay, romantic novelist

Novel: Riders, by Jilly Cooper. "I was thinking 'should I go for Jane Eyre?'. But I chose Riders because it's a great book and the only one I've read more than about three times. It's like taking a holiday - you can totally immerse yourself in it. Glamorous characters, good-looking heroines - you don't even have to like horses."

Non-fiction: Roget's Thesaurus. "I'm just polishing the final draft of my novel Goodbye Ruby Tuesday and it is so useful to find another word for 'pain'."

Children's book: A Dog So Small, by Philippa Pearce. "I first heard it read on Jackanory by Judi Dench, and I can still 'see' her reading it. It's about a boy who lives in London and isn't allowed to have a dog. His desperate wish is to have one, and he imagines one so small you can only see it in your mind. It chokes me up thinking about it even now."

Philippa Morris, co-owner of Little Apple Bookshop, High Petergate, York

Novel: 1984 by George Orwell. "A favourite novel is one you can read again and again while always discovering something new."

Non-fiction: SAS Survival Guide, by John Wiseman. "The ultimate book of handy facts whether it be which clouds signify rain or how to collect water in the wild."

Children's book: The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson. "Great story, brilliantly illustrated, for little and big children alike."

Tim Curtis, co-owner of Little Apple Bookshop

Novel: Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie. "Unforgettable, imaginative, funny, just an awesome novel."

Non-fiction: Frost On My Moustache, by Tim Moore. "I suppose I should think of a literary memoir here, but instead I've gone for a travelogue that is so funny I almost wet myself."

Children's book: The Earthsea Quartet, by Ursula le Guin. "Denser, deeper and darker than Harry Potter, this is the original and best sequence of novels about a wizard born to greatness."

Peter Walker, aka author Nicholas Rhea who writes the 'Constable' books

Novel: Martin Chuzzlewit, by Charles Dickens: the one in which one of the characters visits America - and is not impressed. "It could have been anything from Dickens, but I've gone for Martin Chuzzlewit because like all Dickens it manages to combine social justice with humour."

Non-fiction: Brewer's Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable. "You can look through it and find something new on every occasion. A very useful book to have on my shelf - and great fun as well."

Children's book: Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell. "I read it as a child and it reduces you to tears. I think it does help to create in children an understanding of animals and makes children aware of cruelty to animals."

Stephen Lewis, books editor, Evening Press

Novel: Notes From Underground, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. "You're hooked from the first line, 'I am an angry man, I am an unpleasant man, I am an unattractive man'. Must be the greatest piece of fictional soul-searching ever written, leaving none of our deepest fears or insecurities untouched. Strips you naked and leaves you quivering."

Non-fiction: The Lost Continent, by Bill Bryson. "One paragraph about a mid-west US farmer having his arm torn off in a horrific accident and carrying it to the nearest hospital to be sewn back on is the funniest thing I have ever read."

Children's book: Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A.Milne. "Pure joy. I used to read it aloud to my little brother, and we'd collapse into helpless laughter. Years later, I read it aloud to my wife, and we did exactly the same."

Updated: 09:25 Wednesday, October 15, 2003