However, when the books featured on their early evening TV show began to shoot to the top of the bestsellers list, turning previously unknown authors into millionaires, a long line of publishers were found knocking at the couple's door.

The success stories are now well-known. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse became the number one paperback after guest reviewer Carol Thatcher heaped praise on the book and before Bob Geldof likened Joseph O' Connor's Star of the Sea to Charles Dickens, it had sold a paltry 3,500 copies. It went on to sell more than a million.

Understandably then, when the chat show hosts announced they were to turn their attention to children's books, a group of usually overlooked writers no doubt began praying their work would be touched by the Richard and Judy effect.

Kevin Brooks, from Richmond in North Yorkshire, was among the chosen few and having spent much of his 30s opening rejection letters, the 48-year-old, who finally became a full-time writer six years ago, knows the value of publicity. "I always thought the idea of Richard and Judy's book club was fantastic," he says. "Occasionally I might get a review in the Guardian or the Times Educational Supplement, but they're not exactly the kind of publications which a 15-year-old boy is going to pick up and read and anything which helps promote books has to be a good thing.

"There's no getting away from it, for your name and your book to be even mentioned on the show is great."

Kevin, along with the other selected authors are now taking part in a series of roadshows with the hope of inspiring more young people to read.

"We do seem to like to pigeonhole writers and I'm not sure that's very helpful," says Kevin. "I never set out to write for young people, but the first novel I finished was Martyn Pig which happened to fall into that genre. I sent it out to everyone in the universe and everyone in the universe rejected it. A little later I heard about a publishers called Chicken House. It had been set up by Barry Cunningham, the man who had discovered JK Rowling. It was a question of right place, right time. He'd been inundated with manuscripts about wizards and I think my story about a boy who kills his dad was something a bit different."

It's become impossible to mention children's books without mentioning Harry Potter, but while Rowling appears to be able to do no wrong, Kevin suspects the real effect of the phenomenon may have been exaggerated.

"Publishing is like any other business – they are always trying to find the formula which sells, by taking the fewest risks so in that sense I don't think JK Rowling changed anything," he says.

"For me Harry Potter was a bit like the Rubik's Cube, it just wasn't my thing. It did raise the profile of children's writing, but I do wonder how many children who weren't already into books, read it and then went on to read other things."

Despite having picked up various awards and been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, Kevin insists there is no great secret to his success.

"To be honest, writing for young people comes pretty naturally because I honestly don't feel any different now than I did 30 years ago," he says.

"It's not an ideal outlook when you have to pay a mortgage and hold down a job, but it's perfect for writing the kind of books I do."

Having written six novels in six years, Kevin, who among other things previously worked as a hot dog vendor at London Zoo, is fulfilling a long-held ambition to be a writer, but he admits the industry does have something of an image problem.

"When I was young I loved going to the library, but I know it's not seen as a particularly cool place to hang out," he says.

"I've always loved the novels of Raymond Chandler and Jack Kerouac, but my real weakness is for Westerns. There was a time when I'd hide them between a couple of copies of Dostoevsky, but I don't feel the need to go to such extreme lengths any more.

"There is a lot of snobbery in literature and in the past I've been as guilty as anyone. For years I wouldn't read Stephen King, because I thought he was just a horror writer, but then one day I picked up one of his books and just thought – what an amazing storyteller.

"It's totally different in America where you're not made to feel a geek if you happen to be spotted in a bookshop, but I think things are changing, fiction for children and young people is finally emerging from the shadows."

The Richard and Judy Children's Book Club, featuring Kevin Brooks, Sophie Mackenzie and Jenny Valentine, comes to Benton Park High School, Rawdon, Leeds, on November 6 at 7pm. Entry is free, but to reserve a place call Sinead Cromer on 0113 258 8910.