One of Hawks' books is being made into a film

Rowling, the author of the staggeringly successful Harry Potter books kicked off the day with an hour-long live web chat at 1000 GMT.

And Hawks, author of the bestselling Round Ireland with a Fridge, will bring things to a close by answering questions online at 1800 GMT.

"It's a slightly strange way to meet your readers, in that you can't always tell what they're thinking," he told BBC News Online.

"You're reading their questions instead of hearing them. In that respect it's very appropriate for World Book Day."

For Hawks, the global event is a vital reminder of the importance of reading as a release from our hectic everyday lives.

'Terribly beneficial'

"I feel we're rather slipping as a culture," he said. "We rush around too much, affected by the manic energy of television."

"Books offer an escape from all that - you can take them at your own pace. I think there's something terribly beneficial about curling up with a good book."

Millions of readers have curled up with Hawks' books, which follow the author as he attempts to win absurd bets and meet bizarre challenges.

JK Rowling's online chat kicks off World Book Day

So far the writer and comedian has hitch-hiked round the Republic of Ireland with a small refrigerator and played tennis with the entire Moldovan football team.

His most recent book, One Hit Wonderland, revealed how he travelled halfway around Europe in a quest to record a Top 20 hit.

Hawks says his fans are continually inventing new things for him to try. "People are always coming up with wacky adventures for me, but I haven't taken them up on any yet."

Next up is a film version of Round Ireland with a Fridge and a musical collaboration with his near-namesake, Chesney Hawkes.

'Too subjective'

"Obviously Brad Pitt would be the only choice as far as looks go," he replies when asked who might play him on screen.

"But I'm too subjective, so I'll probably just let them get on with it."

The Hawkes collaboration came about when the singer got in touch after reading One Hit Wonderland.

Hawks is continually confused with skateboarder Tony Hawk

"We've recorded one song and we're about to do another one," Tony reveals. "Hawks and Hawkes - it could open up a whole new area."

Talk of namesakes inevitably turns to professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, with whom Hawks is continually confused.

"We were on The Big Breakfast together three years ago and he was asked if he ever got any e-mails addressed to me," Hawk says.

"He said 'Not one', where I get about 10 a week!" Hawks now posts his 'skatemail' on his website, along with his amusing replies.

There are plans to write another book, but Hawks says he is in no rush. "I've got a few ideas which I'm letting germinate."

"If there is any pressure on me I don't feel it."