Now, THIS is an odd one!!

A fan called BRETT wrote to me recently, asking me if they could send a book of mine to me in the post, for me to sign and return to them. I'm normally reluctant to do that, as books can get damaged or lost en route, but occasionally for whatever reason I'll make an exception.

I agreed to sign Brett's book if they wanted to send it to me, but asked them to weigh it first, so that I could give them a quote for what the return shipping would be. While Brett was doing that, they also took a photo of the book and shared it with me...

...and it wasn't a book I recognised!!!

"An American paperback omnibus edition of the first three Cirque Du Freak books?" I muttered to myself. "I don't recall that one..."

A quick check of my bookshelves proved that I hadn't forgotten about this edition -- I didn't (don't) HAVE a copy of it. I have a copy of the omnibus edition with a cover from the movie, which was released to tie in with the film in 2009, but my publishers never sent me my author copies of this one, which features a cover adapted from the hardback of book 1.

I don't think there's any point asking my publishers for my contracted copies at this stage -- I assume this is long out of print -- so I guess I'll have to follow my own advice and do what I recommend to fans who ask me where they can track down old copies of my books, and go look on Abebooks and Alibris for one!!

In the meantime, while I like to modestly boast every so often that I have the most complete Darren Shan collection in the world, if YOU, like Brett, have a copy of this book, you're currently one step ahead of me, so feel free to say "Nyah! Nyah!"" if our paths ever cross!!!! :-) :-) :-)