"I had an interesting chat with Darren Shan this afternoon on Zoom! �� I discovered the Larten Crepsley saga many years after reading the Darren Shan saga and I was so pleased to read more about Mr Crepsley's story."

That was a quote from a lady called ABBY, who took part in a small group chat with me and another lady called ARRA earlier today. For 40 minutes I was all theirs, chatting to them from the room where I've had my office for the past year (see the photo, which I took just moments before writing this post). I read an extract from the first Archibald Lox book, then answered lots of their questions, many of which related to Cirque Du Freak and The Saga Of Larten Crepsley. I also revealed the literary and real-life inspirations for the characters of Murlough and Debbie Hemlock!!

If YOU would like to schedule a Zoom chat with me, either a one-to-one session, or as part of a very small group (never any more than three other Shansters, and usually it's less than that), check out the PERKS in my Terrified Troll fundraising campaign by clicking on the following link -- but HURRY!!! The campaign will close in early January, after which the perks will be longer be on offer. I've never offered intimate chat sessions like these before, and might never again...

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-bring-our-troll-to-life/x/35435619#/