Although I touched lightly upon Mr Crepsley's love life in The Saga Of Darren Shan (we learnt, for instance, that he and Arra had once been mates), it wasn't until I came to write the four-book series about his life before he met Darren -- The Saga Of Larten Crepsley -- that we got to really explore what relationships might be like for a creature of the night over the course of two hundred years.

There were three great loves in Larten's life (although one of those was cruelly all too short, and its flame was snuffed out before it had a chance to truly burn), and two of those have been beautifully captured by a couple of very talented artists.

The first two pictures were drawn by NOEL, and feature Larten with Alicia, his human fiancee, with whom he shared many of his simplest, happiest moments.

The next two were drawn by AMITY LEE, and focus on Larten and Arra Sails, his vampire mate.

I think all four drawings are absolutely stunning, and they tug hard at my heartstrings. I hope they tug at yours too.