It's that time of the year again, when everyone's favourite big elf dressed in red hits town to spread joy and wonder among the masses.

No, I'm not talking about Santa Claus... I'm talking about SHANTA Claus!!!!

Back around the dawn of time, I wrote a short online Christmas story set just after the events of Tunnels Of Blood, the third book in my Cirque Du Freak series. I reposted it over the coming yueltides, and updated it pretty much every time I dusted off the digital mothballs. It's now a fairly LONG short story that draws in characters from all my major series, plus some of my one-off books. It's the only place in the Darren Shan universe where all my different universes collide, where Mr Crepsley jostles for space with Lord Loss and B Smith and Archibald Lox. (Just don't take any of it TOO seriously!!)

I also use the story to briefly update my fans on what I've released recently, and -- even more excitingly -- I drop hints about what's coming next. This year, as well as chatting about where I am with my Archibald Lox series, I talk about what MIGHT be next for me on teh writing front, plus what's been happening with the potential Cirque Du Freak reboot that I mentioned last year -- and there HAVE been very recent developments, which I'm exclusively revealing for the first time in the story!!!

To book a visit with SHANTA, click on the following link, to be directed to the page on my web site where the story is now back in residence until shortly after Christmas Day (when it will disappear back into the ether for another year): https://darrenshan.com/extras/feature/short-stories-shanta-claus-only-available-at-christmas-yuletide-favourite2

You can also find a couple of other temporary seasonal treats on my site. Firstly, a few years ago I wrote a fun update of that old favourite, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, and you can check out my version (much better than the original, of course!) here: https://darrenshan.com/extras/feature/twas-the-night-before-christmas

Secondly, if you're looking for some "alternative" Christmas songs to sing this yuletide, I've taken several and reworded them to include references to my books. Why? Why not?!? You can find them here: https://darrenshan.com/extras/feature/christmas-songs

MERRY FREAKING CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!!!!