Last month I went to a joint 50th birthday party for two of my cousins, Davina and Sharon. Whilst there, I was helped out with my dinner by one of our friends, Jimmy Biesty, who clearly didn't trust me to handle any sharp implements! :-)

All three of the above named have featured in my books at some point over the years. I think Davina was briefly mentioned, as one of the glamorous assistants at the Cirque Du Freak. Jimmy has popped up in one of my adult books (I think The Evil And The Pure, published under the name of Darren Dash, though I might be wrong about that). But the character named after Sharon is probably the most memorable of the three -- I used her married surname, Egin, for the crazy witch in Demon Thief -- Sharon was tickled pink to feature so prominently, regardless of the unhinged nature of her namesake! :-)

The April issue of the Shanville Monthly went live a few days ago. Check it out quick, before Mrs Egin gets her demonic claws on you!!! https://www.darrenshan.com/news/shanville-monthly/