GREETINGS!

Welcome to the September issue of the Shanville Monthly! Read on for news of my recent trip to Edinburgh, scoops on forthcoming books, details of a HUGE publicity tour I'm undertaking in the UK and Ireland later this year, and more!

#1 IN IRELAND!

Hunters of The Dusk went all the way to the top in Ireland in August, week ending August 6, to become my second #1 bestselling book in the Emerald Isle!!! Later in the month, I had 2 books in the top 5 at the same time, with Cirque Du Freak re-entering at #2. Thanks to all my brilliant Irish Shansters for their continued support -- I hope to see lots of you during my tour in October!! (See below for more details.)

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

I had a great time at the Edinburgh Festival this year. I went up early to see lots of comedy and theatre shows. Had some fun, wild, late nights, then settled down to business and got on with my events. Both solo events went brilliantly -- the actors I got up to help me out were great, and it was very helpful that we were able to rehearse a bit beforehand. I was signing for an hour after each event. I also enjoyed the panel event I took part in, along with Vivian French and Humphrey Carpenter. We each read out an extract from one of our favourite books (I chose The Secret Garden), then answered questions from the audience. The only problem was, I kept forgetting Vivian and Humphrey's names!!! I really am terrible at names -- I even forget the names of the characters in my books sometimes!!!!!!!! I'll be back in Scotland in October -- see below for more details.

BOOK 10 TITLE REVEALED!

I didn't mean to reveal the title of Book 10 for a few more months, but I got a bit carried away in Edinburgh and blurted it out by mistake!!! And since it would be selfish (and probably impossible) to keep it under wraps from the rest of you now, here it is, for all to see .... (big drum roll!!!!) .... THE LAKE OF SOULS

BOOK 8 AND 9 COVERS

For those of you in the UK and Ireland anxious to know what the covers of the next 2 books will be like -- relax! In a fit of unbelievable good will, I've added to the site not just the UK cover of book 8, but also the working cover of book 9!!!! (This might change in some small ways between now and its release date.) To check them out, go to the Shanville UK home page at http://www.darrenshan.com/uk_site/home/uk-home-main.html Hope you like them!!!

SIGNED BOOKS

For anyone who's interested, I think you can still buy signed copies of my first six books (UK editions) at carpenter.seekbooks.co.uk/

BOOK 4 ON SALE IN AMERICA

Book 4, Vampire Mountain, went on sale in America last month. You can view the cover, and read my plot synposis, on the Shanville USA home page. If you can't find the book in your local store, you can buy it through the Shanville USA SHOP at http://www.darrenshan.com/us_sit...sshop.html Please note, because of a temporary computer problem, I haven't been able to update all the Amazon links in the USA shop section. I'll correct this ASAP.
By the way -- the plan in the States is to release a new book every 6 months or so, which means there'll be a new one coming out every March/April and September/October. I know lots of you are impatient to read the later books, especially since so many of them are already on sale in the UK, but this can't be helped, The main reason the UK books are so far ahead is that the first one went on sale here about a year and a half before it was released in America. Perhaps one day my American publishers will increase their publication schedule and rush the books out to catch up with the UK, but there are no current plans for this. You'll just have to be patient, little ones!!!!

ON THE ROAD

I'm undertaking a MASSIVE promotional tour of the UK and Ireland in October and November! I'll be doing lots of school and library events, including a few public appearances. Please note: most library events are school-specific (meaning they invite in classes from a local school), but it's usually possible for individuals to attend too. So, if I'm in your area, performing at your local library, and you're able to get time off school (perhaps by agreeing with your teacher to write a report about the event!), do feel free to come and see me -- though you should check with the library first, to make sure that's OK. Now, on with the (frightening!!) schedule:
OCTOBER
10 - Thursday - St Joseph's R.C., Bermondsey, London
11 - Friday - 09.00-11.00 - Great Baddow High School, Chelmsford, Essex
11 - Friday - 14.00-15.00 - Barbican Children's Library, London
12 - Saturday - 11.00-12.00 - PUBLIC EVENT - Muswell Hill Children's Bookshop, 29 Fortis Green Rd, London N10
13 - Sunday - 17.45-18.30 - PUBLIC EVENT - Cheltenham Festival Of Literature [more details next month]
14 - Monday - 10.00-12.00 - Charlton School, Wellington, Telford
15 - Tuesday - Carlton Le Willows School, Nottingham (3 events)
16 - Wednesday - morning - Eaton Bank School, Congleton, Cheshire
16 - Wednesday - 13.00-???? - Leafo Castle [more details next month]
17 - Thursday - morning - Wallasey Children's Library, Earlston Rd, Wallasey, Wirral
18 - Friday - morning - George Watson's School, Edinburgh
18 - Friday - evening - PUBLIC EVENT - Ottakers, Unit 6, Buchanan St, Glasgow [more details next month]
19 - Saturday - 11.00-12.00 - PUBLIC EVENT - Beverley Picture Playhouse, Beverley, East Yorks. [book tickets by ringing this number: 01482 391673/867430
22 - Tuesday - Cork - 2 events in libraries [more details next month]
23 - Wednesday - events in Waterford and Wexford libraries [more details next month]
24 - Thursday - 2 events in Dublin libraries [more details next month]
25 - Friday - Dooradoyle, Adare and Abbeyfeale libraries, Limerick [more details next month]
26 - Saturday - PUBLIC EVENTS - O'Mahony's, Limerick and [TBC] The Ennis Bookshop [details next month]
28 - Monday - Foynes Library, Limerick [TBC]
31 - Thursday - 11.30-12.30 & 13.30-14.30 - The Showroom Cinema, Paternoster Row, Sheffield
NOVEMBER
5 - Tuesday - Northern Children's Book Festival, Durham [more details next month]
6 - Wednesday - Northern Children's Book Festival, Darlington [more details next month]
PHEW!!!! And that's it -- for now!!!!!! We might add a few more dates for late October/early November. Check back next month, when I'll also be adding full details for all the events listed above.

DEJÁ VU!

Check out the Shanville USA reviews section at http://www.darrenshan.com/us_site/usreviews/usreviews-00main.html to find out what American critics had to say about my first 3 books.

IT'S A WRAP

And that's it for this month! Next month I'll be celebrating the UK launch of Book 8 (not officially due out until November, but it should be on sale in most places from early or middle October!). Until then, all the bloody best, Darren Shan x x x