Issue 56 - March 2005
01 March 2005GREETINGS!
Howdy all!!! After the massive film news last time round, this month's issue of the newsletter is a bit quieter -- though I have some very exciting news about one of the most famous quiz shows in the U.K. ... a link to a big new interview with me in an Irish newspaper ... and some tips for American fans who want to snag me on my October tour of the U.S.A. (click on THIS LINK if you're too impatient to scroll down!!!) I've also updated the details about my events in Taiwan and the Netherlands. A bonus for fans who come to see me in Rotterdam is that one of you will win to opportunity to have dinner with me that night!!!! Although, as those who've seen me eat might tell you, that's not necessarily a bonus!!!!
I've been fairly busy on the writing front throughout February, working on my demon books, editing those which I've already completed first drafts of, thinking hard about what comes next!! My demon series hasn't come together as smoothly as my vampire books did -- I've really had to chase ideas and juggle around structures and plotlines. It should all read nice and simply (and excitingly!!) by the time the books see print, but I've had a devilishly difficult time with them!! Which is pretty appropriate, I guess, given the subject matter!!!! I'll be revealing more about the series soon ... its name ... how many books there will be ... etc. But for now, I'm going to leave you guessing and get on with the news for this month!!!!
JUNIOR MASTERMIND
I heard from the BBC in the U.K. that one of the finalists on their show, Junior Mastermind, had chosen The Saga of Darren Shan as their specialist subject!!! Those not familiar with Mastermind - one of the most famous quiz shows in the U.K. - can find out more about the Junior version of it by clicking on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/entertainme...nior.shtml
I got to meet the Shanatic finalist at the London Dungeons, where the BBC were filming part of a video segment which will be shown during the grand final. We shared a coffin (!!!) and put questions to each other, about the books and horror in general, while being filmed by the BBC. I'm not sure how much of it they'll use -- we'll just have to wait for the final to find out!!!
I don't yet know when the final will be broadcast, but it will probably be during the summer!!! I'll let you all know once I find out, and you can pit your wits against the Masterminded Shanster when it's on, and see if you can answer more questions than the finalist does!!! Personally, I'm a bit worried by it all -- I'm afraid I'll get most of the questions wrong at home and end up looking like an eedgit in front of my family and friends!!!! I'd better start brushing up on my notes again ...
IRISH INTERVIEWS
I was interviewed on Irish radio -- 2FM on Monday, February 7th, on the Gerry Ryan show. (For those of you who don't live in Ireland -- the Gerry Ryan show is one of the biggest radio shows in this country. Gerry's kind of the Irish equivalent of David Letterman!!!) The interviewer was Gareth O'Callaghan, who was filling in for Gerry on that day. It was a really enjoyable interview, and I was on-air for 40 minutes or thereabouts. If you'd like to get a copy of the show, I think you can buy one through RTE Radio -- but it costs €30!!!! Click on the following link for more info: http://www.rte.ie/radio/miss.html
I was also recently interviewed by the Irish newspaper, The Sunday Business Post. The article appeared in the February 27th edition. It's a very nice piece, extremely well written by journalist Ed Power. (Though I think fans of some other children's writers, such as Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony Horowitz and Eoin Colfer, might argue his assertion that my books are second in cult status only to those by J.K. Rowling!!! Of course, I agree with him completely!!!!!!) You can read the online version by clicking here: http://www.thepost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=BOOKS-qqqm=nav-qqqid=2609-qqqx=1.asp
I'm still waiting for the interview by The Times in Ireland to see print -- unless it came out and I missed it!! If you live in Ireland, keep an eye out for it if you get The Times, and let me know if you spot it!!!
To tie in with the Wexford Books Festival, and World Book Day, I will be giving 2 radio interviews in Ireland, with local radio stations in the Wexford region, on Thursday March 3rd. The first will be on South East Radio, between 10.00a.m. and 1.00p.m. The name of the D.J. is Alan McGuire -- and we're going to be sharing air-time with that mischievous minx of the southeast coast -- Eoin Colfer!!!! The second interview will be with Beat FM at 3.00p.m.. The D.J. there is Patrick Haughey.
HUNTER S THOMPSON & WILL EISNER -- R.I.P.
Famed "gonzo" journalist Hunter S Thompson died in February. I wouldn't say I was a huge fan of Thompson's, but I loved Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, and his book about Hell's Angels. I liked his frantic, furious, speedy way of writing -- I try to write that way myself most of the time!!!
I also found out this month that comics legend, Will Eisner, died in January. Eisner was a giant of the comics field. He created The Spirit (one of the most influential comics ever) back in the 1930s, and was still hard at work up until the time of his death, churning out beautiful, thought-provoking graphic novels. Eisner has had a huge effect on anyone who reads comics, and I certainly owe him a large debt, even though I work in a different type of writing. The world is definitely a poorer place without Will Eisner and Hunter S Thompson. Even in death may they be triumphant!!!!
JAPANESE PHOTOS
You can see some pictures from my January events in Japan, and read about them (if you can read Japanese!) by clicking on this link: http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/darren/news/news33_01.html You can also see a short video message from me to my Japanese fans by clicking here: http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/darren/news/news33_message.html
THE 2005 GLOBAL TOUR!
The Darren Shan touring show continues across the globe in 2005!! See below for the list as it currently stands. N.B. dates, venues and times are subject to change -- please keep checking back for updates.
APRIL -- TAIWAN
Here are the details, as they currently stand, for my short tour in Taiwan in April. I'm not sure when all the interviews will appear -- you'll have to keep watching out for them!!
April 1: Taipei
10.00-11.00: CtiTV news interview.
11.00-12.00: FTV news interview.
14.00-16.00: Newspaper interviews.
16.30-18.00: "CtiTV Bookshop" interview.
19.00-20.00: "AzioTV" interview.
April 2: Taipei
13.30-15.30: "Kingstone Bookstore" autograph meeting.
17.00-18.30: "FNAC Bookstore" autograph meeting.
22.00-24.00: "Eslite Bookstore" autograph meeting.
April 3: Taizhong + Kaoxiong
14.00-16.00: Taizhong "Eslite Booksore" autograph meeting.
April 4: Taipei
10.00~12.00: “China Times Weekly” interview.
13.30~15.00: "NEXT Magazine" interview.
15.30~16.00: “COSMOPOLITAN Magazine” interview.
As you can see, it's an action-packed tour! My publishers have squeezed in as many interviews and events as is humanly (or even vampishly!) possible!!! I'm really excited about it!!!!!! If you want to find out more information, check out my Taiwanese publishers' Darren Shan site at http://www.crown.com.tw/darrenshan/index.htm
APRIL -- THE NETHERLANDS
Donner Bookshop -- Rotterdam, Lijnbaan 150. tel: 010 4132070. web site: http://www.donner.nl e-mail: [email protected] -- Sunday April 10th, 2.00p.m. -- signing session. Entry is free, but Donner would like you to reserve your place in advance. For more info, click here: http://www.donner.nl/domains/default/pages/content.asp?content=10830000000206_0_10000000001651 People who come will also have the possibility of winning a dinner date for later that day -- with ME!!!!
APRIL -- WEXFORD, IRELAND
Friday, April 15th -- 2 events at the Wexford Book Festival -- 10.00 and 13.00.
*NEW* Friday, April 15th -- public signing at the Wexford Book Shop, Main Street, Wexford -- 16.00.
The Book Festival events will be in a theatre that holds more than 500 people. It's on during school time, so you'll either have to organise a class trip with your teacher, or bunk off school!! If you want to try to organise a class trip, ask your teacher. If s/he agrees, they can contact the organisers at: [email protected] You can book individual tickets through the organizers too -- but check with your parents and school first to make sure you can get the time off!!!!!! There is also a web site for the festival: http://www.wexfordbook.com
APRIL -- HUNGARY
Thursday, April 21st, 2005 -- arrive Budapest.
Friday, April 22nd -- fly to Debrecen for events that day.
Saturday, April 23rd -- Budapest International Book Fair, Budapest Congress Centre. 10:00 – interviews, dedication. 17:00 – dedication in Mammut Libri Book Palace.
Sunday, April 24th – Budapest International Book Fair, Budapest Congress Centre. 10:00 – dedication.
AUGUST -- EDINBURGH
My sixth year in a row at the Book Festival!! I can't believe they're not sick and tired of me yet!!!!!
OCTOBER -- AMERICA
Details to follow. Click on THIS LINK for tips about how to arrange a Darren Shan visit!!
DEJA VU
I've added several new covers, of books 6 to 12, from various countries, to my web site. You can access them, and all the other global Shan covers, by clicking here: http://www.darrenshan.com/gallery/index-glry.html
IT'S A WRAP
And that's it for March! I've got a busy month of editing and writing lined up, before I take to the road in April! I also have a LOAD of fan mail to get through, including a lot from when I was on tour in Japan! So if you sent a letter to me recently, or gave me one in Japan, please be patient!!! I WILL reply (as long as you included an address!) -- it's just going to take me a little bit longer than normal!!! Right, I'm off to get stuck into the first stack of those letters. Until April, all the bloody best, Darren Shan x x x
Howdy all!!! After the massive film news last time round, this month's issue of the newsletter is a bit quieter -- though I have some very exciting news about one of the most famous quiz shows in the U.K. ... a link to a big new interview with me in an Irish newspaper ... and some tips for American fans who want to snag me on my October tour of the U.S.A. (click on THIS LINK if you're too impatient to scroll down!!!) I've also updated the details about my events in Taiwan and the Netherlands. A bonus for fans who come to see me in Rotterdam is that one of you will win to opportunity to have dinner with me that night!!!! Although, as those who've seen me eat might tell you, that's not necessarily a bonus!!!!
I've been fairly busy on the writing front throughout February, working on my demon books, editing those which I've already completed first drafts of, thinking hard about what comes next!! My demon series hasn't come together as smoothly as my vampire books did -- I've really had to chase ideas and juggle around structures and plotlines. It should all read nice and simply (and excitingly!!) by the time the books see print, but I've had a devilishly difficult time with them!! Which is pretty appropriate, I guess, given the subject matter!!!! I'll be revealing more about the series soon ... its name ... how many books there will be ... etc. But for now, I'm going to leave you guessing and get on with the news for this month!!!!
JUNIOR MASTERMIND
I heard from the BBC in the U.K. that one of the finalists on their show, Junior Mastermind, had chosen The Saga of Darren Shan as their specialist subject!!! Those not familiar with Mastermind - one of the most famous quiz shows in the U.K. - can find out more about the Junior version of it by clicking on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/entertainme...nior.shtml
I got to meet the Shanatic finalist at the London Dungeons, where the BBC were filming part of a video segment which will be shown during the grand final. We shared a coffin (!!!) and put questions to each other, about the books and horror in general, while being filmed by the BBC. I'm not sure how much of it they'll use -- we'll just have to wait for the final to find out!!!
I don't yet know when the final will be broadcast, but it will probably be during the summer!!! I'll let you all know once I find out, and you can pit your wits against the Masterminded Shanster when it's on, and see if you can answer more questions than the finalist does!!! Personally, I'm a bit worried by it all -- I'm afraid I'll get most of the questions wrong at home and end up looking like an eedgit in front of my family and friends!!!! I'd better start brushing up on my notes again ...
IRISH INTERVIEWS
I was interviewed on Irish radio -- 2FM on Monday, February 7th, on the Gerry Ryan show. (For those of you who don't live in Ireland -- the Gerry Ryan show is one of the biggest radio shows in this country. Gerry's kind of the Irish equivalent of David Letterman!!!) The interviewer was Gareth O'Callaghan, who was filling in for Gerry on that day. It was a really enjoyable interview, and I was on-air for 40 minutes or thereabouts. If you'd like to get a copy of the show, I think you can buy one through RTE Radio -- but it costs €30!!!! Click on the following link for more info: http://www.rte.ie/radio/miss.html
I was also recently interviewed by the Irish newspaper, The Sunday Business Post. The article appeared in the February 27th edition. It's a very nice piece, extremely well written by journalist Ed Power. (Though I think fans of some other children's writers, such as Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony Horowitz and Eoin Colfer, might argue his assertion that my books are second in cult status only to those by J.K. Rowling!!! Of course, I agree with him completely!!!!!!) You can read the online version by clicking here: http://www.thepost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=BOOKS-qqqm=nav-qqqid=2609-qqqx=1.asp
I'm still waiting for the interview by The Times in Ireland to see print -- unless it came out and I missed it!! If you live in Ireland, keep an eye out for it if you get The Times, and let me know if you spot it!!!
To tie in with the Wexford Books Festival, and World Book Day, I will be giving 2 radio interviews in Ireland, with local radio stations in the Wexford region, on Thursday March 3rd. The first will be on South East Radio, between 10.00a.m. and 1.00p.m. The name of the D.J. is Alan McGuire -- and we're going to be sharing air-time with that mischievous minx of the southeast coast -- Eoin Colfer!!!! The second interview will be with Beat FM at 3.00p.m.. The D.J. there is Patrick Haughey.
HUNTER S THOMPSON & WILL EISNER -- R.I.P.
Famed "gonzo" journalist Hunter S Thompson died in February. I wouldn't say I was a huge fan of Thompson's, but I loved Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, and his book about Hell's Angels. I liked his frantic, furious, speedy way of writing -- I try to write that way myself most of the time!!!
I also found out this month that comics legend, Will Eisner, died in January. Eisner was a giant of the comics field. He created The Spirit (one of the most influential comics ever) back in the 1930s, and was still hard at work up until the time of his death, churning out beautiful, thought-provoking graphic novels. Eisner has had a huge effect on anyone who reads comics, and I certainly owe him a large debt, even though I work in a different type of writing. The world is definitely a poorer place without Will Eisner and Hunter S Thompson. Even in death may they be triumphant!!!!
JAPANESE PHOTOS
You can see some pictures from my January events in Japan, and read about them (if you can read Japanese!) by clicking on this link: http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/darren/news/news33_01.html You can also see a short video message from me to my Japanese fans by clicking here: http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/darren/news/news33_message.html
THE 2005 GLOBAL TOUR!
The Darren Shan touring show continues across the globe in 2005!! See below for the list as it currently stands. N.B. dates, venues and times are subject to change -- please keep checking back for updates.
APRIL -- TAIWAN
Here are the details, as they currently stand, for my short tour in Taiwan in April. I'm not sure when all the interviews will appear -- you'll have to keep watching out for them!!
April 1: Taipei
10.00-11.00: CtiTV news interview.
11.00-12.00: FTV news interview.
14.00-16.00: Newspaper interviews.
16.30-18.00: "CtiTV Bookshop" interview.
19.00-20.00: "AzioTV" interview.
April 2: Taipei
13.30-15.30: "Kingstone Bookstore" autograph meeting.
17.00-18.30: "FNAC Bookstore" autograph meeting.
22.00-24.00: "Eslite Bookstore" autograph meeting.
April 3: Taizhong + Kaoxiong
14.00-16.00: Taizhong "Eslite Booksore" autograph meeting.
April 4: Taipei
10.00~12.00: “China Times Weekly” interview.
13.30~15.00: "NEXT Magazine" interview.
15.30~16.00: “COSMOPOLITAN Magazine” interview.
As you can see, it's an action-packed tour! My publishers have squeezed in as many interviews and events as is humanly (or even vampishly!) possible!!! I'm really excited about it!!!!!! If you want to find out more information, check out my Taiwanese publishers' Darren Shan site at http://www.crown.com.tw/darrenshan/index.htm
APRIL -- THE NETHERLANDS
Donner Bookshop -- Rotterdam, Lijnbaan 150. tel: 010 4132070. web site: http://www.donner.nl e-mail: [email protected] -- Sunday April 10th, 2.00p.m. -- signing session. Entry is free, but Donner would like you to reserve your place in advance. For more info, click here: http://www.donner.nl/domains/default/pages/content.asp?content=10830000000206_0_10000000001651 People who come will also have the possibility of winning a dinner date for later that day -- with ME!!!!
APRIL -- WEXFORD, IRELAND
Friday, April 15th -- 2 events at the Wexford Book Festival -- 10.00 and 13.00.
*NEW* Friday, April 15th -- public signing at the Wexford Book Shop, Main Street, Wexford -- 16.00.
The Book Festival events will be in a theatre that holds more than 500 people. It's on during school time, so you'll either have to organise a class trip with your teacher, or bunk off school!! If you want to try to organise a class trip, ask your teacher. If s/he agrees, they can contact the organisers at: [email protected] You can book individual tickets through the organizers too -- but check with your parents and school first to make sure you can get the time off!!!!!! There is also a web site for the festival: http://www.wexfordbook.com
APRIL -- HUNGARY
Thursday, April 21st, 2005 -- arrive Budapest.
Friday, April 22nd -- fly to Debrecen for events that day.
Saturday, April 23rd -- Budapest International Book Fair, Budapest Congress Centre. 10:00 – interviews, dedication. 17:00 – dedication in Mammut Libri Book Palace.
Sunday, April 24th – Budapest International Book Fair, Budapest Congress Centre. 10:00 – dedication.
AUGUST -- EDINBURGH
My sixth year in a row at the Book Festival!! I can't believe they're not sick and tired of me yet!!!!!
OCTOBER -- AMERICA
Details to follow. Click on THIS LINK for tips about how to arrange a Darren Shan visit!!
DEJA VU
I've added several new covers, of books 6 to 12, from various countries, to my web site. You can access them, and all the other global Shan covers, by clicking here: http://www.darrenshan.com/gallery/index-glry.html
IT'S A WRAP
And that's it for March! I've got a busy month of editing and writing lined up, before I take to the road in April! I also have a LOAD of fan mail to get through, including a lot from when I was on tour in Japan! So if you sent a letter to me recently, or gave me one in Japan, please be patient!!! I WILL reply (as long as you included an address!) -- it's just going to take me a little bit longer than normal!!! Right, I'm off to get stuck into the first stack of those letters. Until April, all the bloody best, Darren Shan x x x
Darren Shan USA
Darren Shan Japan
Darren Shan Taiwan
Zom-B UK Site
Darren Shan Sweden