Darren Shan's Blog, page 14

Father AI audio book

Good news for audio book fans -- Father Of The Future, my most recent Darren Dash novel for adult readers, is now on sale as an AI-narrated audio book through GOOGLE PLAY stores worldwide. Here's the link: https://play.google.com/store/audiobo... Now, I know opinions vary greatly on the moral standing of AI audio books. I've written about my views on the subject previously, so I won't rehash them again, except to say that in this...

Zom-B TV show update

I'm afraid I have sad news for those of you hungering for a Zom-B TV show. As some of you may recall, the series was optioned by Electric Shadow Company several years ago. They hired sceenwriter Susan Connolly to write a pilot script, which they then pitched to a variety of TV producers in the UK/USA/Canada. As I've previously reported -- no joy on those fronts. But as I also previously reported, they then set their sights elsewhere and tried to get it off the ground in a very different ...

Spike Island

Back in April, the Shans visited Spike Island in Cork. For decades it served as a prison, but now, like Alcatraz, it's open to the public, so that they can experience a little of what life was like in one of Ireland's grimmest prison complexes. We had a great day. We got a ferry to the island, and spent ages walking around. The prison structures are scary but fascinating, but the island itself is gorgeous, with some stunning views. Lots to see and do, though you can get drenched to the bone ...

Vampire Names

Back around Halloween, NATIONAL TODAY featured an article in which it listed 130 "vampire names," sourced from a variety of places. It's interesting reading for those with a passion for the creatures of the night, and I do sneak in there, at listing #73, but only with my pseudonymous surname! No Larten Crepsley?!? No Arra Sails?!? No Mika Ver Leth?!? These guys need to do a bit more homework, I think, or a pit of stakes awaits!!!! To check out the full list, click here: https://natio...

Terrified Troll - final day of the campaign

Do you see the terror in this little troll's expression?!? He's so anguished because he's just realised that he's missed out on the chance to pre-order a signed, numbered, limited edition copy of THE TERRIFIED TROLL, Darren Shan's first picture book, drawn by new-kid-on-the-block Eva Byrne!! If you don't want to miss the boat like the poor chap in the picture, you have until the end of play TODAY to place your order. You can also buy one of the remaining PERKS if interested -- exclusive art ...

Terrified Troll - first panels

As I type this, there are just over 48 hours left of my Terrified Troll fundraising campaign, in which YOU can help support the creation of the first ever Darren Shan picture book!! You have until the end of Wednesday (Irish time) to pre-order a copy of the signed, numbered, limited edition hardback of the book. There are also incredible PERKS up for grabs -- limited edition art prints, the chance to have a Zoom chat with me, or even meet me in the flesh and hang out for a couple of hours!! ...

One week left of Troll fundraiser

This is my favourite photo from 2023!! It's taken from a short video that myself and Eva Byrne filmed when we were launching our fundraising campaign for The Terrified Troll, my first ever picture book. You can no longer buy a letttered copy of the book, or a portfolio of all the drafts I produced for it, as they are SOLD OUT!!! But you can still... buy a handwritten Darren Shan poem... buy one of a variety of fanastic art prints (from limited editions of 8, not the 50 that it says o...

Best books read in 2023

Time for my annual Best Books I Read Over The Last 12 Months report! I read 40 books in total in 2023, down quite a bit from my 2022 numbers, but there were a few very big books in among the mix, which goes some way to explaining the dip! Still, my message to myself going forward must be to read more during the reading time I set aside most nights before going to bed, rather than spending a large chunk of it playing Scrabble on my phone!!! Anyway, while it wasn't vintage year for quantit...

First Tattoo Tuesday of 2024

It's my first Tattoo Tuesday post of 2024, and what a stunner it is!!! This tattoo of a tower of books, topped with an actual castle tower, was shared with me by a Tweeter with the user handle of @redbeardflynn The (presumably!!) red-bearded Shanster clearly chose books which had made a big impact on them, and I feel honoured to see Lord Loss perched upon such distinguished works, especially The Hobbit, which had a massive impact on ME when I first read it almost forty years ago and help...

Happy New Year 2024

Happy New Year, everyone!! I hope you all had a great time over the yuletide period, and are enjoying a nice start to the new year. The first 2024 issue of my online monthly newsletter is now live. Find out my New Year Resolutions... how you can still pre-order a copy of The Terrified Troll or buy a perk before the campaign ends... you can listen to me on a couple of podcasts... read three different articles that take delight in sticking the book into the Cirque Du Freak movie... and find ou...