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AN INTERVIEW
WITH DARREN SHAN
Darren's first
book, Cirque
Du Freak,
was published by
HarperCollins in
January 2000.
Spider-loving
Darren (who
shares the
author's name)
and his friend
Steve are unable
to resist the
lure of the
freak show that
they see
advertised,
which is so
weird that it
can only be put
on in the middle
of the night.
Are the wolf
man, snake-boy,
the world's
fattest man, and
a vampire and
his performing
tarantula worth
the price that
Darren has to
pay --
recruitment as a
half-vampire?
The story is
continued in
The Vampire's
Assistant,
and there are
another 22 in
the pipeline.
Kathryn Dunlop
and Jessica
Smith
(Craigmount
High) saw this
brilliant new
author at the
Book Festival
[in
Edinburgh, and
interviewed him].
Q: So, does
Edinburgh live
up to your
expectations?
A: Yes, it's a
wonderful place.
I wasn't
expecting to see
the Castle, but
it was beautiful
and would be
great for a
vampire party!
Q: I understand
that this is
your first
children's book.
Was it harder
writing
children's books
or adult books?
A: I found it a
lot trickier to
write children's
books because
you need to find
the right tone
of voice, and
you also have to
make sure that
you don't talk
down to your
audience.
Q: How many
books does your
film cover, and
even though I
have read both
of your books,
will I still
have some
surprises to
come?
A: The film will
be combining the
two books
together,
(for
film update, see
the december
issue of the
Shanville
Monthly
-- darren)
and,
yes, you will
get some
surprises
because most
films change the
story a bit. If
the film is not
good, there is
always the book
to go back to.
Q: Which author
has inspired you
the most and
why?
A: Stephen King,
because he is
wonderful and I
also have always
loved scary
stories -- about
vampires
especially,
which he does
really well.
Q: At the
beginning of
Cirque Du Freak
you say that
this story is
true. If it is,
what is it like
being at your
own funeral?
A: I didn't have
much of a view
of it because I
was six feet
underground! It
was a deadening
experience!!
Q: You have
obviously been
in a lot of
interviews --
what question
have you never
been asked, but
would like to be
asked?
A: "What would
happen to your
series if you
died before it
finished?" And
my reply would
be that it would
go down with me
[since I
haven't told
anybody how it
finishes, or
what happens in
the later books
that I haven't
yet written].
Q: How does you
mum feel about
having a vampire
for a son?
A: She loves it
-- but she keeps
her door locked
at night!
Q: If you were
stuck on a
desert island
with one person,
who would it be
and what
luxuries would
you take?
A: Stephen King
[because
he could keep me
entertained with
great stories],
my widescreen
TV, video
recorder and DVD
player
[and lots of
videos/DVDs].
Q: I saw you on
TV a couple of
weeks ago [on
Newsround]
-- what was it
like?
A: It was really
fun, I enjoyed
it a lot -- I
just hope I
didn't look like
a schmuck!!
Q: I've heard a
film may be
getting made out
of your books.
Who would you
like to play the
characters in
the film?
A: I think the
little boy from
The Sixth
Sense when
he is a bit
older would be a
good Darren. I
also think
Christopher
Walken could be
a great Mr
Crepsley.
Q: I understand
you enjoy films.
If a remake of
your favourite
film was made
and you were to
play a part,
what would it be
and what part
would you play?
A: I have no
time for
remakes! I enjoy
films a lot, but
I like originals
best.
Q: The names for
your characters
are all very
clever. How do
you think them
up?
A: It's a true
story, so they
aren't made up!!
[Actually, they
come from
different
places, and in
different ways.]
"Mr Crepsley"
came from "Mr
Creepy",
[which I twisted
around a bit to
make it sound
more exotic.]
Q: What is the
strangest piece
of mail you have
ever received
about your
books?
A: I once got an
e-mail from a
boy asking if he
could become a
vampire. He
wanted me to put
in a good word
for him with Mr
Crepsley!
Q: What is your
favourite book,
and why?
A: [One
of my favourites
is]
Salem's Lot
by Stephen King,
as it is about
vampires and it
is very, VERY
creepy.
Q: What blood
type do you
prefer?
A: O positive!!
I like to
experiment,
though -- so
what type are
you two?!?
Q: Where you
were a child,
was it your
dream to become
an author, or
was it something
else?
A: I've always
wanted to write.
I also wanted to
sing or act, but
mostly to be an
author.
[Which is just
as well, because
I'm useless at
singing and
acting!!!]
Q: What do you
think of the
Harry Potter
books?
A: I love them.
J K Rowling sent
me a signed copy
of Harry
Potter And The
Prisoner Of
Azkaban, and
it's my pride
and joy! |
