GREETINGS!
... and welcome
to the dawn of a
new age on the
internet -- the
re-birth of
www.darrenshan.com!!!
With the aid of
my web designer,
Xeropoint, I
have completely
re-structured
and re-designed
my web site.
I've also done
away with the
old name of
Shanville --
it's now simply
known as
Darrenshan.com!!!
But don't worry
-- I'll still be
using the old
name here and
there on the
site, and the
Shanville
Monthly title
will remain!!!
As well as
adding some
incredibly cool
new graphics to
the site, we've
tried to make it
easier for fans
to navigate
around the
pages. There are
now two main
sections on the
site --
Vampires and
Demons.
You can find all
the material
relating to my
"Saga of Darren
Shan" books in
the Vampire
site, while
everything to do
with my new
series, "The
Demonata", will
be housed under
the Demons
banner. But
there are loads
of goodies in
the main, home
section too, so
don't move on
too fast from
the home page
when you first
visit the site,
or you might
miss something
vital!!!
We've made the
pages easier to
read (as you can
see from this
page!) and added
cool new
downloads. I've
updated the FAQ
and Bio entries,
and included
lots of new text
around the site.
I've also put up
plot outlines
and author notes
about the first
2 books of "The
Demonata" -- so
this is your
first
opportunity to
learn a bit
about the second
book, "Demon
Thief", and to
pick up some
hints of what is
to come later. I
really think the
site looks a
whole lot
cooler, and
handles a heck
of a lot
smoother, now.
It wasn't bad
before, but
we're into an
entirely new
ball game with
the updated
version!!!
If your screen
in set to a high
resolution
(1024x768
pixels) the site
will look
slightly
different than
it will on
screens set to a
normal
resolution
(800x600
pixels). But
don't worry if
you're working
at a normal
resolution --
you won't miss
out on
anything!! The
only difference
is that users at
the higher
resolution will
get a nice
design down the
sides of each
page. The main
text and
graphics boxes
will be the same
regardless of
what resolution
you view the
site at.
We're still
working on
certain sections
of the site,
such as the
Photos, Fan Art
and Shanville
Monthly Archive
sections, so you
might find some
gaps or links
that don't work
over the next
week or two. If
so, don't worry
-- everything
will be sorted
out shortly!
I'm sure you'll
want to check
the new site out
immediately. To
do so, just
click on this
link:
www.darrenshan.com
But make sure
you come back
here quickish,
as there's loads
to tell you
about this
month, such as
... the release
of "Lord Loss"
in the U.K.,
Ireland and
Japan ... the
success of
"Killers of the
Dawn" in America
... info on how
to get ultra
cool downloads
for your mobile
phone if you
live in the U.K.
... major
updates about my
October/November
tour to America
... and more!!!!
LORD LOSS
"Lord Loss"
goes on sale at
the start of
June in the
U.K., Ireland and Japan,
heralding the
dawn of a new
adventure for
me. (That's why
I wanted to
re-release
Shanville at the
same time!) You
can find out
more about
what's happening
in Japan by
visiting the
Japanese
Demonata site
(see below). In
the U.K. and
Ireland,
HarperCollins
are going to be
promoting
the book
heavily
in June -- it
will be getting
the biggest
promotional push
of any of my
books there to
date!! Here's
some of what
they have in
store.
*Downloadable
mobile phone
logo and
ringtone. (See
separate entry
further down for
more info.)
*There will be
large posters at
100 bus-stops,
close to
WHSmith
book stores, up
and down the
U.K., for two
weeks from June
6th.
*There will be
posters
available to
shops
everywhere, and
a special
Easons poster for
Easons stores in
Ireland.
*There will be a
special key-ring
fob available in
Ottakars, with
the howling
ringtone.
*HarperCollins
are running a
special online
campaign, in
association with
Jetix,
from June 6th.
You can check it
out by clicking
here:
www.jetix.co.uk/
*Lord
Loss
will be
Book of
the Month
at
Foyles (and maybe
some other
stores and book
chains too!).
*And, as many of
you already
know, there will
be a limited
edition of 666
signed, numbered
and slipcased
(i.e. the book
comes in a
special holding
box!) copies
of "Lord
Loss"
available in
various
Waterstones
stores. (I've
heard from one
of their
salesmen that
most stories
have received
copies, but they
numbers vary
from store to
store, so one
store might only
have 1 or 2
copies, while
another might
have 10 or 12.)
The book should
be on sale soon
in just about
every book store
in the U.K. and
Ireland (and
other places
too, such as
some
supermarkets!!).
But if you
prefer ordering
it through Amazon UK, the link is
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007193211/shanville
U.K.
- MOBILE PHONE
LOGO &
RINGTONE!!!!
If you live in
the U.K. and
want to have the
coolest mobile
phone in the
country, I have
some SHANtastic
news for you!!
As part of the
"Lord Loss"
campaign, my
publishers,
HarperCollins,
have created a
howling
ringtone
for your phone,
and a
Darren
Shan logo!!!
(I think it's
like the skull
design which
they use on the
covers of my
books!) And
getting them
couldn't be any
easier!
To get a
howlingly groovy
ringtone, text
howl to
81222.
To lord it up
with a Darren
Shan logo, text
logo to
81222.
Messages
cost no more
than 12p inc.
VAT. (Some
handsets may not
have WAP push
capability.
Please refer to
your service
provider for
assistance.)
Please note,
these are
ONLY
available in the
U.K. (sorry,
Irish
Shansters!).
Make sure you
tell all your
friends about
them -- unless
you want to keep
the secret to
yourself, so
that you can
show off!!!!
LIMERICK
SIGNING!!!!!
I will be doing a signing at O'Mahony's on O'Connell Street in Limerick on
Saturday, June 4th at 11.00a.m. I'll be happy to sign as many of my books as each fan brings, although because of an expected big crowd, I'll only be putting a dedication and message in one book per fan (I assume most people will want it in
"Lord Loss", but I'll just as happily put it in one of the
"Saga" books if anyone asks.) This will be my only signing event in Ireland
or the U.K. (or
anywhere in the
world!!) in June to promote
"Lord Loss", so don't miss it!!!!!!
AMERICA --
KILLERS OF THE
DAWN
In America, book
9 of the "Cirque
Du Freak" series
(as it's know
there),
"Killers of the
Dawn", has
spent four
weeks in the
New York
Times Children's
Series
Bestsellers
chart!!!!!
It entered at
#6, held its
position for a
week, slipped to
#7 in the
third week, and
is currently in
8th
spot!!!! This is
the third time
I've made the
NYT top 10
charts, but the
first time since
they re-vamped
their chart
system last year
-- they now have
a separate chart
for books which
are part of a
series. (e.g.
the Harry Potter
series, the Alex
Rider series,
etc.) This is
also the longest
period I've
spent in the top
10 chart!!!! You
can check out
the full list by
clicking here:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/bestseller/index.html
I think you
might have to
register to see
the full chart,
but registration
is free.
If you live in
the States and
haven't bought a
copy of
"Killers of the
Dawn" yet,
dash down to
your nearest
book shop and
buy it
NOW!!!!! Alternatively, you can order it from
Barnes & Noble by clicking here:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=FK15sOq9Fq&isbn=0316156264&itm=1 or from
Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316156264/qid=1114205942/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-4042062-0509407
JAPANESE
DEMONATA SITE
My Japanese
publishers,
Shogakukan,
have created a
site for
"Lord Loss",
which will
expand in the
future as they
release the rest
of the books in
the "Demonata"
series. If you
want to check it
out, find out
what they're
doing to promote
it, and get an
early glimpse of
the cover (as
beautifully
brilliant as
usual!!!), click
here:
www.shogakukan.co.jp/demonata/
LORD LOSS FORUM
I have created a
new "Lord Loss"
forum on the
Shanville
Messageboard,
where readers
can discuss the
book, the
characters, etc.
You can find it
by clicking on
the following
link:
http://p090.ezboard.com/fdarrenshanmessageboardfrm23
When the
password box
appears, you
will need to
enter the last
word of the book
as the password,
in order to
access the
forum.
JUNIOR
MASTERMIND
Many
congratulations
to
Emma
Hull,
who finished
third in the
final of this
year's Junior
Mastermind
on BBC1!!! She
did brilliantly
on her
specialist
subject (my
books!!),
correctly
answering 14
questions about
The Saga
Of Darren!!!
I only
got 13
correct!!!!!
Like Emma, I
couldn't
remember the
name of the
scout master in
book 2 (Stanley
Collins), but I
also couldn't
recall what
Donna gave
Darren to eat in
book 3(scrambled
eggs)!!!!! Many
congrats, Emma
-- you're an A1
Shanster, and a
genuine
Mastermind!!!!
#1 IN HUNGARY!!!
After my
monumental
signing sessions
in Hungary
(see last
month's edition
of the Shanville
Monthly), I was
delighted to
learn that book
12, "Sons of
Destiny", had
shot to the top
of the charts!!!
There are two
main book charts
in
Hungary. "Sons
of Destiny" got
to
Number One on one
of them, the
Alexandra
Bestsellers List,
and got to
Number 3 on the
other, the
Libri
Bestsellers List.
Coolio!!!!
LORD LOSS -
COMING TO AUDIO
SOON!
In the UK,
HarperCollins
are doing an
audio version
of "Lord Loss"
later this year.
(I think it will
be available on
CD and tape.)
I'm not sure
when exactly it
will be on sale,
but recordings
have already
started. The
person they've
hired to read
the book is
Rupert Degas,
and according to
early reports,
he has done a
FABULOUS job!!!
You can check
out some samples
of Rupert's
audio work by
clicking here:
http://www.yaketyyak.co.uk/Celebs%20pages/RupertDegas.htm
AMERICAN TOUR
UPDATE
My American tour
schedule is
coming together
nicely, as
you'll see
below, in the
first rough
outline for my
October/November
tour to the
States. I'm
going to be
there from
October 20th
to November
9th. Dates
and places have
nearly been
fully decided by
this stage, but
there are still
a few spots
available, so
there's still a
bit of time left
to read through
my tips and get
your plea in
(click on
THIS LINK)
-- but you'll
have to act
quickly if you
want to nab
me!!! Please
note, all events
are currently
TO BE
CONFIRMED!!!!
Keep checking
back for
updates!
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.
JUNE -- LIMERICK
Saturday, June 4th -- 11.00a.m. -- O'Mahony's, O'Connell Street, Limerick -- public signing.
AUGUST -- EDINBURGH
Tickets will go on sale to the public on JUNE 17th!!!
Friday, August 19th -- 5.00p.m. -- Edinburgh Book Festival --
http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/
Saturday August 20th -- 1.30p.m. -- Edinburgh Book Festival -- http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/
(These dates and times are subject to final confirmation and MIGHT change. Check the final, confirmed schedule on the Book Festival site when it is made public on June 16th.)
October
Friday,
21st
--
Seattle,
WA.
9-11 am
-- King County
Youth Services
Center.
1-2:30
pm
--Auburn High
School.
6:30-8
pm
Third Place
Books.
Saturday, 22nd
--
Seattle,
WA.
Morning
(Time TBC)
-- Seattle
Public Library.
Sunday,
23rd -- Las
Vegas, NV.
Evening
(Time TBC)
-- Las Vegas
Public Library.
Monday,
24th -- Las
Vegas, NV.
Morning
(Time TBC)
-- Las Vegas
Public Library
in-schools.
Tuesday,
25th -- Dallas,
TX.
All-day events
with Irving ISD.
Wednesday, 26th
-- Houston, TX.
5–6:30
pm
-- First Colony
Middle School.
Thursday, 27th
-- Houston, TX.
8:30–10 am (TBC)
-- School visit
with TSU.
San
Antonio, TX.
2–3:30 pm
-- Jackson
Middle School.
Friday,
28th -- Austin,
TX.
All-day
in-schools with
Texas Book
Festival.
Saturday, 29th.
Austin, TX
-- Texas Book
Festival.
Sunday,
30th -- Chicago,
IL. 6–8 pm
-- Skokie Barnes
& Noble.
Monday,
31st -- Chicago,
IL. All
day in-schools.
7–8 pm
Anderson’s,
Downer’s Grove.
November
Tuesday,
1st -- Chicago,
IL. Morning
(Time TBC)
-- Anderson’s.
7–8:30
pm
-- Skokie Public
Library.
Wednesday, 2nd
-- Milwaukee,
WI. 7–8:30 pm
-- Harry M.
Schwartz
Bookshop.
Thursday, 3rd --
Milwaukee, WI
Metro. 9–11 am
-- Southwest
Regional Library
System.
Friday,
4th -- D.C.
Metro Area.
After-school
event (Time TBC)
-- East Middle
School,
Westminster, MD.
Saturday, 5th --
D.C. Metro Area.
(Time TBC)
-- D.C. Public
Library.
Sunday,
6th -- D.C.
Metro Area.
Morning (TBC)
-- Howard County
Library, MD.
Monday,
7th -- Boston
Metro Area.
Morning event
(TBC)
-- Kickemut
Middle School,
Warren, R.I.
Tuesday,
8th -- Boston
Metro Area.
(TBC)
-- Manchester
Public Library,
NH.
Wednesday, 9th
-- Boston Metro
Area. (TBC)
-- Portsmouth,
NH.
Details to follow. Click on
THIS LINK for tips about how to arrange a Darren Shan visit!!
MORE
COSPLAY
Last month I
posted a link to
a site where you
can find photos
of fans who
dress up as
characters from
"The Saga of
Darren Shan". To
see what another
set of fans get
up to in their
spare time,
click here:
http://m.1asphost.com/XreflectionX/dscosplay.htm
IT'S A WRAP
And that's it for
June and the
new-look Monthly!!!!
I hope you all
enjoy the
changes here and
on the main
Darrenshan.com
site. I plan to
do some more
tweaking over
the next few
months, but by
and large this
is the format I
expect to stick
to for the next
few years. I
also hope those
of you in the
U.K., Ireland
and Japan get a
kick out of
"Lord Loss" --
it's the start
of a new,
twisting,
startling series
that will take
you to some
places you
probably never
expected to
go!!! I'll be
back in July
with an update
of how the first
book has fared,
and all the
other latest
Shan news. Until then,
happy nightmares, and all the bloody best,
Darren Shan x x x
