GREETINGS!
And happy
birthday!!!
Because this
month the
Shanville
Monthly
celebrates its
5th birthday!!!!
It's hard to
believe that
it's been five
years since I
first sat down
to compose one
of these news
round-ups.
There's been a
lot of news to
report since
then ... sales
of my books in
30 countries ...
movie deals ...
chart-topping
success ...
global tours. I
used to worry in
the early days
that I wouldn't
have enough to
report each
month, and that
I might have to
fill up space
with waffle.
Luckily that
hasn't happened
yet, and it
doesn't look
like it will any
time soon!! This
month most of
the news is
about "Lord
Loss" -- the
start of a whole
new series has
meant a whole
lot of new news
to report!! So,
let's waste no
further time on
self-congratulation.
On with the
news!!!
LORD LOSS
"Lord Loss"
was released in
the U.K. and
Ireland in June,
and has been
selling like hot
cakes!!! As I
write this, it
has been the
#1 Irish
Children's
Bestselling Book
for an
incredible
five weeks in a
row!! I
always love it
when my books do
well in Ireland,
since it's my
home turf, and
this is
absolutely
amazing!!! My
Irish fans truly
are some of the
greatest
Shansters in the
world, and
regularly set
the yardstick by
which all other
fans are
measured!! You
can check out
the full Irish
bestseller list
here:
http://www.irishreader.com/Features/Bests5.htm
In the U.K.
"Lord Loss" was
the #2
bestselling
children's
hardback in June,
and got to #7
on the overall
children's list.
It's still going
strong, and on
the July 2nd
chart it was the
#3 bestselling
children's
hardback!! You
can buy "Lord
Loss" in just
about any book
store in the UK
and Ireland
right now, but if you
prefer ordering
it through Amazon UK, the link is
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007193211/shanville
One kind of
downside to the
book's success
is that I think
Collins have
decided to put
the release of
the paperback
version of the
book back by six
months, to June
2006 (it was
originally
scheduled to
come out in
January 2006).
I'll confirm
this next month,
hopefully, but
it's looking
like those of
you who were
waiting for the
paperback will
have to wait a
bit longer --
SORRY!!!!!!
Of course, you
could always buy
the hardback
copy instead!!!
Or, if you're
going on
holiday, you
might be able to
get a softback
copy at the
airport (£9.99).
Or you could try
your local
library -- if
they don't have
it in stock,
they should be
able to order it
in if you ask!!
U.K.
- MOBILE PHONE
LOGO &
RINGTONE!!!!
If you live in
the UK, you can
still get a
howling
ringtone
for your mobile phone,
and a
Darren
Shan logo!!!
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!!!!
LORD LOSS ON
AUDIO!
In the UK
and Ireland,
HarperCollins
are doing an
audio CD version
of "Lord Loss",
which goes on
sale on July
18th. Look
out or ask for
it in your local
book shop, or
else you can
order it through
Amazon by
clicking here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007213891/shanville 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
LONDON
-- SIGNED COPIES
OF "LORD LOSS"
Although I
haven't done any
touring for
"Lord Loss",
I've signed lots
of copies in
various shops in
central London.
If you act
quickly, you can
probably get a signed
copy in the
following
stores:
Waterstones
Picadilly,
Hatchards Picadilly,
Foyles
Charing Cross
Road,
Borders Charing Cross Road,
Waterstones Oxford Street
-- the store
opposite John
Lewis, NOT the
one near
Tottenham Court
Road!! -- and at
Blackwells Charing Cross Road.
I also signed
copies at
Goldsboro Books,
1 Cecil Court,
London WC2N 4EZ
(just off
Charing Cross
Rd). Goldsboro
have a web site,
through which
you can order a
signed copy if
you can't make
it to the shop
in person --
www.goldsborobooks.co.uk/
In addition to
all of the
above, I also
signed 1,000
copies (yes, ONE
THOUSAND!!)
of "Lord Loss"
at
HarperCollins,
and they will be
sent to various
shops around the
country!
"LORD LOSS" IN
JAPAN
Although "Lord
Loss" hasn't
sold quite as
well as the last
few books of
"The Saga of
Darren Shan" in
Japan, it has
got off to a
very strong
start there, and has
already been
reprinted!! In
terms of numbers
of fans, Japan
led the field
where "Tha Saga"
was concerned --
it was the
country where I
sold most books
and had the
largest fan
base. Although a
few countries
such as America,
Taiwan and
Britain have
been catching up
in the last year
or so, it looks
like Japan will
hold on to its
status as the #1
Shan country in
the world ...
for a while at
least!!!!!!!
:-)
"LORD LOSS"
REVIEWS &
INTERVIEWS
I did a lot of
interviews for
"Lord Loss", and
there have
already been
some very
favourable
reviews of it. (The
Times said
it was "utterly
unputdownable" -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1461-1675497,00.html) There was an
article about
the book in
The Funday Times.
I appeared on
TV on the
BBC London News
show in June,
and on radio
I was on the
Simon Mayo
show, Big Toe,
Front Row,
and the
Vanessa Feltz
show. Each
interview was
different,
focusing on
varying
aspects of "Lord
Loss" and
writing in
general, so they
were all very
enjoyable for
me. One
highlight was
playing a game
of chess on the
Big Toe
show while I was
interviewed!!
Another was not
getting roasted
on the Simon
Mayo show!
I'd been told
the book was to
be reviewed by a
panel of
reviewers, and I
assumed they
would be
children. It was
only when I went
live on air that
I discovered the
reviewers were
adults!!!! The
first to review
it was a mother
of two young
children, and
she started off
by saying this
wasn't the sort
of book she
would normally
read! My heart
sank ... but
then she said
that in spite of
that, she loved
"Lord Loss" and
thought it was
great!!!! It was
plain sailing
from that moment
on!!!!!!!
WRITE
HERE WRITE NOW
I recently
contributed a
"Top Tip" to the
super-cool
Write Here Write
Now web
site. You can
read it, along
with lots of
tips by other
children's
authors, by
clicking here:
http://www.writehere.org.uk/toptips.shtml
SWEDEN
AND VIETNAM
SUCCUMB TO
SHANMANIA!!!
The latest
countries to buy
the rights to
"The Saga of
Darren Shan" are
Vietnam
and Sweden.
I was on holiday
in Vietnam a few
years ago and
found it a
fascinating,
beautiful place,
so I'm very
pleased that my
books will soon
be on sale
there!!! I've
never been to
Sweden, but it's
one of Lady
Bas's favourite
countries, so
I'm sure I'll be
popping over
there sooner
rather than
later!!! Sweden
became the
30th country
to publish my
books (not
counting
countries where
bootleg versions
are available,
or which merely
import the U.K.
editions.) It's
astonishing to
think that my
stories have
taken off in so
many different
corners of the
world. Some days
I think that
it's all a
dream! If so,
it's one I don't
ever want to
wake up
from!!!!!!
THE
EARLY THIEF
CATCHES THE
DEMON!
Great news for
UK and Irish
Shansters!
Book 2 of
The Demonata
--
"Demon
Thief",
will go on sale
in
December
2005,
a month earlier
than originally
scheduled -- so
you'll be able
to get it in
time for
Christmas!!!! I
also hope to go
on a tour to
promote the book
around that time
-- but I haven't
discussed it
with my
publishers
yet!!! More info
to follow ...
SPEAKING OF
DEMONS ...
Collins have
shown me their
cover for "Demon Thief"
-- and it's a
monster!!! I
thought their
"Lord Loss"
cover was going
to be hard to
top, but they've
come up
trumps!!!! This
is a beastly
beauty of the
highest
standing!! You
can check it out
by clicking
here:
http://www.darrenshan.com/demons/covers/covers/uk/uk&ireland.html
You'll also see
the revised
dates for the
release of books
2 and 3. The
original plan
was to release
the books every
June and
January, but
Collins now want
to hit the
Christmas
market, so book
2 will
definitely
be coming out in
December, which
means book 3
will probably
come out in May
next year, or
else early June.
OTHER COOL
COVERS
I've added the
front and back
covers for the
Taiwan
edition of
"Lord Loss"
to my site, and
they're
gruesomely
fabulous!!! You
can check them
out by clicking
here:
http://www.darrenshan.com/demons/covers/index.html
I've also added
new covers to my
"Vampires" site
from the
following
countries:
America, Czech
Republic,
Hungary and
Italy. Click
here to go
surfing for
them:
http://www.darrenshan.com/vampires/covers/index.html
AMERICAN TOUR
UPDATE
My American tour
schedule has now
been pretty much
decided. If
any spaces
become free over
the next few
months, I'll
post the news
here and provide
fans with info
about how to set
about nabbing
me. Otherwise,
I'm afraid if
you're not
living in one of
the areas that
I'm coming to
(see below),
you'll have to
wait for my next
tour to try and
arrange an event
with me!!! Please
note, all the events
listed
underneath 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.
AUGUST -- EDINBURGH
You can
book tickets for
the Edinburgh
Festival NOW!!!!
Click here for
ticket info:
http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/ One
of my events
last year sold
out far in
advance, and the
other was almost
full, so my
advice is to
BOOK EARLY!!!!!
Friday, August 19th --
5.00p.m. -- Edinburgh Book Festival
-- "Saga of
Darren Shan"
event.
Saturday August 20th -- 1.30p.m. -- Edinburgh Book Festival
-- "Lord Loss"
event.
October
Friday,
21st
--
Seattle,
WA. 9.00-11.00am
-- School event
at King County
Youth Services
Center,
Seattle, WA. 1.00-2:30pm
-- School event
at Auburn High
School.
6:30-8.00pm
-- Public event
and signing at
Third Place
Books, 17171
Bothell Way NE,
Lake Forest
Park, WA.
Saturday, 22nd
--
Seattle,
WA.
Morning
(Time TBC)
-- Public event
and signing at
All For Kids,
2900 NE Blakely
St, Seattle, Wa.
2.00-3.30pm
-- Public event
and signing at
B&N #2573,
2700 NE
University
Village,
Seattle, Wa,
98105.
Sunday,
23rd -- Las
Vegas, NV.
4.00-5.30pm --
Public event and
signing at Las Vegas
Public Library.
Monday,
24th -- Las
Vegas, NV.
9.30am-1.30pm
-- School events
arranged through
Las Vegas
Public Library.
Tuesday,
25th -- Dallas,
TX.
9.00am-3.00pm
-- School events
at Irving ISD.
7.00-8.30pm
-- Public event
and signing at
B&N #2060,
2601 Preston
Road ~1204,
Frisco, TX
75034.
Wednesday, 26th
-- Houston, TX.
2.00-3.30pm
-- School event
at Kingwood
Middle School,
2407 Pine
Terrace,
Kingwood, TX
77339.
5.00–6:30
pm
-- School event
at Clements
High School,
4200 Elkins
Drive, Sugar
Land, TX 77479.
Thursday, 27th
-- Houston, TX.
8:30–10.00am -- School
event at Sam
Houston State
University,
PO Box 2236,
Huntsville, TX
77341.
2.00-3.30pm
-- School event
at Jackson
Middle School,
4538 Vance
Jackson, San
Antonio, TX
78230.
7.00-8.30pm
-- Public event
and signing at
B&N #2684,
12635 IH 10
West, San
Antonio, TX
78230.
Friday,
28th -- Austin,
TX.
8.30am-3.00pm
-- Public event
and signing at
Texas Book
Festival,
Austin, Texas.
Saturday, 29th
--
Austin, TX.
--
10.00am-12.00pm
-- Public event
and signing at
Texas Book
Festival,
Austin, Texas.
Sunday,
30th -- Chicago,
IL. 6.00–7.30pm
-- Public event
and signing at
B&N #2622,
55 Old Orchard
Center, Skokie,
IL 60077.
Monday,
31st -- Chicago,
IL.
School events in
day, plus
special
Halloween
public event and
signing (TBC) at
night, arranged
by Anderson’s
Bookshop,
176 North York,
Elmhurst, IL
60126.
November
Tuesday,
1st -- Chicago,
IL.
9.00am-12.00pm --
School event
arranged by
Anderson's
Bookstores,
123 West
Jefferson,
Naperville, IL
60540.
7.00–8:30
pm
-- Public event
and signing at Skokie Public
Library,
5215 Oakton,
Skokie,
IL 60077.
Wednesday, 2nd
-- Chicago, IL.
9.00-10.30 --
School event at
CICS - West
Belden Campus,
2245 N. McVicker
Ave., Chicago,
IL 60639.
2.00-3.00pm --
School event at
Dakota Jr-Sr
High School,
300 Campus
Drive, Dakota,
IL 61018.
Wednesday,
2nd -- Milwaukee,
WI. 7.00–8:30 pm
-- Public event
and signing at
Harry W.
Schwartz
Bookshop,
219 N Milwaukee
St, Milwaukee,
WI 53202.
Thursday, 3rd
-- Milwaukee,
WI. 9.00–11.00am
-- School event
arranged by Southeast
Regional Library
System.
Friday,
4th --
Washington D.C.
10.30am-12.00pm
--
School event at
D.C. Public
Library,
901 G ST NW,
Washington,
DC 20001.
4.00-6.00pm --
School
event at East Middle
School,
Carroll County
Arts Council,
91 West Main
Street, Westminster, MD
21157.
Saturday, 5th --
Washington D.C.
11.00am-12.30pm
-- Public event
and signing at
Howard County
Library/Miller
Branch,
9421 Frederick
Rd., Ellicott
City, MD 21042.
Sunday,
6th --
A day off!!!!
Maybe!!!!!
I'll believe it
when I see
it!!!!!!!!
Monday,
7th -- Boston/New
England.
9.00-11.00am
-- School event
at Kickemut
Middle School,
525 Child St.,
Warren,
RI
02885.
Tuesday,
8th -- Boston/New
England.
10.00am-12.00pm
-- School event
at Manchester
City Library,
405 Pine St.,
Manchester,
NH 03104.
7.00-8.30pm
-- Public event
and signing at
B&N #2966,
98 Middlesex
Pkwy,
Burlington,
MA 01803.
Wednesday, 9th
-- Boston/New
England.
8.00am-1.30pm
-- School event
in Portsmouth,
NH.
IT'S A WRAP
And that's it for
July. I meant to
have a
competition this
month, to
celebrate the
Shanville
Monthly's 5th
birthday, but I
was on holiday
in Florida at
the end of June,
and there just
hasn't been time
to organise one.
But I plan to
run the
competition next
month instead.
Now I just have
to decide what
to offer as
prizes ... Once
I've made up my
mind, I'll let
you all know in
the August
issue. Until then,
all the bloody best,
Darren Shan x x x
