Shanville Monthly 81

~Issue 81 - April 2007~

GREETINGS!

Welcome to the April edition of the Shanville Monthly! It's a bit early this month, because I have to leave to embark on my American tour. I won't be as accessible as normal while I'm on the road, but I'll try to keep in touch as often as possible. I'll post blog entries about the tour on my BLOG and on my MYSPACE PAGE, so watch out for them if you want to know everything that I get up to!!! I'll highlight the highs, the lows, the crazy bits, the boring bits ... basically, anything that happens, you'll be able to read about it there! My tours of the States are always tiring, but I enjoy them -- I usually get to meet loads of enthusiastic fans, I hopefully make some new converts, I see a huge number of libraries, schools and bookstores, and ... well ... maybe I'm a geek, but I find that kind of exciting!!!! So, as hard as things get with all the travel, talking, signing and trying to sleep in strange beds, you won't find me complaning!!! But before I catch my place west, there's the small matter of the April Shanville Monthly to see to first ...

AWARDS UPDATE

"Demon Thief", alas, failed to win either the Irish Children's Book Of The Year, or the Doncaster Children's Book awards for which it was shortlisted. I suspect I was well behind "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" in the Irish award (it's the sort of book adult critics of children's books love -- and with justification), but my "agent on the inside" in Doncaster tells me it was close-run thing in that one -- I came within a whisker of taking top spot!!! But in the end, a lot of the younger voters went for a humourous book instead -- curse their laughter-seeking hides!!!!!!! :-)

But, wait, I might add to my (somewhat meagre) awards collection yet!!! "Lord Loss" has been nominated for the Leeds Children's Book Award (for the best paperback published in 2006 for 9-13 year olds). There are six books in total on the shortlist, which you can find by clicking here: LEEDS SHORTLIST If anyone reading this lives in Leeds and is going to take part in the judging, I trust you'll see sense and cast your vote for poor, awards-neglected Darren Shan -- am I doomed to forever be the bridesmaid, not the bride?!?!?!?

U.S.A. -- NEW BOOKS!!!

Although "Bec" (book 4 of "The Demonata") isn't officially going on sale in America until May, it will be available in most bookshops from the start of April (and will definitely be available for sale at all my events), so look out for it!!! If you prefer to buy online, you can buy it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble by clicking on either of the following links. Please ignore the publication dates on both sites -- I'm sure the book will become available to ship early in April.

"Bec" at Amazon: CLICK HERE

"Bec" at B&N: CLICK HERE

The paperback edition of "Lord of the Shadows" (book 11 of the "Cirque Du Freak" series) is also going on sale in April. Again, you can buy it in your local bookshop, or online by clicking on one of the following links:

"Lord Of The Shadows" at Amazon: CLICK HERE

"Lord Of The Shadows" at B&N: CLICK HERE

NEW COVERS!!

I've added new Japanese covers to the Vampires section of my site, of the paperback edition of Book 8 and the second manga collection. I've also added the final Dutch trilogy collection from the "Saga". You can find them here: JAPAN & DUTCH COVERS

I've also added the fourth "Belgariad" cover to my site, which features a quote from me. Click here: BELGARIAD 4

Finally, I've added the Norwegian cover of "Demon Thief", and I think it might well be the creepiest cover of any of my books that I've yet seen -- it's seriously eerie!!!! You can check it out (if you're brave enough!) by clicking here: NORWAY COVER

NEW "DEMONATA" REVIEWS

I've added some new reviews for all the "Demonata" books (except "Lord Loss") to my web site. The reviews are still trickling in, and almost all of them are extremely positive - hurrah!!! You can find them by clicking here: DEMONATA REVIEWS

NEW "LORD OF THE SHADOWS" REVIEWS

Since "Lord of the Shadows" is being released in American this month (see above), I decided to have a look in case there were any new reviews of it that I could add to my site -- and I found several!! You can read them all by clicking here: LORD OF THE SHADOWS REVIEWS

"BLOOD BEAST" NOTES

I've added my second set of "Blood Beast" notes to my site, talking about its different teen angle and hinting at the role Bill-E will have to play in the books. More notes will follow over the next few months, in the lead-up to its release in the UK. You can find the notes in Secret Shanville (you'll have to become a Shanster if you haven't already) by clicking here: BLOOD BEAST NOTES

APRIL U.S.A. TOUR

I am coming to America on tour in April 2007, from the 2nd to the 20th. You can check out my schedule below! In-school events are for specified schools only. PUBLIC events are open to everyone. I will always try (time allowing) to sign as many books as fans bring along, so yes, you CAN bring your entire Darren Shan collection!! If you live near one of the stores when I'm coming, but can't make it to my event, you can always leave your books at the store in advance, or contact the store beforehand and ask them to get me to dedicate a book to you!

Monday, April 2, 2007 - Seattle

10:00 a.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Washington Middle School, S. Jackson St., Seattle.
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC Presentation/signing - Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE. www.thirdplacebooks.com

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - Olympia/Lacey

8:00 – 9:30 a.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Capital Hill School, Olympia.
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.	In-school presentation (150 students)/signing - River Ridge High School, Lacey.
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.	In-school presentation - Black Hills High School, Olympia.
7.00p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Barnes and Noble, 1530 Black Lake Blvd., SW, Olympia, WA 98502. click here for web site

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 - Seattle/San Francisco

10.00 a.m.

In-school presentation/signing – Eckstein Middle School, Seattle.

Thursday, April 5, 2007 - San Francisco/Menlo Park/Burlingame

9:40 – 10:25 a.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Notre Dame des Victoires (NDV), San Francisco.
2.00p.m.	PUBLIC signing - Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA 94925. http://www.bookpassage.com/
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Books Inc., 1375 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010. click here for web site

Friday, April 6, 2007 - Petaluma/Santa Rosa/Napa

10:00 a.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Kenilworth Junior High School, Petaluma.
2:00 p.m.	PUBLIC in-store presentation/signing - Copperfield’s, Montgomery Village store, 2316 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95405. http://www.copperfieldsbooks.com
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Copperfields, Napa store, 3900 Suite A, Bel Aire Plaza, Napa, CA. 94558. http://www.copperfieldsbooks.com

Saturday, April 7, 2007 - Walnut Creek

1.00p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Barnes and Noble, 1149 S. Main Street, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. click here for web site
4.00p.m.	PUBLIC Presentation/signing - Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618. http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/Branches/rockridge.htm

Sunday, April 8, 2007 - EASTER

Easter! Travel day!! No events!!! Boo!!!!

Monday, April 9, 2007 - Humble/Houston

10:00 a.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Humble, Texas.
2:00 p.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Sartartia Middle School, Sugar Land, TX.
5:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. www.bluewillowbookshop.com

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - Coppell/Frisco

12:00 - 3.15 p.m.	Two in-school presentations/signing - Coppell Middle School West, Coppell, TX.
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Barnes and Noble, 2601 Preston Rd., Frisco, TX 75034. click here for web site

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - Hurst/San Antonio

10:00 a.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Hurst Junior High, TX.
7:00 p.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Rawlinson Middle School, 14100 Vance Jackson, San Antonio, TX 78249.

Thursday, April 12, 2007 - San Antonio

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.	Presentation, “Taking a Bite out of YA Lit” - Texas Library Association, San Antonio.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.	Signing - Texas Library Association, San Antonio.

Friday, April 13, 2007 - Chicago/Oak Park/Naperville

08.30-10.25 a.m.	TWO in-school presentations/signings – Glen Crest Middle School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
12.55 - 1.35 p.m.	In-school presentation/signing - Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
4.00p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing with Magic Tree, Magic Tree Bookstore, 141 Oak Park, Oak Park, IL. http://www.magictreebookstore.com/
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson, Naperville, IL. http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/

Saturday, April 14, 2007 - LaGrange/Skokie

11:00 a.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Borders Books and Music, 1 N. LaGrange Road, LaGrange, IL 60525. click here for web site
3:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077. http://www.skokielibrary.info/

Sunday, April 15, 2007 - Cincinnati

11.00 a.m.	Stock signing (you can leave your books at the store in advance if you want to get them signed, then pick them up at a later date) - Blue Marble, 1358 S. Ft. Thomas Ave, Ft. Thomas, KY 41075. http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/community?sid=5792
1:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208. click here for web site

Monday, April 16, 2007 - Ohio/Brighton

9:00 a.m.	In-school presentation/ signing - Kings High School, Kings Mills, OH.
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Borders Books and Music, 8101 Movie Drive, Brighton, MI 48116. click here for web site

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - Ann Arbor

12:30 p.m.

Business lunch with Borders - yum!!!!!!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - New York/New Jersey

10:00 a.m.	Business brunch with Little Brown staff - double yum!!!!!
7:00 p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/Signing - Barnes and Noble, 187 Riverside Square, Hackensack, NJ 07601. http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/storedetail.do?store=2228

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - New York

a.m.	In-school events - Brooklyn.
12:30 p.m.	Business lunch with B&N - triple yum!!!!!!
4.00p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Book Mark Shoppe, 8415 Third Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209. http://www.bookmarkshoppe.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp
7.00p.m.	PUBLIC presentation/signing - Barnes and Noble, 91 Old Country Road, Carle Place, NY 11514. http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/storedetail.do?store=2216

Friday, April 20, 2007 - New York

10.00 a.m.

School presentation/signing at - Barnes and Noble, 33 East 17^th Street, NYC 10003.

APRIL IRISH EVENT

On Saturday, April 28th, I will be doing a PUBLIC event at the Cuirt Festival in Galway. You can click on the following link for their web site, which provides more information and allows you to book tickets: CUIRT SITE

JUNE IRELAND/U.K. TOUR

I'm going to be doing another big tour of Ireland and the U.K. in June, to promote the release of Blood Beast, book 5 of The Demonata. You can check out the provisional schedule below -- please note, it will probably be updated quite a lot between now and June. I strongly advise that you check back for the full, revised, confirmed itinerary closer to June if you want to attend any of these events.

If you are a teacher or librarian interested in bringing a group of children to any of my events, please write to me using the CONTACT form, letting me know the date and venue that you are interested in. I will forward your requests to those setting up the events.

Tuesday, 5^th	AM	Schools event at the Belltable Theatre in Limerick.
Tuesday 5th	4.30pm	PUBLIC signing at Easons, Limerick.

Wednesday 6th	AM	School event at Linenhall, Castlebar.
Wednesday 6th	4.00pm	PUBLIC signing at Easons, 33 shop st, Galway.

Thursday 7th	AM	School events in Drogheda.
Thursday 7th	PM	PUBLIC signing at Waterstones, Drogheda.

Friday 8th	AM	Schools event at Mill Theatre, Dundrum.
Friday 8th	4.00pm	PUBLIC signing at Easons, Level 3, Unit 12-14, Dundrum town centre, Sandyford Rd, Dublin 16.

Saturday 9th	PM	PUBLIC event at – The Maltings Theatre, St Albans.
Saturday 9th	PM	PUBLIC signing - town and venue To Be Confirmed.

Sunday 10th	1.00pm	PUBLIC signing at Waterstones, Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes.

Monday 11th	AM	School events in Norwich.
Monday 11th	PM	PUBLIC signing - Waterstones, 11-17 Castle Stree, NR2 1PB, Norwich.
Monday 11th	PM	PUBLIC event in Cromer.

Tuesday 12th	11.00am	School event at Perse Prep for Boys, Cambridge. – speak to Heffers about outside venue.
Tuesday 12th	4.00pm	PUBLIC signing at Waterstones, Ipswich.
Tuesday 12th	6.30pm	PUBLIC event in Ipswich.

Wednesday 13th	11.30am	School event at Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Rayleigh, Essex.
Wednesday 13th	4.00pm	PUBLIC signing at WHSmith, Lakeside.