• Issue 128 - March 2011

    01 March 2011

    GREETINGS!

     

    Hi everyone, and welcome to the March issue of the Shanville Monthly!! It's a short one this month -- things have been quiet in the run-up to the release of Ocean of Blood at the end of April -- the calm before the storm!!! But there's an amusing, TV soap-related related item, and very good news for fans hoping to catch me on tour -- I've added another day to the Irish leg of my May tour, as well as another day to my events in Australia, in Adelaide. You can find out all the latest tour info below (I've updated the details since last month), along with all of the other news items.

     

    EASTENDERS SHOCKER!!!

     

    On the UK TV show, Eastenders, on February 24th, Dot Cotton was spotted reading “Vampire Mountain”!!!! For those who don’t watch the show, Dot is one of its most famous characters, a national institution by this stage, so lots of fans of my books were VERY excited to find out that she was a closet Shanster!!! It just proves what I’ve always said—you’re never too old to be a fan of Darren Shan!!!! If you live in the UK, you can maybe still catch the clip on BBC iplayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00yz5k4/EastEnders_24_02_2011/ It appears at the 15mins 55seconds mark. And I’m attaching a photo of it below, just in case anyone is in doubt!!



    NEW MR CREPSLEY COVERS

     

    I’ve added the UK and USA covers for Ocean of Blood, the second Mr Cerepsley book, to my site, along with earlier versions of them that chart their development. I’ve also added the Australian cover for Birth Of A Killer — that comes out in Australia on April 1st, to coincide with my visit Down Under! All of the covers are incredibly cool, in very different ways — check them out to see which is your favourite!!! You can find them all, along with the covers of all my other books from every country where they are officially available, by clicking here: http://www.darrenshan.com/covers/

     

     

    BERKSHIRE BOOK AWARD

     

    Birth of a Killer has been shortlisted for the Berkshire Book Award in the UK. This is its first nomination for any reward, so I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed! The winner will be announced on March 25th. To see the full shortlist, click here: http://www.berkshirebookaward.org.uk/

     

     

    SURREY REPORT

     

    I had a hugely enjoyable first event of the year in Surrey late in February. It was held in a great location (Bourne Hall) and we had a full house. I read out a world-exlusive extract from book 2, along with a couple of other favourite readings of mine... answered lots of questions... and signed LOADS of books for two and a half hours -- sweet!!! It was the perfect start to my touring year, and has set the standard for 2011!!!!

     

     

    NEW REVIEWS

     

    I’ve added several new reviews to the site, of Hell’s Horizon, Birth of a Killer and a number of others, including some old reviews of the first few manga editions of my Saga Of Darren Shan/Cirque Du Freak series. You can check out the reviews of all of the books which I have published by clicking here: http://www.darrenshan.com/reviews/

     

     

    APRIL AUSTRALIA BIRTH OF A KILLER EVENTS

     

    I am coming to Australia on a holiday in April, but I am squeezing in a few signings while I am there. Here's what we have lined up.

     

    Friday, April 1st -- Melbourne -- 4.30pm -- public event at Dymocks Camberwell, Shop 114, 793 Burke Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124.

    Monday, April 11th -- Sydney -- 3.30pm -- public event at The Children's Bookshop Beecroft, 6 Hannah Street, Beecroft, NSW 2119.

    Thursday, April 14th -- Adelaide -- 3.30pm -- an intimate, public event at Dymocks, 135 Rundle Mall, Adelaide.

     

    All are welcome at the events, but you should contact the store in advance to ensure you can attend, in case the events are ticketed. In Adelaide, that will definitely be the case -- fans will need an invite from the store in order to attend.

     


    MAY IRELAND/UK OCEAN OF BLOOD TOUR

     

    I will be touring in Ireland and the UK in May to promote the release of Ocean of Blood, the second of the Mr Crepsley books. The tour will take place in two sections, the first coming at the start of the month, with a few extra dates added at the end of May. Here are all the details that we currently have to hand. More info will be added where appropriate over the coming couple of months. A public signing is open to anyone who wants to come. A schools event is for invited schools only. A public event is open to anyone who wishes to attend, but tickets normally need to be reserved in advance -- you should always contact the organiser in advance to make sure that you will be able to get a ticket. More details are available in the individual listings on the EVENTS part of my site. I am always happy to sign as many of my books as fans wish to bring along or buy on the day.

     

    30th April, Saturday

    10.00am -- public signing, O'Mahony's Tralee, Castle Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

    3.00pm -- public signing, The Crescent Bookshop, Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle, Limerick.

    1st May, Sunday

    12.30pm -- public signing, Waterstones Cork, 69 Patrick Street, Cork.

    2nd May, Monday

    11.00am -- public signing, Easons Newbridge, County Kildare. This is a bank holiday Monday.

    3.00pm -- public signing, Easons Dundrum, Dublin. This is a bank holiday Monday.

    3rd May, Tuesday

    11.00am -- multi-schools event, Black Box Theatre, Belfast.

    4.00pm -- public signing, Waterstones Belfast, 44-46 Fountain Street, Belfast BT1 5EE.

    4th May, Wednesday

    11.50am -- multi-schools events, Stratford High School,  Stratford-Upon-Avon. Part of the Stratford-Upon-Avon Literary Festival.

    4.30pm -- public signing, WH Smith Welwyn Garden City, 30 Howards centre, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HA.

    5th May, Thursday

    10.30am -- multi-schools event, Catton Grove Junior School, Norwich.

    6.00pm -- public event in Jarrolds Department Store, Norwich.

    6th May, Friday

    10.00am -- multi-schools event, Copleston High School, Ipswich.

    3.00pm -- public signing, Waterstones Ipswich, 15-19 Buttermarket, Iswich IP1 1BQ.

    6.00pm -- public event, Shire Hall, High Street, Chelmsford, arranged by Just Imagine book shop, New London Road, Chelmsford.

    7th May, Saturday

    10.30am -- public event, Attlee Room, Haileybury College, Hertford Heath, Hetrford SG13 7NU, arranged by Books @ Hoddesdon, 79 High Street, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 8TL - phone 01992 442290 for tickets.

    8th May, Sunday

    11.00am -- public signing at Waterstones Bromley, 100 The Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1DJ.

    29th May, Sunday

    6.00pm -- public event in Cardiff -- details TBC.

    30th May, Monday

    11.00am -- public signing, Waterstones Swansea, The Old Carlton Cinema, 17 Oxford Street, Swansea SA1 3AG.

    4.00pm -- public event with Charlie Higson, Hay-On-Wye Literary Festival.

    31st May, Tuesday

    10.30am -- multi-schools event, Liberty Hall, Dublin. Part of the Dublin Writers Festival.

     

     

    IT'S A WRAP


    And that's it for March!! I'm on holiday at the start of this month, then I'll be squeezing in a bit of work, then I'll be getting ready for my trip to Australia -- I'm sure the month will fly by! But rest assured, I'll be back here at the start of April with all the latest news and updates. Until then, all my bloody best, Darren Shan x x x

     


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