GREETINGS!!

Hi everyone, and welcome to the December issue of my Shanville Monthly newsletter! The Shans started Christmas early with a trip to Disneyland Paris late in November. We spent a lovely few days there and go on almost every ride in the two parks -- we don't do things by half when we hit a theme park! That's a photo of me above, taken in the Marvel hotel -- move over, Dr Strange, to make way for... Dr Shan!!!

You can find another photo of me at the end of this newsletter, with a hairy guy from a galaxy far, far away. But first I wrap up the 2025 tours, and hint at more touring to come in 2026... the Cirque Du Freak movie gets a Halloween shout-out... there's a music-themed new interview with me... a Cirque Du Freak-influenced song... and lots more!!

2025 TOURS

I had an amazing time on tour last month, on the final leg of my 25th Anniversary Cirque Du Freak tour. It started with some school events and a 3 hour signing in Birmingham, and saw me tear across another 6 cities, all in the space of just 5 hectic days!

This, like my other 2025 tours, was a different vibe to my tours of the past, in that most of the people who turned up were adults who had read my books when they were younger. It was so wonderful to hear tales of how much my work has meant - and still means - to people, even after all these years.

My thanks to all the staff of the stores (predominently Waterstones) who hosted me and worked so hard to make the events over the course of the year run so smoothly -- we didn't hit any bumps at all along the way, which was remarkable!

And my thanks, of course, to all of YOU who turned up and waited so patiently in line. No one ever complained, even when the fan in front of them had a suitcase with 30 or 40 books to be signed! You guys are incredible, and I honestly appreciated the presence of each and every one of you, of the time you took to come along, and the lengthy journeys some of you undertook to get there -- on that front, extra special mention must go to a Shanster called FOX who came all the way from IDAHO in the USA! I kid you not!!!

2026 TOURS?!?

I loved being back on the road this year. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed the touring -- apart from the occasional one-off appearance, the last time I'd been properly out on tour was nine years ago with the last Zom-B book. I was rather sad when I finished my final signing of 2025 in Southampton, as I doubted I'd be back out on tour in the near future.

BUT!!! DesTiny seems to have other plans in store for me!!

I had a piece of unepxected but extremely welcome news late in November, and it looks like I might be back out on the road in the UK and Ireland in 2026! I might even be doing some events abroad too, in a place I've never been before! Nothing has been confirmed at the moment, but I'm going to be looking to draw up some plans over the next few months, and if everything works out, I might be back out on tour a lot sooner than anticipated.

Watch this space (and maybe my Shanta Claus short story later in December) for updates...

SHANTA CLAUS

Since I mentioned Shanta Claus in the previous article, this seems as good a point as any to remind you that my annual Christmas story will be going live on my web site in the run-up to Christmas -- I usually add it about a week or so before the 25th. I've been posting this for a quarter of a century. The first version saw the light of day not long after the release of Tunnels Of Blood, and was set just after the events of that book, providing brief updates on some of the main characters from the first three Cirque Du Freak books.

It's grown massively in the 25 years since, and now includes humorous looks at characters from all my major series and some of my one-off books. It's the Shan multiverse, where the timelines of the likes of Mr Crepsley, Lord Loss, B Smith and Archibald Lox all mingle. It's not to be taken too seriously, but it IS a lot of fun!

In recent years I've also included a section where I update readers up any developments that have been happening under the radar, and occasionally make exciting announcements for the first time, which may well be the case in this year's edition...

I'll post a direct link for the story once it goes live, but the main host link will be on the EXTRAS page of my site, where you can also check out other short stories, and a load of other odd stuff, that I've written over the years. CLICK HERE and make sure to bookmark it and check back a bit closer to Christmas Day!

ROCKSTATION

I've given MANY interviews over the years, waxing lyrical about my books and the life of being a writer, but here's something a little different! An interview with me, certainly, but with the Hungarian site ROCKSTATION, in which I talk primarily about my musical tastes, bands and songs that I like, etc. Music has always been a very important part of my life, and this is a rare insight into what I listen to. Oh, and for those of you who insist, there are also some bits about my books too!! 😊

If you'd like to check it out, put your headphones on, get your rock fingers ready, and CLICK HERE

The interview is in Hungarian, but my browser offered to translate it directly for me when I clicked on the link, and it was a mostly clear, accurate translation. If your browser doesn't do that for you, you can always cut and paste the text into an online translator.

BEST HALLOWEEN MOVIES

I know the Cirque Du Freak movie divides opinion, but to my happy surprise I found that most of the fans I met on tour this year who mentioned it actually said that they liked it, albeit while noting that it certainly wasn't as good as the books.

It's an opinion shared by the good folk at AOL, who ran a list in the run-up to Halloween of The Best Classic Halloween Movies of All Time. Granted, it's a very LONG list, but even so, it was lovely to see the Cirque Du Freak get a mention alongside the likes of Midsommar, Rosemary's Baby, Nosferatu, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Hereditary, and many more than have had a massive impact and influence on me over the years.

The listings for each film are brief, but if you'd like to check out what they recommended, CLICK HERE

BERNARD REVIEWS ALLIES

A Facebook reviewer called Bernard recently wrote a very nice review for Allies Of The Night, the eighth book in The Saga Of Darren Shan. I'm including the review below, and if you'd like to check out Bernard's Facebook page, where you can find LOTS of other book reviews, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

"Are you arrogant or ignorant?"

"Neither. I’m a vampire."

It’s almost a year since I’ve read the last Darren Shan book and I was contemplating if I’ll read the next one in October since I pledged to read at least one book in the Saga every Halloween. It was still September but it was fitting since this book was set around the same time and I can already feel the rain outside our home while reading another adventure of my fave trio, Darren, Mr. Crepsley, and Harkat.

The third arc of the Saga felt like we are going back to familiar faces. I did jump a little bit when I found out that they’re going back to Mr. Crepsley’s hometown as it has some of my favorite scenes and characters. Well, it’s very hard to pick which is my favorite book so far as each had their own unique and special moments. I just had hope that I get to revisit some of those.

There are more surprises here than I expected, reunions I’ve waited for so long. And they’re delightful. Nothing scares Darren more than love-life and math just like anybody else and that makes him more human.

And the final act was once again full of twists and turns, some I expected, some are still surprising and bone-chilling. It’s another cliffhanger I have to hold onto until I have the next book in line.

Harkat once again is my fave, haha. But I liked the comebacks here.

SWEET FREAKS!

One of the loveliest moments for me on my recent tour of Ireland and the UK was when a big-hearted fan at one of my signings presented me with a slim, lovely-looking hardback book. Being aware that lots of Shansters around the world wouldn't be able to make it to any of my 25th anniversary of Cirque Du Freak appearances, she offered a selection of them a chance to let me know how much my books had impacted on them over the years.

She invited fans all over the world to send her letters and fan art, which she bound together and turned into this charming keepsake. I'll admit, I was so touched by this sweet gesture that I found myself fighting back tears. It means a lot to me, truly. You guys are the BEST!!!

WEAK ASLEEP

Out on tour last month, I met a Shanster called CHRIS who told me he was in a band called WEAK ASLEEP, and one of their songs, Vampires At Night, had been lightly influenced by Desmond Tiny in my vampire series. Well, of course I told him I wanted to hear it!!

Chris sent me a link when I was back home, and it's a pretty groovy little song. The influence from my books (in the chorus) isn't overstated, and Chris says there are some Vampire Diaries references too, so it's not a work that is directly inspired by my books, but still... pretty damn cool, eh?!?

You can listen to the song by CLICKING HERE

Please give them a nice thumbs up, or even drop a comment, if you enjoy it.

And if you'd like to listen to more of their songs, here's the link to their Spotify page: CLICK HERE

IT'S A WRAP!

And that's it for December. I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and New Year's, and make sure you don't miss my Shanta Claus story over the festive break! I'll be having a quiet month at home, going to a couple of shows that the kids are in... squeezing in a couple of gigs too... spending a few days in Dublin with the family... doing a school event in Ireland and a Zoom event with a school in England... sending out the final orders for The Terrified Troll... starting to plan in 2026 tours... Hmm! Not THAT quiet, actually!!! 😊

I'll be back here online at the start of January with my first newsletter of 2026, containing all the latest news and updates. Until then, all my bloody best, Darren Shan. x x x

You can follow Darren Shan on Facebook and Twitter and Bluesky. He also has a (very rarely updated!) YouTube page.