It's FAN ART FRIDAY! A few years ago, STEPH created a load of one-page Mr Crepsley comic strips. I shared most of them, but somehow the final two got lost in the mix - so here, belatedly, they are! I've also included Steph's BLUSHING FACES MEME, which is a nice addition.

For an update about my next Darren Dash book for adults, including an idea of when we might expect it to be released, click here: darrenshan.com/news/darren-...

I did a lovely online event with some of the students of FURNESS VALE Primary School last week. Teachers and librarians can pitch for me to do online events any time of the year, by emailing me at: [email protected]

I'm delighted to be running another TATTOO TUESDAY POST! This week we have the left arm of JOSHUA, who went with my most famous quote. This is the quote Mr Crepsley would have gone for, if... y'know... he'd been able to spell... 😂😂😂 #cirquedufreak #books #tattoo #tattootuesday #booktattoo

My publishers in the UK released a limited edition of BEC twenty years ago (October 2006). There were 666 numbered copies, and NIALL was lucky enough to nab the final one of the 666 that I signed! Since it was the last one, I dated and wrote in the time and added a short message.

The May issue of the Shanville Monthly is LIVE! A new edition of Cirque Du Freak in Hungary... "highlights" clips for the CDF movie wracking up huge views... I fooled LOTS of Shansters on April 1st... and more. darrenshan.com/shanville #cirquedufreak #author #books #newsletter

A very interesting review for the first Zom-B book. Also comments on the subject of standalone books vs series, and how they can work differently for different readers. Highly recommended. sbhowell.com/2025/08/zom-...

This popped up on my Facebook page just now. 15 years ago. My Granny is long dead and gone, and so is most of my hair, BUT… that shirt is still going strong!!!! 😂😂😂 My advice to you young uns out there. Dance with your grannies as often as you can, while you can. ❤️❤️❤️

It’s another Tattoo Tuesday!! This week’s comes courtesy of a Shanster called HUNTER. 👻👻👻 #cirquedufreak #tattoo #tattootuesday

An interesting post about friendship and betrayal in two of my series. It focuses on Wester and Steve, and contains big SPOILERS. julisimp.wordpress.com/2023/12/03/f... The drawing is by NOEL, featuring a scene of Wester and Larten catching frogs in Evanna's pond, to eat. 😂 #cirquedufreak

It's Fan Art Friday!! And this week we have four drawings of everyone's favourite bad guy, STEVE LEOPARD!! Imagined by... LIV. LOTUSPAINTER on X. THE8THSPHYNX on X. NOEL. Happy weekend, everybody!! #cirquedufreak #steveleopard #fanart #FanArtFriday #bookstagram

Someone on YouTube posted this video of "highlights" of the Cirque Du Freak movie yesterday. www.youtube.com/watch?v=avHy... I sometimes think Universal shouldn't have bothered making an entire movie - they might have had more success just by filming a few scenes from the books! 🤣

Heads up, Hungarian Shansters!! The Cirque Du Freak is coming back to town!!! 👻👻👻 www.facebook.com/share/p/18SR...

It's TATTOO TUESDAY! A book lover called KATE opted to honour 5 of her favourite books: Cirque Du Freak and The Demonata, Howl's Moving Castle, general hockey romance books (I genuinely didn't know that was a thing!), and Butcher And Blackbird. #cirquedufreak #tattoo

I've also been reading the Archibald Lox books by Darren Shan, and I highly recommend them! They're middle grade, and the story is so well done I sometimes wish I lived in the Merge. Read the books so you can know what I'm talking about!

On a short visit to London. Going to see 2001: A Space Odyssey at the IMAX this morning. It’s going to be epic!!l Later I’m going to see my team, Tottenham Hotspur, who are fighting a seemingly doomed relegation battle. “I’m afraid, Dave…” 😭😭

It's Fan Art Friday! These four fab drawings of Vancha March are by LIV (arms across his body), VINCENT (black and white), BradleyStretchSoup (holding Harkat up to a security camera) and NOEL (Vancha in flip flops). Enjoy the weekend, everybody!

There was a nice article on CBR a while back, regarding 10 Kids' Movies The Deserve a Remake. Cirque Du Freak was one of the ten films shortlisted. You can check out the full list by clicking here: www.cbr.com/kids-films-d...

Awwwww @darrenshan.com

On my blog today, I provide some advice to young (or old!) authors, on matters pertaining to... Time. If you'd like to take a minute or two out of your day to check it out, click here: darrenshan.com/news/writing...

A lovely little mention of my work, from a lovely little author!! 😂 Spotted by a Dane called GARRETT, and originally posted on Facebook. A shame we never quite made it to a third movie. Except for in the alternate universe of the rather excellent LOCKDOWN, of course!! 😜

The first couple of times I visited Hungary, it was a Viktor Orban-free zone. And the next time I come, in the very near future, it will be Orban-free again. Hurrah! But when EXACTLY will I be coming, and what new(ish) publication will I be promoting?!? Stay tuned for updates!!

Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favourite authors, and his letters and speeches were sometimes just as great as his books. Here’s one he wrote to a high school English teacher in 2006, which contains sound advice that everyone should take to heart. *Originally shared by Michael Warburton on Twitter.

Does Cirque Du Freak hold up as well as it did when you read it as a child if you go back and re-read it as an adult?!? One reviewer on HORROR OBSESSIVE dares to go own the freaky rabbit hole! Click here for their smartly-written report: darrenshan.com/news/horror-...

Frederick Torrance, of FLATPACK THEATRE, was interviewed on a podcast recently, and had some lovely things to say about me and my books. You can check out what he had to say here: www.instagram.com/reels/DWtkPc... For the full interview, click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=McGr...

We went to the Museum of Curiosities in Dublin yesterday. A cool, creepy collection of weird things… and LOTS of clowns! Mr Dowling from my Zom-B books would LOVE this place!! My “favourite” piece? The clown sleeping bag! Where can I get a pair for my two kids?!? 😂😂

I took the kids to World of Illusion in Dublin yesterday. We all had lots of fun and here are some photos. The first is my favourite — I feel so SMALL every time I look at it!! 😂😂😂

As prolific as I’ve been over the years, I always get fans saying something along the lines of “You can never have too much Shan!” These photos are for YOU!!! 😜😂 ***Taken at World Of Illusion in Dublin earlier today.

For those who might not have been online much over the weekend, a quick reminder that the April issue of my monthly newsletter is now live. Lots of articles, such as how I caught out a LOT of my followers with an outlandish April Fools post! darrenshan.com/shanville

The April issue of my Shanville Monthly newsletter is FINALLY online. Lots to report on this month, including school events, a podcast interview, new reviews, an update about the book I'm currently working on, my April Fools joke, and more. Click here: darrenshan.com/shanville

The Shans joined in the Team Limerick Clean-Up this morning. It's a fab initiative, where thousands of volunteers go out picking litter in their local neighbourhoods on Good Friday. Highly recommended next year if you live in the county.

It seems I caught out lots of you with my April Fool’s joke yesterday! 😂 Here’s a clip from the @Gorillaz concert last night, just to prove that I was really there — that much, at least, was true!! 😜

Could the rumours possibly be true?!? Might Damon Albarn's GORILLAZ character 2-D end up "playing" Dervish Grady in an animated TV adaptation of The Demonata?!? Click on this link to find out more!! darrenshan.com/news #thedemonata #gorillaz

Who doesn’t love a cool bookshelfie photo?!! Especially when it’s a SHANtastic bookshelf!!! ❤️❤️❤️ This one was shared by a fan called BECKY who boasts a most excellent Darren Shan collection! #bookshelf #bookshelfie

A rite of passage that most parents have to endure at least once in their lives… assembling a trampoline for their children!! Mrs Shan and I put this one together over three hours on Saturday. We did a pretty good job of it, even if I do say so myself! Not too shabby a view either!!! 👻👻👻

Italian Shanster VALENTINA reviews Demona Apocalypse, and also links it to the first 5 books of the series. The review is in Italian, but YouTube auto translates into English! Hurrah for modern technology! 🥰 www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFBO...

"You will grow used to leaving after a time," Mr Crepsley said. He was standing on the stone behind me, perched on little more than thin air. His face was gloomy. "Vampires are always saying goodbye. We never stop anywhere very long. We are forever picking up our roots and moving on to pastures new.

Its another FAN ART FRIDAY! Today we're going with 4 drawings of Mr Crepsley, by different artists -- in order, by ANDREW, JULIAN, VIKITAKA, and VINCENT. Have a fun weekend, everyone -- try not to fall into any pits of stakes, ok?!? 😂😜 #cirquedufreak #FanArtFriday #fanart

I did a school event in Limerick on Monday, in the John F Kennedy Memorial School. It was lots of fun, and the boys asked loads of great questions. The staff posted several photos and a few video clips. You can check them out here: www.instagram.com/p/DWPKknXDPa... @jfk_school_limerick

I posted a poem on my blog today, in honour of World Poetry Day, which was on Saturday. To find out what it is, click here: darrenshan.com/news/world-p...

Sad to hear of the untimely passing of Nicholas Brendon. I loved Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and he was a key part of its success. I heard him talk at a convention years ago, and he was very engaging. Even in death may he be triumphant!!

For those not QUITE ready to commit to a Tattoo Tuesday tat… Make like this fan called RUSTY, grab a Sharpie and treat yourself to a temporary Shark (from The Demonata) tattoo!!! 😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️

The Shans are heading home after a fun few days in London. Treated myself this morning to a very tasty breakfast in Blanco Kensington. So I certainly won’t be leaving on an empty stomach!! 😂

I’m sure we’re all familiar with the phrase “pimp your ride.” Well, a Shanster called LOUISE has taken things to the next level — “pimp your SHAN!!!!” 😂😂😂😂

Today the Shans visited the Postal Museum in London. The highlight, of course, was the ride underground through a stretch of the old sub-London Mail Rail. But the kids loved designing their own stamps too! Well worth a visit.

The Shans have had an enjoyable day at Legoland Windsor. The staff have been a bit overly officious and curt - maybe they’re still grumpy after their winter hibernation, given that the park has just reopened for the season - but the lines for the rides were short and the weather stayed dry. Hurrah!

Move aside, President Snow! A Vampire Prince has come to take over the Games!!!! 😜

David Byrne is one of my fave performers. I went to see his latest tour last night and it was a stunning show. Tinged slightly by the rude woman behind me who trying to force me to stop standing. I just laughed at her. Sit down at a David Byrne gig?!? Not in this world, lady! 😂

If YOU are a teacher or librarian, and would like to look into the possibility of arranging an event with Darren Shan (either virtual or in the flesh), click on this link to find out how to enquire: darrenshan.com/news/world-b...

I was interviewed for the March edition of the People First Podcast. We chatted for just under half an hour, about my books, writing and more. It was a nice, relaxed interview, one that I enjoyed a lot, and you can listen to it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWE1... @PeopleFirstKC