Had another pair of fantastic schools on Friday, with very long lines of students wanting their books signed. School events normally don't result in large sales, so the last few days have been a very welcome reversal of usual trends -- but because of the unexpected surge, I came close to running out ot sharpies, and had to make a quick dash to Woolworths between events to re-stock!!! I also did another long signing session in a shop in the afternoon, and was there for two hours. Fabulous!!!

I expected to wrap up the tour (or at least the main part of it -- I still have a few events scattered throughout the rest of the month) with a sold-out event at the Polka Theatre this Saturday. I've been there a couple of times before, and each time it's been a sell-out. And it's been a few years since I was last there, and the books have grown far more popular in the meantime. So I felt fairly confident that I'd be playing my last event to a packed house. But we heard on Friday that sales had been poor and the theatre wasn't even half full when I turned up today!! It just goes to show, there's always the potential for a weak turnout, no matter how popular your books are or how splendidly a tour is going. It was a pity to end the tour with a relative disappointment, but I never let small number interfere with my routine, and I went to to treat those who had turned up to 3 readings (including an extract from my four book series), answered more questions than I normally would, and spent longer signing than usual. I always appreciate it when you guys turn up to see me, but I appreciate it all the more when you come to a sparsely attended event! So rather than mope about those who don't come, I try to give extra value to those who DO!! Although it wasn't quite the rowdy finale I was hoping for, I definitely enjoyed it, and I think those who came enjoyed it too.

Apart from today's event, it's been my busiest tour ever. I've gone on longer tours in the past, with more events and signings packed in, but this has featured the biggest crowds, the longest lines, the most books sold and signed. Every day has been jam-packed, and I've rolled back to the flat exhausted but delighted, late every night. It's amazing to receive such incredible support, and the tour has flown by in a hectic, happy blur. I'm lucky to have such dedicated fans, and as long as you guys keep turning up to show your support, I'll do all I can over the coming years to carry on touring and meet as many of you as is feasible, sign as many of your books as I can -- and strangle as many of you for photos as possible!!!! But for now I'm off to relax for a bit (going to see Derren Brown tonight -- he always puts on a good show!), before hitting Athlone next weekend, then Birmingham, Hay and Listowel a bit later in the month!!! Thanks for the memories, Shansters!!!!!!!

Had my two busiest school events of the tour -- indeed, two of the busiest of ANY of my tours!!! At the first, I spoke to an audience of just over 120, and it seemed like just about everyone there came up afterward to get a book signed -- I was signing for a solid hour! There were at least double that at the next school, and once again almost everyone seemed to have a book to sign -- I was going like the clappers for an hour and a half, far quicker than I'd normally sign, conscious that school was finishing and many of the students needed to leave to catch buses!!! I felt like I'd run a long race by the end -- but I only just had time to draw my breath, and then it was off to a shop for another two hour signing session!!!! This tour has definitely been my busiest yet in terms of numbers of people turning up to get their books signed. I thought, after my last few tours, that the crowds couldn't get any bigger -- but they can, and they have!!!!! Shan-mania looks like it might just be gearing up -- who knows how manic it will get from here?!?!?

Onto other matters! For those of you who think you can out-gross the Shan man, check out the following competition from Waterstones -- it's a beaut!! Of all the Darren Shan competitions that have been run over the years, this ranks up there with the very best of them!!! Waterstones are offering you the chance to create a demon of your own, by describing it in 50 words of less -- and the winning contestant will see their demon featured in Book 9 of The Demonata in May 2009!!! This is the first time I've ever let a fan design a creature for one of my books -- and it will very probably be the last!! You'll also get an OBE, and free signed copy of the book, and a chance to come and meet me in person to collect it!!!!! The comp is open to readers in the UK and Ireland, of any age (but you'll need a parent's permission if you're under 18). For more details and the full rules, click here: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=1314 The closing date is June 2nd -- so act swiftly before the chance passes you by!!!!

I'm absolutely delighted to be able to report that Death's Shadow, Book 8 of The Demonata, has gone straight in at 1 in the children's chart in the UK and Ireland!!!! This is the second time that I've hit the top in the UK (the first time was with Blood Beast), and the first time that I've entered directly in number one on both charts. It's an amazing achievement -- many thanks to all of you who bought the book and helped propel it up the charts to swiftly!!! This is especially pleasing coming near the end of my tour -- it makes all the hard work and signing seem even more worthwhile than it already was! I'll also be interested in analysing the figures later in the week, to see how the book fared on the overall hardback chart -- in the UK, they don't include children's books on the general hardback chart, but when Blood Beast was released, it out-sold every other fiction hardback in the UK, so it will be instructive to find out where D8 sits in the overall scheme of things ...

Had another busy day. The morning was actually quite relaxing. I went and signed some stock in Waterstones Picadilly, Goldsboro Books, and Foyles Southbank. If you're in central London over the next few days, you should be able to find signed copies of Death's Shadow in all 3 stores, and maybe signed copies of the paperback of Demon Apocalypse too, though I didn't sign quite so many of those. Alternatively, you can order signed copies of Death's Shadow online through Goldsboro Books (it's in the NEW ARRIVALS section) by clicking here: GOLDSBORO BOOKS

After that I went to do a very nice school event in Twickenham, and then to do a Waterstones signing in Staines. Once again I stocked up on a strawberries and cream frappucino before I began -- the weather has been very hot in London over the last few days, so I'm using that as my excuse!!! I was then signing for almost two and three-quarter hours -- the hordes of Shansters show no signs of ceasing any time soon!!! It was as I was on my way home afterwards that I learnt that Death's Shadow was number 1 -- needless to say, that was an extremely nice way to end the day!!!!! Watched The Apprentice back in my flat, checked my emails, and now I'm off to bed for another early night ahead of a very full day on Thursday. At least I can dream sweetly of being 1 tonight!!!!!!

There's been no let-up in the crowds of Shansters flocking to book stores in hunt of a signed book (or twenty!!). I did a big school event this morning, a quieter one in the afternoon, then reported for duty to Borders in Watford. Even though I was half an hour early, there was already a large line. I decided to start early, but popped upstairs to the loo. By the time I got back, the line had trebled, and I sensed we were in for a big one!!! THREE AND A HALF HOURS later, I signed my last book and draw a long breath!!! For an evening signing, that's incredible! Weekends are different -- people are off school, mums and dads aren't working, and larger crowds are the norm. But kids have homework on week nights ... parents are tired after work ... there are sporting events and TV shows to watch. An hour of signing is good. Two hours is excellent. But three and a half -- that's practically unheard of!!!!! I was stunned, but all in a good way -- I LOVE IT when big crowds turn up!!!! I get a buzz out of marathon signing sessions, knowing these people have given up their time to come and wait to see ME, that my books have done everything I ever hoped they would, that I'm living the dream. I can see how some writers get tired of large crowds and prefer either not to tour or to set limits when they do. Me -- I thrive on them!!! The more of you guys who come out to support me, the bigger a kick I get!!! There's no denying this has been a tiring tour, but it's the sort of "tired" that I always want to be!!! Roll on the last few days ...

Another fan -- hi, Toni!!! -- has had a tatto, based on the designs on the covers of my books. If you want to check it out, click here: TONI'S TATTOO

And, finally ... I've added the cover for the UK/Ireland edition of Wolf Island, book 8 of The Demonata, to my web site -- and it's a bloodily brilliant beauty!!!! To check it out, visit Secret Shanville (you'll need to become a Shanster if you haven't joined already) by clicking here: http://www.darrenshan.com/secretgateway.html

The last couple of days have sped by in a signing blur!! I only had one signing session on each day -- but what sessions they were!!!! First came Bluewater, on Sunday, scene of one of my biggest signings ever in the UK during the Bec tour. I thought it might be disappointing second time round, that less people would come, but that myth was swiftly debunked when I arrived to discover that lots of people had been waiting since the shopping centre opened at 09.30!!! I was signing for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS in total!! I think that might be my new UK record!!!! I was delighted to have such a huge turnout. I often get asked if my hand hurts after such a long signing, but the honest answer is no -- I've only once had a problem with it, and that was on my first trip to Hungary, when I was caught by surprise by the number of fans who turned up. My eyes do hurt a bit, from all the photos and squinting that I have to do when I strangle people (!!!!), but so far the hand has held up beautifully!! I had a couple of strawberry-and-creams frappucinos from Starbucks, which helped keep my strength up while signing (if anyone from Starbucks is reading this, I'm totally open to offers on sponsorhip for future tours!!!!! ). And when I got back home, Bas and I went to a temporary street market behind the Southbank, serving organic food, and I had a delicious burger and a bun with yummy pork -- a vegetarian's nightmare, but good times as far as the Shan stomach is concerned!!!!!!

Today I headed up to Swindon for an afternoon signing. Since it was a bank holiday Monday in the UK, I wasn't expecting a huge crowd, and confidently told Bas that I'd be back in time for a long walk before an early dinner. Nuh-uh!!!!! There was already a large crowd when we arrived, and it built steadily. In the end I was signing for 3 hours!!!! I came away very happy (I even managed to get another frappucino!), then met with Bas near the Tower of London, where we went to a restaurant that does scrumptious Argentian steaks. We went for a 4 slab taster, and waddled out VERY happy an hour or so later!!

The new book (Death's Shadow) has been going very strongly. Response from fans has been immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Sales have been brisk -- the official nationwide chart won't come out until later in the week, but it's currently the 1 bestselling children's book on Amazon UK, and 6 on the Amazon UK overall chart!!! I'm looking forward to the last 5 days of the tour -- it's going to be a busy week, but I'm determined to have lots of fun, and I hope everyone who comes to my events has fun too -- I'll do my best to keep you all happy!!!

Another couple of busy days on the tour. Went to St Albans and Reading yesterday. Left the flat at 08.30 and didn't get back until 23.00!!! I pretty much fell into bed!! Today wasn't quite as jam-packed, as I just had one event in the morning (in a lovely church -- the first time I think I've performed in a sacred place!), then a signing in the afternoon. After that I went with Bas to visit her brother and his two young sons. Spent a couple of hours playing with them -- a nice break from the demands of the tour! Then it was back home, pausing to grab a kebab on the way.

As those who've come to my events will know, I love to strangle people!!! I don't like smiling for photos -- I much prefer to pull a snarling face! And often I pretend to strangle the people who pose with me. I think that makes for a much better photo -- the fans can show it to their friends and boast that they survived strangulation at the hands of Darren Shan!!!! A few days ago, one fan asked if he could pretend to strangle me. Of course I agreed, but it was only when he had his hands round my throat that I realised how vulnerable a position I'd left myself in -- if he chose to squeeze tight, it would be hard to fight him off, and since people around would probably think I was only acting, help might be slow coming to hand!!!! I immediately thought -- this would be a good idea for a scene in a book, in which a villain decides to kill a famous author in public! It's the sort of idea that would have sat right at home in an old Vincent Price film! But then, later, I realised that I probably wasn't the first person to think of this -- I'm sure it's flashed through the thoughts of many of the fans who have trusted themselves to the tender mercies of my hands! Sometimes, when I have my hands around a fan's throat, I can feel their heart beating really fast. I used to think it was because they were especially excited to see me -- but now I think it's because they're absolutely terrified I'm going to kill them!!!!! But will I stop strangling, now that I have this new insight? Will I heck -- it's my job to scare!!!!!!! As far as I'm concerned, the more you guys tremble in your socks, the better a service I'm providing!!!!

The tour's been going splendidly. Had a very busy second day on Wednesday, a big school event and a very enjoyable evening event. I did my "Ballad of Darren Shan" at the public event -- the story of the first 3 books of The Saga set to rhyme. I used to do that a lot at events, but haven't performed it regularly for some years now. I really enjoyed going back to it, and the kids who volunteered to help me with it were all top-notch -- so I might roll it out a few more times over the coming weeks ...

Had a quieter day today. I went up to Swindon to sign hundreds of copies of Death's Shadow at the WHSmith head offices. They're going to be shipped all round the country to various WHSmith stores, so watch out for them if you fancy getting hold of a signed copy!! After that I went to do a public signing in North London, the first straightforward signing of the tour. While I have more fun at events where I give a talk, it's important to mix things up on tour, not least in order to make sure I don't lose my voice, so signings are good too! The best thing about a simple signing is that fans don't usually have to wait TOO long -- the events can stretch out over 2 or 3 hours in total.

Just got through doing the May issue of the Shanville Monthly. And now I'm off to grab an early night -- I foolishly stayed up late last night, to watch The Apprentice and check my emails, and I've been tired all day because of it!! It sometimes seems that no matter how old I get, I never learn -- in many ways I'm still just a great big kid who doesn't want to go to bed at a sensible time!!!!!!!

I'm back on the road again in the UK, and it was a very bright start. Did a couple of school events in London, both of which went very well, although my throat gave me a few problems when I did my Lord Loss voice -- I think I'm just a bit rusty, not having done it in a while!!! Later I did a public event in Bexleyheath, and there was a great turnout. It was in a library, where they could only seat 100 people -- but almost another 100 turned up and waited just to have their books signed!!! I was signing for two hours, an hour longer than scheduled, so I got home a lot later than planned, but I don't mind -- when I'm on tour, I'm always delighted when I get a good turnout, and I'll happily sign for as long as I can. That's worth bearing in mind if you're ever coming to any of my events -- they often run much longer than advertised, depending on the size of the crowd, so please be prepared to wait if necessary. Also, as I've said before, unless I have to rush to another event, I will sign as many books as you care to bring. The way it usually works is that I'll put a message in one, dedicating it to your name, then sign the rest. So don't be worried about bringing your whole collection along -- if you can bear the weight of so many books!!!!

I've met lots of great fans, even though I'm just on the first day of my tour -- I often say here that you guys are incredible, and although I know that sounds like corny baloney, it's true!!! You sometimes travel for hours, line up patiently, come to see me numerous times, buy lots of my books ... who could ask for more?!? But one fan has gone a bit further than most -- a lady called Laysha recently got a tattoo of the logo on my UK covers. She's not the first fan to get a Shan tattoo, but this one's extremely noticeable!! Please note, I'm not advocating the application of tattoos! I think a tattoo is something you should think about long and carefully, and probably shouldn't get too early in life. But if you're absolutely set on getting one, like Laysha was, then you might as well do it like she did -- with style!!! If you want to check it out, click on this link:  Laysha's Tattoo

Just got back a few hours ago from my shot visit to Hungary. I had a brilliant time there!!! I first went to Hungary 3 years ago, and was taken completely by surprise by the turnout of fans -- I was expecting, at best, a halfway decent crowd, and instead I got my biggest crowds ever!!!! I was worried that I'd be disappointed second time round, that the first visit was a freak and that interest in me would have dipped. My worries increased when I learnt that Saturday was a "swap" or "switch" day -- next Thursday is a bank holiday, and in Hungary, when that happens, they make everyone treat the Saturday before as a regular working day, so people with jobs go to work, and children go to school!!!! I felt disaster might be on the cards!!

But it wasn't!! I did my first event in a town called Kecskemet on Friday and signed without a pause for two and a half hours! I stayed in a lovely hotel, the Kempinski, and rose bright and early on Saturday. The day started with a Q&A session at the Book Festival. The room wasn't full when we started, which I took as a bad omen, but more fans came as the session progressed and we had a very good crowd by the end. I enjoyed the Q&A, especially when the fans started chipping in with their own questions. I moved straight from the event to the signing table, and didn't draw breath for the next two and a half hours, signing loads of books, scowling or smiling for loads of photos, answering questions whenever possible, and basically having a whale of a time!!

I had a brief break after the first session, and my bodyguards Csilla and Gabor treated me to a short car tour of Budapest. Then we went to a new, massive mall, where I did two signing sessions back-to-back in different stores. Between the pair, I was signing for almost five hours straight!! The only break I had was when I moved from one store to another -- trailed by a group of fans who had been waiting in line at the first store!!! I was very impressed with how smoothly and efficiently it all went -- it could have been a recipe for disaster in other hands, but everything proceeded without even a blip. At the end of the day I was very tired but very happy, and retired to my hotel to watch a film and chow down on some yummy room service!

I rose early again on Sunday morning and reported to the Book Festival for another signing session. Because I had more time today, I was able to take things at a more relaxed pace, and put messages in more than one book per person. As those who've been to my events in the past know, I'm always happy to sign for fans, and try to give as much value for money as I can. When pushed, I work swiftly and mechanically, but when time's on my side, I like to use it and give fans as much of it as I can -- I don't think "Yippee -- this is my chance to finish early!!" So I ended up signing for 3 hours, and after a nice lunch, I flew back to London, delighted with how everything went. I especially liked the fact that lots of fans came to more than one of my signing sessions -- you know you're doing something right when you get repeat customers!!!!!

Hungary is definitely high on my list of places I love to visit on a book tour, and hopefully I'll get to return again in the near future. I also hope to come on a holiday soon, or maybe combine work with pleasure -- I love what I've seen of the place, and would like to see more. But for the time being I'll gladly settle for having enjoyed another fabulous signing trip. Many thanks to everyone who turned up to make it such a great couple of days. Thanks also to everyone at Mora who worked so hard to make my job so easy. And extra special thanks to Csilla and Gabor -- bodyguards, guides and friends par excellence!!!!

I hope you like it as much as I do!!! It's one of the few Demonata titles that came to me quickly and easily, and while it might sound a bit pulpish and throwaway, I like that about it, and it suits the rough, grisly story of the book!! This title is like Ronseal -- it does exactly what it says on the tin!!!! Wolf Island hits stores in the UK and Ireland in October 2008, and the USA in April 2009. But first there's Book 7, Death's Shadow, to contend with. I know this is on sale in at least one Waterstones shop in the UK, because I got an email from a fan who had bought it today!!! Although the official release date isn't until May, I suspect it will turn up in a lot of stores from this weekend onwards -- so look out for it in your local!!! In the States, meanwhile, Demon Apocalypse hasn't started appearing as early as some of the other demon books, but I've heard from a few fans who've found copies, and Barnes & Noble are now selling it from their online store. Go hunt it down!!!!!

Flew over to London yesterday and went to see a revival of a play called Major Barbara. It was good, but the second half dragged -- it could maybe have done with a bit of tinkering, as it started to feel dated by the end, which was a shame. Today I did a recorded interview with a sci-fi festival, which I think is going to be put online soon -- I'll provide a link once it goes live. Did various bits and pieces over the rest of the day, visited some relatives, and now I'm heading out for a late dinner with Bas and a friend of hers. Tomorrow I rise early (6.30 -- shudder!!!) and head to Hungary for my whirlwind tour. I had an amazing time on my previous visit -- the biggest crowds that I've ever had at a signing!! So I'm really looking forward to this one!! I doubt if I'll get a chance to blog over the next few days, but I'm back on Sunday, so we can all catch up with each other then!