When I was in Hungary recently, doing a Q&A session, a fan raised his hand and said rabbits hadn't been introduced to the UK and Ireland until the 12th century by Normans, so how could I explain their presence in Bec, which was set in 6th century Ireland?!? I said I'd investigate, and I have, and to my chagrin he was right -- curse his historically accurate eyes!!!! It's not a biggie in terms of the story (and none of our own fine British and Irish scholars have noted it since the book came out a year and a half ago!), but I do always like to get my facts straight (except when it suits the story better -- e.g. in Cirque Du Freak I describe Madam Octa as breathing in and out; in fact, spiders don't do that, but it was a nice creepy image, so I left it in!!), so I've instructed my editor to slightly alter the book the next time it's reprinted, to remove all references to rabbits!!!! My own fault for not double-checking my research, I know, but I just assumed the little blighters had always been hopping around the place!!!! But, as Bas always says, "To assume makes an ASS of U and ME!!!!!" This reminds me of why I prefer not to set my stories in a specific time or place -- if you keep things vague, facts can't come back to bite you on the ass!!!!

It's been a week for chart extravaganzas in Shan country!!! First, I was delighted to learn that Death's Shadow had held onto the 1 position in the UK in its second week of release -- in fact, it sold even more strongly, and out-sold the second placed book by more than 40%!!! Then, tonight, I was thrilled to find out that The Demonata has entered the New York Times Top 10 Children's Series Best Sellers chart at Number 9!!! Although my Cirque Du Freak series charted regularly in the NYT list, this is the first time The Demonata has made the chart, with the release there of Demon Apocalypse, book 6 of the series. Making the NYT chart is incredibly difficult, especially the series chart, as series tend to stay in the chart much longer than one-off books on the other chart -- of the top 10 best sellers this week, only two other series have spent less than 14 weeks on the chart! It's like an exclusive club that's almost impossible to break into -- but The Demonata has done it!!!! Many thanks to all my American fans for their continued support, and for helping to turn some of their friends onto the demonic delights of the series too!! I was already looking forward to my October tour of the States, but now doubly so -- there's nothing like a little taste of success to spur me on!!!!!!!

I spent a peaceful couple of days in the Norfolk countryside recently when Bas and I went to stay with her Aunt Mary, a Carmelite nun who has lived in an enclosed order for almost 50 years. We had lengthy, enjoyable chats with Mary and a few of the other nuns, and went for nice long walks in the countryside when we weren't with her -- the weather was glorious, rabbits were bouncing about everywhere, we also saw pheasants, herons, and even a small deer. It was the perfect relaxation tonic after my busy tour!!

Got back home last night and watched the latest episode of The Apprentice -- cracking good entertainment, as always. Today I caught up on all my post, and got my office in order (well, some of it!!). Went for a walk down by the river in the afternoon -- it's nice to be back -- and then watched Raiders of the Lost Ark. I hadn't seen it in a LONG time, and was pleased to note that it's just as pacy and effective as ever. I used to watch it over and over as a kid -- I taped it off the TV one day, and although the quality was patchy, and I had to rewind to watch the last several minutes (having run out of tape near the end of the movie!), I still loved it. It stands out in my memories as one of the seminal films of my childooh and early teens, and unlike some other films and books from that time which suffer when viewed twenty years on, Indy Mk I looks like it's always going to be high up on my favourite movies list. I like the fact that we change in life, that our tastes change, that we discard old favourites and find new ways to interest ourselves as we progress and become new people -- that's what life should be all about, experiencing different facets of the world. But it's comforting to have a few old loves that you can still cherish no matter how much time passes, no matter how much you change.

Right, I'm off to celebrating being a hit on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time!! Shall I celebrate by quaffing champagne or going out and dancing the night away? Hell no -- I'm going to celebrate in an even better way than that, with some of the people who helped put me there -- I'm going to answer some fan mail!!!!!

Had lots of fun at the Derren Brown show on Saturday night -- he's a really good performer, much more personable in the flesh than on TV, and some of his tricks are jaw-droppingly amazing! Then went to footie on Sunday -- it was the last game of the season, and Spurs were playing Liverpool. Normally that would be a big match, but the result didn't really mean much to either team, so the atmosphere was much more muted than I expected. We lost 2-0, but nobody was really that bothered, and almost everyone stayed to cheer the team as they did a lap of honour after the game. Later, back in the pub, I had an interesting debate with a couple of my friends. They contended that we had enjoyed a "great" season, while I was far less happy with it. Their argument rested on the fact that we'd had a few incredible results -- we drew a match 4-4 with Aston Villa after being 4-1 down; beat our time-honoured enemies Arsenal 5-1 in a cup semi-final; then beat one of our other big foes, Chelsea, 2-1 in the final; had a good UEFA Cup run; and drew 4-4 with Chelsea in the league, in one of the most exciting games of the entire season. I couldn't argue that they weren't great moments, some of the best I've ever experienced at the club -- but I did argue that moments of greatness didn't make it a "great" season. I wanted consistency, a high finish in the league, evidence that we have what it takes to challenge for honours again next year. As far as they were concerned, none of that mattered -- the glorious moments are what we remember in life, and therefore all that count at the end of the day.

It was an interesting argument, and one I'm still thinking about. I certainly see their point, and in some ways I agree with it, but on the other hand ... well, which would you rather? A novelist who writes one great book, and then a load of very average, forgettable books? Or one who maybe never hits the very top, but who always puts out a book that you can enjoy? A few days of amazing captivity in that author's world -- or year of milder enjoyment? Of course, ideally we all want both, and in certain areas we get what we want (Manchester United fans have had both over the last 15 or 16 years; Stephen King fans have had both over the last 30-plus years; Martin Scorses fans have had both; U2 fans have had both). But if you HAD to choose, which does it for you? What is YOUR definition of "greatness"???

Drank a bit more than I should have after the match, so I was fairly subdued for much of Monday!! Finally recovered in the afternoon, and Bas and I went for a lovely walk in St James' Park, where we also had dinner at the Inn The Park restaurant. After that we went to see Never So Good at the National Theatre, a play about an old UK Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. The cast was strong (Jeremy Irons was the lead, and he was excellent), and it was an ineresting look at how Britain changed over the course of the 20th century, but it wasn't a spectacular play in any aspect. A good night at the theatre, but not a memorable one. Now we're off to visit Bas's aunt, a Carmelite nun, for a couple of peaceful days. I'll check back with you all a bit later in the week.

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!!!!!!!