Daily -ist List: Monday

Darren Shan: Book signing and discussion

How better to wrap up the Easter weekend than with a little demons and vampires? Join author Darren Shan as he comes to talk about his series ("Cirque du Freak" and "The Demonata") and his new books coming out this spring.

Darren Shan's real name is Darren O'Shaughnessy. Although he is Irish, he was born in St. Thomas’ Hospital, London -- directly across the river from the Houses of Parliament in Westminster (which may explain his fascination with evil bloodsuckers ...).

Although Darren always wanted to be a writer, it was only in his teenage years that he began writing in his spare time, for fun. He bought his first typewriter when he was 14, and never looked back, knocking out loads of short stories and comic scripts, and making false starts on several books which he never completed.

In January 2000 his first children’s book – "Cirque Du Freak", which he'd written as a fun side-project – was published in between his two adult books. The first book in a series entitled "The Saga Of Darren Shan", (or "Cirque Du Freak", as it's known in America) it attracted rave reviews and much media attention — especially when the movie rights to the first two books were optioned by Warner Bros in a seven figure deal prior to publication. All of a sudden, his career was on the up -- but as a children's writer.

Over the next five years, Darren wrote a total of 12 books about vampires. He quickly followed his vampiric Saga up with "The Demonata", a series about demons, which will run to ten books in total.

He talks to fans tonight at the Blue Willow Bookshop about his upcoming spring releases.
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when: today, April 9th | 5pm
where: Blue Willow Bookshop | 14532 Memorial Drive Houston
cost: FREE!