Reading (well, duh!!!), both books and comics. Watching movies -- it used to be an obsession, and at my peak I'd watch 2 or 3 movies every day of the year (and I do mean EVERY day!), but these times I usually only watch 1 a day. I like to travel, which is good, since my job involves a LOT of it!!! I've become very interested in art, especially impressionist and post-impressionist artists, and comic art, over the last several years, and have started to build my own rather modest (but exciting to me!) collection.
Music
WAY too many to mention!!! I'm not as into music as I was in my teen years, but I still listen to a lot of different material. My favourite way of getting into a band is to start with their first album and chronologically work my way up through their back catalogue. Yes, I know that's rather sad, but hey, it works for me!!! Some of my fave bands/singers include, in no particular order:
The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, David Bowie, Pixies, Fred, Nick Cave, Talking Heads, Bob Dylan, R.E.M., Half Man Half Biscuit, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, The Go-Betweens, The Hitchers, The Magic Numbers, Metallica, The Who, Tom Waits, The Smiths.
Hmm ... I actually managed to mention quite a few in the end, didn't I?!?
Movies
Now, this one is REALLY difficult!! As I said above, I'm a major film fan, and have seen literally thousands of films, from the age of the silents, through the "classic" era of the 1930s and 40s, the widescreen epics of the 50s, the experimental flicks of the 60s and 70s, then the "modern" (i.e. films I saw at the time of their release) films of the 80s and beyond. I used to grade and write a review of every film I watched (I have them all still on file, and might make them available one day). I stopped a few years ago because I just didn't have the time any more. But from those graded days, here are the ten films that came tops:
Sunrise -- a 1920s silent classic.
Destiny -- another silent masterpiece.
The Grapes of Wrath.
Casablanca.
The Seven Samurai.
The Seventh Seal.
Raging Bull.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
Once Upon A Time In America.
Pulp Fiction.
Some of my other faves, off the top of my head, include Being There (a brilliant Peter Sellers film), The Wizard Of Oz, Les Enfants Du Paradis, Santa Sangre, Bambi, Salem's Lot (the 1970s version -- flawed, I know, but it scared the living bejesus out of me when I was a kid!), It's A Wonderful Life, Sunset Boulevard, Aliens, Blue Velvet, The Masque Of The Read Death, The Good The Bad And The Ugly, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Raiders of the Lost Ark ...
Right, I'm going to stop there, or I'll be at this forever!!!
Television
Again, lots of different shows, but some of those which stand out in my memory include:
Hill Street Blues, Cheers, The Secret Garden, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Star Trek, Star Trek The Next Generation, Ray Bradbury Presents, The Sopranos, Frasier, Six Feet Under, MASH, Sapphire And Steel, The West Wing, Tales Of The Unexpected, Oz.
I was also into soaps in my younger years, and at various times loved the likes of Dallas, Dynasty, Home And Away, and Coronation Street (my favourite, and the one I watched the longest, up until 2001 or thereabouts). But no longer -- these days chez Shan is a soap-free zone!!!
Books
Probably the biggest minefield of the lot!!! Let's just limit it to a few fave books and authors:
Lord of the Rings, Jonathan Carroll, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, The Machine Gunners, Robert Cormier, Clive Barker, Dan Simmons, Huckleberry Finn, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, David Eddings, James Ellroy, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman and Dave Sim (primarily comic writers, I know, but great writers nonetheless). Current children's authors who I like to read include: Philip Pullman, Garth Nix, Anthony Horowitz, Eoin Colfer, Melvin Burgess, Margaret Mahy, Louis Sachar, J K Rowling.
Heroes
Alan Moore, for writing the greatest graphic novel ever (Watchmen).
Dave Sim, for spending more than a quarter of a centruy working on one single story and seeing it through to the end.
Stephen King, for lighting up my early teens with his amazing stories, and keeping up the pace ever since.
Darren Shan's Details
Status:
In a Relationship
Here for:
Friends
Orientation:
Straight
Body type:
5' 7" / Some extra baggage
Ethnicity:
White / Caucasian
Zodiac Sign:
Cancer
Smoke / Drink:
No / Yes
Children:
Undecided
Education:
College graduate
Occupation:
Writer
Darren Shan's Schools
Roehampton University
London, United Kingdom
Graduated: 1993
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Sociology
Minor: English
About me: I am the author of two series of books, "The Saga Of Darren Shan" (known in the States as "Cirque Du Freak"), and "The Demonata". For more information about them, as well as loads of facts about me, my touring schedule, how to send an email or letter to me, how to get an autograph, movie news, etc. please go to my official web site at www.darrenshan.com
"The Saga" was a 12 book series about a boy who becomes a vampire's assistant. It has been published in more than 35 countries around the world, and is available in dozens more. All 12 books have been released in the UK, America and several other countries. Some of the countries where the books have been bestsellers include: Hungary, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Taiwan, United Kingdom, USA.
The movie rights to "The Saga" were bought by Universal Studios. The producer was Lauren Shuler Donner (she made the "X-Men" movies). A script was written by Brian Helgeland ("L.A. Confidential", "Mystic River"), and then re-written by director Paul Weitz ("American Pie", "About a Boy"). It combined the first 3 books and was called "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant". Chris Massoglia played Darren Shan, Josh Hutcherson played Steve Leopard. John C Reilly played Mr Crepsley. Salma Hayek played Madame Truska (in a part expanded from the books). Willem Dafoe played Gavner Purl. Filming began in February 2008 in New Orleans, and wrapped in June 2008. The film was released in the USA and UK on October 23rd 2009. For release dates in other countries, check out the Shanville Monthly on my web site.
"The Demonata" was a 10 book series, in which three teenagers get caught up in a war between humanity and an army of foul, vicious demons from a parallel universe. "Hell's Heroes", the tenth and final book in the series, was released in the UK at the start of October 2009. It will go on sale in the USA in April/May 2010.
My next book is a one-off fantasy book called "The Thin Executioner". It will be released in the UK in May 2010, and in the USA in August 2010. I am then writing a four-book series about Mr Crepsley, exploring his early life before he met Darren Shan at the Cirque Du Freak. The first book will be released at the same time in the UK and USA, in October 2010.
For writing tips and advice, please scroll through the BLOG on this MySpace page -- there are lots of nuggets scattered throughout it! You can find out much more about the books, and about me, by visiting my officially, personally maintained and updated web site: www.darrenshan.com
Please note, although I do read every email that is sent to me, it is impossible for me to reply to all (or even most) of them. If you want a guaranteed reply, you will need to post a letter to me. You can find the address on my web site.
Who I'd like to meet: Stephen King. David Lynch. Mick Jagger. Ray Bradbury. David Bowie. Michael Stipe. Neil Gaiman. Dave McKean. Alan Moore. So many others ...
hello :) thx for the add... i just wanted to say, that i love your darren shan series. im reading it since im eleven (now im 20) and because im reading it in czech, the 12th bokk wasn't released yet. so i'm dying to read it finally :D i also think about reading demonicon, but i think i will do that in german (I live in Austria), cause i don't think they were released in czech... and you have a good taste in books and music well... you're doing a great job so far, so keep on rockin ^^ r.
Hi Darren, I watched the new movie recently which I enjoyed, But some of the changes I was not too keen on, I much preferred the original version in the books but in all it was a great film!! I am also looking forward to the new books, Especially the Mr. Crepsley series, More Darren Shan books to add to my collection, Great stuff!!
Hi, I hope everthing is ok, I hope you saw the rugby yesterday Ireland beat Fiji by 41 points to 6 and Spurs are doing well, I wish I could watch all of their games but I don't have Sky Sports otherwise I would watch every game without fail. I am the one in the red dress.
thank you for the add. Your books rock! I read the Cirque du freak and I am now reading Demonata book 9 I cant waite to get my hands on book 10. I love the way you put comedy in with the horror. BRAVO!!!
DARREN SHAN YOU ARE BY FAR MY FAVORiTE AUTHOR OF ALL TiME. THE WAY YOU WRiTE YOUR WORKS ARE JUST PHENOMiNAL!! i AM ALSO VERY EXCiTED TO HEAR THAT YOUR WRiTTiNG 4 BOOKS ON MR. CREPSLEYS PAST. HE WAS ONE OF MY FAV CHARACTERS iN THE CiRQUE DU FREAK SERiES, i CANT WAiT TO READ ABOUT HiS PAST!!! && HOW HiM && ARRA SAiLS WERE TOGETHER :). YOU ARE A GREAT SUCCESS AND HERO TO MANY YOUNG READERS OUT THERE. KEEP UP THE AMAZiNG WORK :). WiTH MUCH LOVE, SONiA.
DARREN SHAN YOU ARE BY FAR MY FABOEiTE AUTHOR OF ALL TiME. THE WAY YOU WRiTE YOUR WORKS ARE JUST PHENOMiNAL!! i AM ALSO VERY EXCiTED TO HEAR THAT YOUR WRiTTiNG 4 BOOKS ON MR. CREPSLEYS PAST. HE WAS ONE OF MY FAV CHARACTERS iN THE CiRQUE DU FREAK SERiES, i CANT WAiT TO READ ABOUT HiS PAST!!! && HOW HiM && ARRA SAiLS WERE TOGETHER :). YOU ARE A GREAT SUCCESS AND HERO TO MANY YOUNG READERS OUT THERE. KEEP UP THE AMAZiNG WORK :). WiTH MUCH LOVE, SONiA.
Thanks for reading this comment, and it would be amazing for you to comment back!
A friend of mine was at one of your book signings years ago you probably won't remember, (you took a photo with her in a headlock, it's on Facebook and she tagged me as you, it was an honour.)
I'm slightly obsessed with your books, (and strangely obsessed with Vancha.) :)
I am now trying to get hold of the Demonata books. I am looking forward to your two up coming books. Especially the Mr Crepsley one, before he met Darren.
I am beginning to talk like him.
(I cried when you killed him, pure evil to be quite honest.)
Please write back, I would love to know if you are any where near Huddersfield.
Woah, just realised how long this was, I love you. :)
^_^ i'm a huge fan of your work Darren :D im currently reading the Demonata series the Cirque Du Freak series was great btw :D i couldnt put the books down not even in class. i await to see the movie :o i hope its just as good as the books
Lol ;] I'd have to disagree I think I'm your biggest fan :] haha I've read every book except the adult ones you wrote.. I can't seem to find them D;; anywhere. I've seen the movie atleast 6 times already even if it's off by a lot.. and makes me yell at it :oo I draw the characters ;] And I just entered the contest. And I super duper hope I win :DDD LUCK MISTER SHAN! <33
I'd like to say I'm like your biggest fan I wish I could meet you in a book signing but I live in R.I.I love all your books,I wish you luck with your new books epicially 'MR. CREPSLEY THE EARLY YEARS',your books are my favorite and pretty much my reading log has every book you made (: . I tryed reading other books since I'm still waiting for the arrival of Hell's Hereos here in the U.S, but your books are the only ones I interested on. Have a good life and enjoy it (:
Heyyy. jus wanted 2 say tht the cirque books were great; the movie.... no comment. lol well anywayz i was told not 2 watch the movie bcuz it would be another disapointment like twilight and unfortunately it was but tht duznt matter cuz cirque du freak kicks twilights ass. lol. Im w8in 4 more Demonata books. they are more addicting than Cirque. keep up the great work.... (in this case im not talking about the movie)
hi there mr. shan!! thanks for the add, and congrats on the film! i have read all twelve of the darren shan saga and they were oh so addictive. especially book 7. i admire your work, and i'm hoping to hear from you sometimes. oh, and by the way i've have been working on a new story myself, and i was hoping of getting special advice from a pro!! :D
hello mr shan im a huge fan of yours ever since you came to elgin a few years ago to talk to greenwards primary pupils in the libary.... i cannot wait for any new book but they are all good. id say the best was the cirque du freak saga books they were amazin and i just love mr crepsley ha ....... i cant wait to c the new movie either lol the vampires assistant it looks well good. well write back if you can cheers Nikki Oag x
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