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Darren Shan

Darren O’Shaughnessy was born on 2 July 1972 in London. After starting school at the age of three, he moved to Limerick with his parents and younger brother. He went back to London to study Sociology/English at college. Darren worked for a cable television company for 2 years before setting up as a full time writer. He had his first taste of literary success aged 15 when he was runner-up in a television script- writing competition with a comedy script titled, ‘Day in the Morgue’. Darren completed his first book aged 17.

A big film buff, he also reads lots of adult- orientated indy comics. Other interests include long walks, outdoor swimming, watching and discussing football, scuba-diving . . . and dreaming up new ways to terrify his readers!

Cirque Du Freak is Darren first children’s book. It is about something out of the ordinary, but set against the background of children’s normal lives to chilling effect. J.K Rowling describes it as, ‘A compelling book . . . a plot full of twists which leaves the reader hungry for more.’ The TES describe the book as, ‘a compelling page-turner.’

When interviewed in T2, Darren comments, ‘It’s not a book that sets out to be frightening for the sake of it. Dark things happen, but they happen for a reason, and there are definitely repercussions.’

The sixth book in The Saga of Darren Shan, The Vampire Prince is published in February 2002.