Get killed by Darren Shan in his novel due in October 2008! Bid now for your character name.

Darren Shan is the author of 19 novels for children and teenagers, with the 20th, Death's Shadow, due for publication in May. His books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, and a movie of Cirque Du Freak is currently being filmed in New Orleans. His first novel for adults, Procession of the Dead, has just been published, under the name of D B Shan.

The winner can choose to be a character name in Darren's forthcoming book, The Demonata, in which the character will have several mentions and also enjoy a 'death scene'! Alternatively, Darren is working on a new adult book, Hell's Horizon where the winner could feature as an alternative.

Biography

Darren Shan’s real name is Darren O’Shaughnessy. Although he is Irish, he was born on the 2nd July, 1972, in St. Thomas’ Hospital, London — directly across the river from the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. He lived in SouthEast London, near the Elephant & Castle. At the age of six, he moved to Limerick in Ireland, with his parents and younger brother, and has lived there ever since.Darren went to primary school in Askeaton, where his mother was a teacher, then to secondary school in Copsewood College in Pallaskenry. Later, he went back to London to study Sociology and English at Roehampton College. He then worked for a cable TV company in Limerick for a couple of years, before setting up as a full-time writer. Darren’s initial breakthrough was with an adult book, under his real name of Darren O’Shaughnessy. Ayuamarca was published in February 1999. A sequel, Hell’s Horizon, followed in February 2000. In January 2000 his first children’s book, Cirque Du Freak 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.Over the next five years Darren wrote a total of 12 books about vampires. He quickly followed up his vampiric Saga with The Demonata, a series about demons. By the start of 2008, Darren’s books were on sale in every continent … in 35 countries … over 20 languages … had been children’s bestsellers in America, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and other countries … had topped the adult bestsellers charts in Hungary, Japan and Taiwan … and had sold in excess of 10 million copies!!!!Warner Bros never actually made a film, so the movie rights to The Saga returned to Darren. Then, in January 2005, following interest from a number of studios, he sold them to Universal Studios. Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential) wrote a script combining the first 3 books, which director Paul Weitz (American Pie and About A Boy) re-wrote. The movie is produced by Lauren Shuler Donner (responsible for the X-Men movies and a host of other blockbusters since the 1980s). Filming began in New Orleans in February 2008, and actors cast include John C Reilly, Salma Hayek, Josh Hutcherson, Michael Cerveris, Ken Watanabe and Chris J Kelly. The movie does not yet have a release date.Darren returned to the world of adult books in March 2008, with a re-written, revised edition of his first adult-orientated novel, now renamed Procession of the Dead and released under the name of D B Shan. The first book of a trilogy, the second, Hell’s Horizon, will be published in March 2009, and the third, City of the Snakes, in March 2010. Darren hopes to write more books for adults, as well as continuing with his books for younger readers.A big film buff, with a collection of thousands of movies at home, Darren also reads lots of comics and books, and likes to study and collect original artwork, especially comic art and impressionist and pst-impressionist art. Other interests include long walks, watching football (he’s a Tottenham Hotspur and Ireland fan), listening to pop and rock music, and worldwide travel.