All reading should be pleasurable! I don't like people who keep reeling out the 'books are so important' line. First and foremost, reading is about entertainment, the same as movies, video games and music. Darren Shan bookentertainmentforemost share on social
The only way to learn and hone your craft is by working hard and writing regularly. Darren Shan crafthardhone Change image and share on social
Anyone who has an imagination can write a book - it's cheap to do - but movies are big money. Darren Shan bigbookcheap Change image and share on social
I was lucky because my mum was a teacher and showed me how to read and write. But most importantly, she encouraged me to use my imagination. Darren Shan encourageimaginationimportantly Change image and share on social
I have music on when I write. I don't like the isolation otherwise and find the silence deadening. Darren Shan deadenfindisolation Change image and share on social
I'll never forget a meeting with one publisher where they said, 'We don't publish books for teenage boys; teenage boys don't read.' Darren Shan bookboyforget Change image and share on social
Every generation likes to think that children don't read as much as they used to when they were young! You listen to some adults saying they were going around reading 'Ulysses' when they were seven or eight! I think children are voracious readers if you give them the right books and if you make those books accessible to them. Darren Shan accessibleadultbook share on social
My books always focus on the response of the characters to extreme events. As dark as they get, they are ultimately positive, uplifting books about children who take control of their lives and overcome great adversaries. I think that is why they have been so popular. Darren Shan adversarybookcharacter share on social
One of the things I wanted to do with my own books was bridge the gap between 'Goosebumps' and adult horror. Darren Shan adultbookbridge Change image and share on social
The message of 'Zomb-B' is that you have to listen to your own heart and head and question everything. Question stereotypes and the way the world seems or is being presented. Some of the people we should be most concerned about, dangerous right-wing bigots, sound convincing and reasonable. Darren Shan bigotconcernconvince share on social