Posted by a frustrated American fan on Facebook… 😂😂😂😂😂 Hopefully I’ll get back to the States on tour one day. I was hoping my publishers would do a 25th anniversary edition of Cirque du Freak and ask me to pop over, but alas… 😭😭😭😭 #cirquedufreak #littlebrownchildrens

TOUR NEWS 2 On tour in OCTOBER in WATERSTONES: Thursday 1st – MANCHESTER ARNDALE at 1pm Friday 2nd – PRESTON at 4pm Saturday 3rd – HANLEY STOKE-ON-TRENT at 10am. SHEFFIELD MEADOWHALL at 2.30pm Sunday 4th – YORK at 10.30am. HULL at 2.30pm Monday 5th - NOTTINGHAM at 4pm

TOUR NEWS 1 I’m touring in AUGUST! Signing in WATERSTONES stores: Friday 28th - OXFORD at 4pm. Saturday 29th – PLYMOUTH at 10am. EXETER at 2pm. Sunday 30th – SWINDON at 10am. Then BATH at 2pm. Monday 31st – FINCHLEY ROAD (LONDON) at 1pm.

Mrs Shan and myself treated ourselves to Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner restaurant last night. Pricey but first class! I took photos of a few dishes, including its famous meat fruit (the one that looks like a mandarin orange) and a glass of yummy orange wine. @dinnerbyheston

These Mr Crepsley cosplay photos from a fan called EMMA are SHANtastic!! Let’s get a lovely big LIKE from everyone who agrees!!! 😀😀😀 #cirquedufreak #cosplay #mrcrepsley

I went to Thorpe Park with my son on Monday. I hadn’t been in 15 years. I loved the new rides, Swarm and Hyperia - it’s a true monster of a coaster! Look at the terror in my eyes! The last time I was that scared was when I faced off with Mr Tiny! 😜 #thorpepark #cirquedufreak

Had a lovely meeting with the Dreamology Pictures team last week. Ijaz and Max are working their socks off, pitching everywhere they can — if YOU know anyone looking to invest tens of millions of pounds into the greatest ever TV show, feel free to drop me a line!! 😜

Took the kids to see Minions And Monsters today. Lots of fun, but my fave bit was “cameos” from my three top silent movie stars — Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Well played, team Minions!!!! 👻👻👻👻 #minions #charliechaplin #HaroldLloyd #busterkeaton

Went to an Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London this morning. It was excellent, but I came away with very strong Lord Loss vibes!!! 😱😈😂 #AnishKapoor

This made me chuckle!! #hobbledownfarm

AI is trying to rewrite history!!!! 😱😱😱 And I think in this instance most of you are probably going to be on its side!!! 😂😂😂😂 #cirquedufreak

It’s another TATTOO TUESDAY!! This week’s stunner was shared with me by a fan called TRINITY. My “even in death…” quote, paired with a web-spinning Madam Octa. A potent and visually striking combination!!! ❤️❤️❤️ #cirquedufreak #tattoo #tattootuesday

Fan Art Friday! Featuring 4 drawings from the Saga Of Larten Crepsley. Larten and Mika, by EMILY. Larten and Vur Horston, by MAISEY. Larten and Paris Skyle, by NOEL. Larten and Wester, again, by NOEL. #cirquedufreak #MrCrepsley #lartencrepsley #books #fanart #FanArtFriday

The July issue of my monthly newsletter is online, and along with a roundup of all the latest news and updates, it sees me celebrating a pair of birthdays!! "A PAIR of birthdays?!?" you ask. To find out more, click here: darrenshan.com/shanville #cirquedufreak #booksbooksbooks #author #newsletter

It's another TATTOO TUESDAY! When I was in Budapest, a fan called SYDNEY asked me to write this on a sheet of paper, and she then had it tattooed on her thigh. I think I have terrible handwriting! But Sydney was delighted with it, and hey, the customer is always right!!! 😂😍

I came across this photo of a fan's collection of my books, beautifully displayed, and just had to share it. The fan, N S NEILL, a fellow author, posted this on Instagram, and you can find their page here: www.instagram.com/nsneill_auth... #cirquedufreak #bookshelfie #bookshelf

For several years, we've had caterpillars shipped to us. We move them to a netted zone when they turn into cocoons. Then, after they hatch, we release them into the wild. It's a lovely thing to do with your children if you have any - or by yourself if you don't! :-)

It's another Tattoo Tuesday!! This week we have DIEGO, who, like so many other Shansters, is hoping to be triumphant in death. Will his wish be granted??? Only DesTiny knows... 😜😂😱 #cirquedufreak #tattoo #tattootuesday

I signed for 8 hours in total yesterday. Already clocked 4 hours 45 minutes today. Budapest is a hotbed of Shsnsters!!! 😂 Here’s a short video I took when arriving this morning, showing the incredible view from my signing table. Back soon for the final session of the tour!

A busy morning signing at the Budapest Book Festival. Started before 10am, and signed without a break until 2.30pm. Having a rest in my hotel now, and treating myself to an ice cream chimney cake! Then doing it all again this evening, starting at 4pm. 👻👻👻👻

Do you like the t-shirt my Hungarian publisher made for me to wear to my signings at the Budapest Book Festival today?!? Mr Crepsley, of course, never learnt to read, so who wants to explain to him what VILF stands for?!? 😂😂😂 #cirquedufreak #budapest #bookfair

A short video highlighting the beautiful new Hungarian edition of Cirque Du Freak, and talking about my plans for the next few days here in Budapest. #cirquedufreak #CoverReveal #hungary

It's another Tattoo Tuesday! This week it's BRET, who opted for my favourite quote, paired with a neat illustration of Vampire Mountain. A beautiful piece of work -- it's just a shame those birds beneath the text weren't bats... 😂 #cirquedufreak #books #tattootuesday #tattoo

Is Cirque Du Freak really a book about online child predation at the turn of the century?!? One PhD student makes a pretty strong arugument that it might be... darrenshan.com/news/a-preda...

FAN ART FRIDAY! Starring Kurda Smahlt, the most intellectual and tragic of Vampire Princes. "Guilty" drawing by NOEL. LIV captures the moment before Kurda beat Arra Sails on the bars. Winking Kurda is by FROG. Younger, carefree Kurda, is by TAKIVAL. #cirquedufreak #fanart

Hi-def versions of CDF books 2 and 3 , which are being reissued in the UK with new covers on August 27. You can find the links for Amazon UK below, in case you want to pre-order them. Book 2: www.amazon.co.uk/Vampires-Ass... Book 3: www.amazon.co.uk/Tunnels-Bloo... #cirquedufreak #CoverReveal

I saw SINNERS at the cinema last year, and raved about it. I watched it again last night, and it definitely holds up. Along with Let The Right One In, I think it's the best vampire movie of the 21st century to date. If you haven't caught it yet, go track it down! @SinnersMovie

It's another TATTOO TUESDAY!! This week it's BETHIICA, who loves Cirque Du Freak so much, she had it tattooed across her chest! I guess that's the surest way there is of proving that a book is close to your heart... 😂😍 #cirquedufreak #tattoo #books #tattootuesday

The June issue of my monthly newsletter is now LIVE online! Upcoming signings in Hungary... new UK covers for two of my early books... an update on my next novel for adult readers... plus loads more! Read it here: darrenshan.com/shanville #cirquedufreak #books

A Shanster called LAUREN recently got a German Shepherd puppy and decided to name him... DERVISH!!! Isn't he adorable?!? I can't wait to see him with a mohawk when he hits his doggy version of the original Dervish's late-teens/early twenties!!! 😂😂😂 #demonata #dogphotos #doglover #dog #books