Darren Shan

11-10-2005

Darren Shan staat bekend om zijn absurde boeken over vampiers en demonen. Zijn boeken zijn in meerdere landen vertaald en hij is hartstikke populair. Hij wilde wel wat vragen beantwoorden voor mediareviews.net

The ‘Darren Shan’ books are extremely popular. What do you think is the main reason for this?
I think the pace and readability of the books have a lot to do with their success. I like reading books which move fast and suck me in -- so those are the type of books I write. I also like books which are easy and fun to read -- I'm not easily impressed by writers who show off by using lots of big words!!! My books are by no means simple books -- there are lots of plot strands, dozens of characters, all manner of subtexts -- but they read simply, and I think readers like that in a book.

Your pseudonym is – as we all know – Darren Shan. That’s also the name of your character. Does this mean that you put a lot of yourself into the Darren Shan of the books?
The character of Darren IS based on myself, but he's also very different to me -- he's a lot braver and tougher!!! I put parts of myself into all of the leading characters in my books, so Darren shouldn't be seen as any more of a mask for me than, say, Grubbs Grady in "Lord Loss".

You finished the Darren Shan serie a while ago. What part do you like the most?
I get asked that a lot, but the honest answer is that I don't have a favourite! "The Saga of Darren Shan" was one big story line, and for me the individual books were simply chapters of the larger story.

Your characters get betrayed, are lonely and they are really hurted. Why did you choose to make their lives misareble?
I think stories work best when they mirror the real world and real life, even if they are fantasy stories. Readers want to be able to identify with characters in a book, and they can best do that if the characters are realistic. My books are highly fantastical, but the rules for the main characters are the same as the rules we all live by -- i.e. characters are not immortal or free of danger; people can die in my books, just as in real life; there isn't any certainty regarding who will live and die. I think this makes the books more interesting, since readers don't know who will survive. But it also makes them more emotionally involving, because readers know that these characters MIGHT die, that they won't necessarily be around in later books. This means they have to make the most of them while reading. They have to appreciate their favourite characters while they can, because they could be gone in the blink of an eye. I think this is an important part of story-telling for children and teenagers -- we have to help prepare them for life, and to deal with it when things go wrong. My books are, first and foremost, escapism -- but I try to layer them with life-lessons too.

Where does your love for vampires and spooky things come from?
I always loved them, even when I was a very young child. I loved the excitement of horror!!!!

Universal Pictures is going to make a movie of your book Cirque Du Freak. Some writers show up in their movies. Are you going to do the same thing?
I doubt it. I don't plan to be heavily involved in the movie. If they ask me to appear in a small cameo, it would be fun, but I think that's unlikely.

Do you find time to read books? And if so, what books are your favorites?
I don't read as much as I'd like to, but I do still read. I like Stephen King a lot. James Ellroy. Philip Pullman. J K Rowling. Lots of others!!

Even though you are a very busy man, you have an option on your website so that your fans could contact you. What was the best fanmail that you got?
I get loads of fan mail. I wouldn't like to pick any one piece out as being the "best". I'm always delighted when a fan takes the time to write to me. I used to reply to all the e-mails that I got. That isn't possible any more (and, anyway, I answer most of the questions on my site, if people look around for them), but I do still answer every letter that I receive. It's one of the more enjoyable parts of my job!!!

What was the most funniest rumour that you heard about yourself?
There have been persistent rumours that I am really J K Rowling!!!!!

What do you want to say to your Dutch fans?
I had a great time when I came to Rotterdam for an event early in 2004 -- loads of fans turned up and it was a hugely enjoyable day. I hope to be able to return very soon and to maybe do a few more events next time!!!!

Door: S. Peters


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