An Irish children's author doing very well these days is Darren O'Shaughnessy, whose vampire epics published under the name Darren Shan are worldwide hits. Eight million copies of his books have been sold and, as with Colfer and Artemis Fowl, Hollywood has come calling. O'Shaughnessy wrote two novels for adults, but his 2000 book for young adults "Cirque du Freak" made him famous. Born in London to Irish parents, O'Shaughnessy, 32, now lives in Limerick. With the vampire saga wrapped up, look out for the first book in O'Shaughnessy's new series "Lord Loss," part of a saga he is calling "The Demonata." ($15.99 / 240 pages / Little, Brown)