Jacob writes…

Dear Michelle,
Thank you for you kind reply to my wolf brother questions!
I finished the gods and warriors series recently and I cant believe I’m saying this but i think I prefer that series, and I can’t believe that it hasn’t got as much attention! It is such a compelling series, like wolf brother.
I have a question or two:
1. Do you plan on writing any more series set in other times – I will sure be there to read them
2. How do you come up with the plots and ideas and of what happens? I really love when you add a small detail that foreshadows an event that happens later in book. Your character writing is so good that it makes the reader want to be part of the world.
3. Thank you for writing these books, I now take much more interest in animals and the wild Forrests. Because of both the series, I now want to immerse myself in the natural world away from technology, like I’m sure you did when you were researching your book.
Once again,
Thank you very much.

Dear Jacob, I’m so pleased that you liked Gods and Warriors!  And I’m even more delighted that my stories have increased your interest in animals and the wild.  Immersing yourself in the natural world – even if it’s just a short walk in a park – will also do wonders for how you feel, and it’s generally much better for you than technology.

But enough preaching, you asked a couple of questions.  1) I’m afraid I’ve no plans to write another series, as I’m very much enjoying writing adult Gothic novels; of course that may change at some stage in the future, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.  2) I get a lot of ideas for the stories from my research, particularly when I travel to remote places.  Also, I’m the sort of writer who likes to have a rough plan of what’s going to happen in the story, so I spend weeks and months working that out, and getting to know my characters in depth, which is crucial.  Having a rough plan means that I can plant things early on which I know will be important later; I call this “seeding”.  An example is Fa’s knife, which we first encounter in Chapter One of Wolf Brother, although its true significance is only revealed in the fourth Book, Outcast.  I should add, though, that my plan is only a plan, it’s not a blue-print; and I’m always having to change it, often because a character does something unexpected.  An example of this is in Spirit Walker, when I’d planned for Renn to stay with the Raven Clan while Torak is off in the Seal Islands.  When I came to write the story, however, I soon realised that Renn wasn’t having any of that, she was determined to go and find Torak.  This meant re-doing my plan (thanks, Renn) – but I didn’t mind.  It’s what makes writing fun.  Of course all this plan-making takes ages, but I really enjoy it – mostly because it’s a lot easier than actually writing the story!   Thanks for getting in touch, Jacob.  And may the guardian run with you!  With very best wishes, Michelle