DARK MATTER
GRAHAM writes…
I've just reread Dark Matter and again was deeply impressed by how you create such an atmosphere of unease and dread in your story.
I view it as at the pinnacle of contemporary ghost stories and as good as any of the classic ghost/horror stories from my youth and the myriad
Pan & Puffin anthologies I read as a teenager and beyond. I even stopped reading it late at night and double checked the shutters in the bedroom before going to sleep and I'd already read the book.
Your writing has a wonderful filmic quality to it and as I was reading the story I was also seeing each scene as it unfolded even when I didn't
want to 'see' what was unfolding. Brilliant writing.
That said I am curious why Dark Matter has not become a film or mini series given how good it is. It is a masterpiece up there with the best of
M.R. James, Susan Hill and all the other great ghost and horror authors.
Would you like to see Dark Matter adapted for the screen?
Are there any plans to do so?
Have there been previous attempts to adapt it for the screen?
Or do you prefer to leave Dark Matter to the reader's imagination?
Dear Graham, thank you so much for your perceptive and appreciative comments; it means a lot that Dark Matter has found favour with a devotee of the ghost story such as yourself – and that it frightened you, too! To answer your questions, the book has been optioned for film a few times over the years, but so far nothing has got beyond the script stage. This isn’t unusual; in fact, it’s the fate of the vast majority of film projects. But in my experience that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I can recall at least one script of Dark Matter which filled me with horror – and not in a good way! It was a bit of a relief when the project fizzled out. You asked whether I would like to see the book adapted for film, and the answer is broadly yes – but ONLY if the film were true to the spirit of the story, rather than a slasher movie with too many jump scares. Finally, if and when an adapation looks like getting filmed, you may be sure that I’ll post the news on my website. Thanks again for getting in touch, and perhaps next year you might enjoy my latest ghost story, Rainforest, when it comes out in September. With very best wishes, Michelle
Upcoming Live Events With Michelle
Incredible… Inspiring… In Person!
Hay Festival Book Club – Dark Matter
Michelle in conversation with Danny Robins - this is a FREE online event!
Timeless titles to offer you a break from the day to day. Can't decide what to read next? Follow your curiosity and join Hay Festival on a journey to imagine the world anew through great literature. Unconstrained by genre or form these are our monthly picks of great books worth reading (or re-reading) right now.
Register to watch free online
Tuesday 14 October, 7–8pm BST
Wimbledon Book Festival
Michelle will discuss her incredible career, from finding inspiration for Wolf Brother on Wimbledon Common to her latest novel Rainforest, which weaves Mayan culture with themes of obsession, gender and rebirth.
The Witching Hour with Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Waterstones Canterbury
Join Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Sheperd-Robinson as they discuss their stories in a brand new collection of ghostly tales called The Witching Hour.
Yeovil Literary Festival
An experience like no other. From a writer like no other...
Successfully published as an adult author, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (“Wolf Brother”) were her first books for younger readers, followed by her brilliant 5-part series set in the bronze age, Gods and Warriors. On the adult side, her first ghost story, Dark Matter, was a UK bestseller and won massive praise from reviewers and readers alike, as did her second ghost story, Thin Air.
Toppings Bookshop, Ely
It’s nearly Halloween! Where better to get in the Gothic mood than with Michelle’s spine-chilling world of the supernatural? Come along if you’re in the Ely area (book your place first) and enjoy a thrilling evening of shadows!
Venue: St Peter's Church
Broad Street,
Ely
Cambridgeshire CB7 4BB
Doors Open 6.40pm Start Time 7pm
Shadows and Spirits: Writing the Unseen
Step into the shadows with three masters of modern Gothic and supernatural fiction - Michelle, Syd Moore and CJ Cooke - as they explore why dark stories continue to captivate us. From haunted coastlines to Arctic wastelands, and from age-old folklore to the secrets of the human psyche, these acclaimed authors weave tales that blur the boundaries between the real and the uncanny. In this compelling conversation, they’ll discuss the enduring appeal of the Gothic, the influence of myth and landscape, and why stories of ghosts, spirits, and things unseen still resonate in today’s world. Expect insights, chills, and a celebration of fiction that thrives in the shadows. Tickets are limited so get them while you can!
Goldsboro Books
23-27 Cecil Court
London WC2N 4EZ
Time: 6.30pm (doors from 6pm)
Women in Horror Weekend
Come and celebrate Women in Horror Weekend with Waterstones Nottingham! Including author talks from the some of the best women writers in horror, a classic film screening and spooky goody bags and workshops from Lush Nottingham! Michelle will be in conversation with Julia Armfield on Saturday from 5;15pm onwards... See you there!
Waterstones Nottingham
1/5 Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham NG1 2GR
Te. 0115 9470069
WINTER HAUNTS 2025
Online event! Ghost story, gothic and supernatural fiction day 10:30am - 6:30pm GMT... Michelle with Lucy Rose, Jess Kidd, Emilia Hart, CJ Cooke, Hollie Starling, Emma Glass. Connect with fellow fans of the strange, the eerie, and the otherworldly!
Oxford Literary Festival 2026
The Oxford Literary Festival takes place in venues across central Oxford, such as Blackwell's bookshop, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Weston Library, and Oxford colleges such as Christ Church and Worcester College. The festival includes international authors, journalists, intellectuals, historians, and poets.