Dear Michelle:
Hello again! It’s such a pleasure to write you for the third time. It’s just that… I love your books. I’m in love with Torak, Renn and Wolf. They are all so special, and the way you describe them makes the reader connect so much with the story… as in my case!🥰 I don’t know if you noticed, but I think you just hypnotize people with your stories, and your way of narrating every single detail is unique. You should be proud of everything you’ve done!😍You deserve all this thanks, because you earned them!

The first time I wrote you I asked if it was possible to have a bookmark signed by you, and you said I could get a better one with pictures of the book's drawings. I made it! I made bookmarks with some drawings of the book's chapters, and it's really cool. I love my bookmarks! Sorry, I just wanted to tell you 🥰. You can see them on a picture that I uploaded (the title of the book is on Spanish on the bookmark).

Do you remember I told you that I was writing a story which was inspired on your books? I don't know if you still remember, but I just wanted to tell you that I've finished it! I've spent a whole year working on it, and that's why I'm so excited. I was wondering… could I publish it, even though I'm only 12 years old? I would appreciate your response, and some advices if possible. Thanks!!!😘
I hope you enjoy my message, and let the guard run with you!

Love,❤️
Zoe

Hola again, Zoe!  Thanks so much for the picture of your bookmark, it’s beautiful; you clearly have a flair for design.  And many congratulations on finishing your novel.  It’s especially good that you’ve taken a long time to write it, as that shows that you’ve really worked at it.  That’s a very considerable achievement for one as young as you are, and you should be very proud. You asked about trying to get it published, and I hope you won’t be too disappointed when I suggest that it wouldn’t be a good idea.  First, if it’s based on my books, it’s better not, as publishers don’t like that.  Secondly and more importantly, I fear that you would only get discouraged.  It is extremely hard for adults to get published, let alone children.  You have to send samples of your work off to publishers or agents, and wait ages, and then if you get a reply at all, it’s usual “no, we’re not interested”, which is not nice at all.  It took me many years of doing that before I got published (although I was a lawyer at the time, so I wasn’t trying all the time).  So I really wouldn’t advise it for you.  You would be helping your writing (and yourself) much more if you simply read lots of different books, which would show you how different authors tell stories; and enjoy whatever you write, without worrying about getting published.  Also, maybe get into the habit of silencing your phone while you’re writing.  The internet (social media especially) is the enemy of concentration!  Oh, and one final tip: do keep a copy of what you write. When I was learning to write, I wrote a story that I got really keen on, but nobody wanted to publish it (because it wasn’t very good).  Twenty years later, I found it in a cupboard, and it gave me the idea for Wolf Brother…  That’s all I’ve got time for, as I must go and do some writing. Thank you so much for getting in touch, Zoe, and I’d like to wish you all possible luck and enjoyment with your writing! May the guardian run with you.  Michelle