Nicola writes...

We ( my husband and I ) have been reading aloud together your book thin air
We are currently in Argentina on a holiday
We are staying in a town called bariloche and took the cable car up the mountain
We came across a sculpture
I have a photo of it
I could send it to you as it resonates with your book
Regards

Michelle Replies...

Dear Nicola, what a great idea to read a book aloud to each other; and in Argentina too!  I'd love to see the photo you've taken, which you feel resonates with the story, so feel free to post it in the same way that you sent this message, so that others can enjoy it too; but only if you wish, of course; if not, that's fine too.  Either way, I hope you continue to enjoy THIN AIR - and have a wonderful holiday!  With best wishes, Michelle

Danni writes...

Hello michelle. I just wanted to write to you and say I LOVE your chronicals of ancient darkness books. I first got introduced to them when I was in primary school, at around 11 years old. I would read your books all day, every day, my teachers had to tell me to stop multiple times throughout the day and sometimes I got so invested while walking home that I would walk past my stop and my family would have to shout for me. I have never finished the series, I have ADHD and struggle to concentrate and commit to things that take a long time but when I want to get into reading I always read your "wolf brother book" and my new years resolution this year is to finish all of them because I adore them so much, they were a massive part of my childhood.

Michelle Replies...

Dear Danni, thank you so much for your delightful message.  You paint such a vivid picture of how engrossed you used to get in my books at school: I love the idea of your teachers having to tell you to stop!  And I think it's terrific that even at that young age, you were able you were able to get immersed in them so deeply.  Lots of people who don't have ADHD lack that ability, so you are to be congratulated on developing what I regard as a highly useful life skill!  Thank you again for getting in touch, and I hope that you continue to enjoy my (and others') books - at your own pace, and as and when you feel like it. With very best wishes, Michelle

Stella writes...

Dear Michelle Pave

I know I've written to you twice before. The first time I asked you whether there would be a TV series or not. Second time I asked you who of all the villains you've created you thought was the most well written. I know you've said that Wolf is your favorite character and I understand you. He is mine as well. I love him so much. He's so brave and loyal. I am jealous of Torak for having pack-brother like that.

However I want to ask you the opposite question is there any character from Chronicles of Ancient Darkness who you hate or at least dislike? Personally I'm not too fond of Thiazzi and I guess due to his sadism, he's not meant to be liked. What about you?

Michelle Replies...

Hallo, Stella.  I'm really glad that Wolf is your favourite character - and like you, I also dislike Thiazzi; although as you say, I didn't create him to be likeable!  It might surprise you to learn that one character I particularly dislike is Durrain, the Red Deer Mage.  She's really quite passive, and yet her attitude to other clans is rather superior; for instance, when she tells Torak and Renn that "The Red Deer never fight". Of course, not fighting is on many occasions quite praiseworthy; but not always.  I mean, if Renn and Torak and all the others clans had taken that approach, then the Soul-Eaters would have walked all over them.  Of course, as with Thiazzi, Durrain's annoyingness was deliberate on my part.  I didn't intend people to love her; although at times she can also be quite admirable.  I enjoyed creating someone who is outwardly good, but really rather irritating at times - at least, to me!  With very best wishes, Michelle

Hélène writes...

Dear Michelle Paver,
While researching a possible film adaptation of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, I saw that you have published three more books. This is a great surprise and I might buy them even if I have to read them in English (I am a young French woman and I have known your series since I was about 10 years old, 14 years ago - how time flies!) Because of this new release, I was wondering if the first six books were recorded on an audiobook platform such as Audible, and this is where I saw that they were made in English with the great Sir Ian McKellen. So I was wondering if your series would be recorded in French. I would love to hear this story again in audio!
Wishing you a happy 2025 full of exciting projects.
Kind regards,
Hélène

Michelle Replies...

Hello, Helene, thanks for getting in touch; and it's lovely to know that you enjoyed the books so much as a child!  As regards the three sequels - Viper's Daughter, Skin Taker and Wolf Bane - I'm afraid that Hachette decided not to publish French translations of the books, and so there are no French audiobooks either.  That was their decision, and I naturally had no say in it, though of course I was disappointed.  However what I can tell you is that the great Sir Ian McKellen recorded audiobooks of all three sequels; and as with all his work, they are magnificent.  So if you'd like to catch up with Torak, Renn and Wolf, you'll need to either read or listen to them in English.  I'm sorry about that, but I hope you enjoy them; and from your message, your English certainly seems excellent!  With very best wishes, Michelle

Sarah writes...

Hi Michelle,

We are a Year 5 and 6 class from New Brancepeth Primary Academy in Durham. We have just finished reading Wolf Brother and we wanted to tell you how much we loved reading it! We especially loved hearing some of the story from Wolf's perspective as well as Torak's and the cliffhangers definitely left us on the edge of our seats.

We would love it if you could answer some of our questions:
- Who or what inspired you to write the story?
- Where did you get the idea from for the bear to be a demon?
- Do you have any pets?

We would love it if you had the chance to reply.
Many thanks,
Miss Hodgson and Year 5/6 at New Brancepeth Primary School

Michelle Replies...

Hello, Ms Hodgson and everyone in Year 5/6! I'm delighted that you've enjoyed Wolf Brother so much, and I'm very glad that you liked the passages from Wolf's point of view, as they were among my favourite parts to write.  As for your questions: 1) The idea for Wolf Brother came  to me in bits and pieces over many years.  I describe how this happened on my website, wolfbrother.com (you'll find it if you go into the cave section and click on "Why I Wrote Wolf Brother").  In brief, though, the main sources were my lifelong love of wolves (I wanted one as a child), and an extremely scary encounter with a large black bear and her cub which I had while I was hiking in the wilds of California.

(2) You know, I can't really recall why I made the bear demonic, but I'm sure it stemmed from how terrified I'd felt when I'd met that bear.  Also, the bear is the strongest creature in Torak's world, which makes it a really serious threat.  I should, though, point out that in fact the bear is not in itself a demon, it's only possessed by a demon.  And because of that, I even came to feel rather sorry for it; the bear, I mean, not the demon!

(3) Finally, it may surprise you to learn that I don't have any pets.  If I did have one, I'd love a dog, preferably a border collie or a German Shepherd - both of which are fairly similar to wolves in overall appearence and cleverness.  However as I'm very busy writing, as well as looking after an elderly relative, I don't have enough time to give a dog the attention and walks it would need, so I don't think it would be fair to keep one.  That might change in the future, though.  Who knows?

Thank you so much for asking such interesting questions, and if this reaches you before the end of term, I hope you all have a lovely, peaceful Christmas and New Year holiday.  May the guardian run with you!  With best wishes, Michelle