Ask Michelle Anything!
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
Daughters of Eden trilogy
Susan writes...
I have just re-read The Shadow Catcher and it has made me want to read the rest of the trilogy, but don’t even know the titles, which weren’t available when I bought The Shadow Catcher.
Perhaps they are out of print? You have obviously written many books since 2002!
Best wishes,
Susan Carson-Rowland
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Susan. I'm glad that you enjoyed the Shadow Catcher. The other books in the trilogy are Fever Hill and The Serpent's Tooth. I'm afraid you're right, they are currently out of print - although you might be able to pick up secondhand copies online, eg from abe.co.uk - but my publishers may reissue them as e-books some time next year. Anyway, I hope you manage to get your paws on copies somehow, and thanks for getting in touch! Best wishes, Michelle
An update on Torak the dog and his human
Sasha writes...
Dear Michelle,
I wrote to you last year about adopting a dog and naming him Torak. I've come back to report that Torak is doing amazing in his new home!
He's learned a ton of stuff, from boring old house rules (such as don't steal my slippers to get attention) to tricks. Most importantly that the best time to get loved on is when I bend over to tie my shoes, and that the couch is the best place in the entire house to sleep on, of course.
Meanwhile, I've learned that I'll need to get a couch with at least three seats for my new apartment because I would also like to sit comfortably while Torak snores as loudly as a bear. I'll also need a good bookcase since I've completed my Chronicles of Ancient Darkness collection! I'm looking forward to reading them all and will probably drop back in once I do.
I've also attached a picture I took on the only morning we had snow. As you can see, Torak loved it. 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful day, and may the guardian run with you!
All the best,
Sasha
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Sasha - and Torak! Thanks so much for this. Torak looks gorgeous (not to mention very clever, as befits his wolf ancestry) - and you're clearly doing a great job of raising him. May the guardian run with you both! With best wishes, Michelle
Seals in Dark Matter: some thoughts
P writes...
Possible spoiler, sorry, but am so curious.
I couldn't help noticing the repeated reference to a small "wet dark round head" throughout the story. I also think that Algy's mistreatment of the seals is no coincidence. I think the explanation coming from the various minor characters is a red herring. I love Scottish sea legends, shared among Faroese and Icelandic cultures. Perhaps you might "seal" what I am referring to...? Or even "kelpie" me to understand?
Michelle Replies...
Thank you for this. I share your love of sea legends with Scandinavian roots, and I can see how your suspicions have arisen. However, as regards settling things for you one way or the other, I'm afraid I'm not going to do that. You see, I think it's important when one's writing a supernatural story to keep things ambiguous: to leave room for individual readers' interpretations; and over the years since I wrote Dark Matter, I have come to learn that these can vary hugely. In short, there is no right or wrong interpretation. There is only your own interpretation; that's what counts. I hope you won't find that too annoying vague, and I'm sorry that I can't be more definite. But thank you for raising such an interesting point. With best wishes, Michelle. P.S. No worries about spoilers; I took the liberty of slightly editing your message by deleting a couple before I posted it.
Forgot to mention in previous message on Dark Matter
Mona writes...
That things are dark in the U.S. right now, very frightening, and it often feels like the news here is just more horrible and more horrible, and your bleak and haunting tale made me feel much better! I guess it was the escapism I needed. Thank you so much.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Mona, thank you for this. I find it fascinating that sometimes a bleak and haunting story can be just what one needs when the real news is bad. We've always needed stories to escape into, and to help us make sense of things; and we always will. Your capacity for feeling strongly about a book does you proud. Dark times pass. Stay steady. With best wishes, Michelle
Dark matter
Mona writes...
I just finished dark matter and I loved it so much. The setting and characters were so vivid, I felt like I was there. I was trying to imagine a book that would suit me more in setting, atmosphere, characters, or story and I cannot. I cried at the end and thought the love story was beautiful. Off to read your other ghost stories! Please keep writing them. Dark matter is now my favorite book!
Michelle Replies...
Dear Mona, what a lovely message to wake up to. I'm delighted that you enjoyed Dark Matter so much. I'm also quite pleased that it made you cry (and I mean that in the nicest possible way), because I try to evoke strong emotions in my readers, and it's always good to know when I've succeeded. I should add that I cried a few times too, when I was writing it!
I am indeed writing more ghost stories. I find them fiendishly difficult to write, but I love them all the same. My next one, Rainforest, is published in the UK in October. Thanks again for getting in touch - and I do hope that you enjoy Thin Air and Wakenhyrst, as and when you can get your hands on them. With very best wishes, Michelle
Dark Matter – photos from when you were writing it
Victor writes...
Dear Michelle. I have just started Dark Matter. Very enjoyable so far and looking forward to completing. I do not often read fiction. When you travelled around the setting of the book. I assume that you took lots of pictures. Have you thought about showing some of the pictures on your website? Thanks Vic
Michelle Replies...
Dear Victor, I'm so glad that you're enjoying Dark Matter; and you raise an interesting question. As you'll know from the Author's Note, I went to Spitsbergen (ie Svalbard) twice: once in the summer, before I had the idea for the story, and again in winter, when I'd finished the first draft and was deep in the writing. I took a few pictures on the summer trip, but none on the winter one, as it was mostly dark. However my pictures were rather dull (that's why I've never posted them on the website), and I didn't use them when I was writing. I generally don't, as I've found that pictures don't help me. So even if I do take a few snaps on my research trips (at the request of my agent, for publicity!), I don't use them when I'm working up or writing a story. What I do use are the notes I scribble down while I'm out "in the field", about topography, smells, sounds, feelings, impressions; a character's emotions; ideas for episodes or incidents. My winter trip to Spitsbergen gave me a wealth of insights into how Jack's feelings and reactions. For instance, on a solitary walk on the outskirts of Longyearbyen in the winter, I was powerfully struck by how often I checked the sky to see whether clouds were covering the moon: not surprisingly, as it was my one source of light, and my protection from the dark. And the sound of my snowshoes created an odd echo on the crunchy snowcrust, as if someone were walking behind me. Both found their way into the story. And it's why I rely on notes rather than photos! Thanks for getting in touch, and I do hope that you enjoy the rest of the book. With best wishes, Michele
Autograph – can you sign and send one out?
David writes...
Good morning, I have read all your books. I would love to have your autograph on a sticker to send to Italy. If you can of course. Thanks
Michelle Replies...
Hello, David. I'm really pleased that you've read and enjoyed my books! However I'm afraid that I can't sign a sticker and send it to Italy, because if I did it for you, I'd have to do it for everyone who asked - and this would be impractical, as I'd be sending stuff all over the world. I'm sure you'll understand. Sorry to disappoint - but I hope you continue to enjoy my stories. And thanks so much for getting in touch! With very best wishes, Michelle
Advice on writing and getting published
Daniel writes...
Hi Michelle,
I wrote to you a few days ago saying how much I love your books, and asking for advice about my own writing and getting published. I'd really appreciate a response, whatever it may be. I really love your books.
Thanks a lot.
Cheers,
Daniel.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Daniel, I've paraphrased your message as my original response didn't get through. I'm delighted that you like the Wolf Brother books so much, and I want to congratulate you on having had the commitment and determination to finish your own book (which is no small feat at the age of eighteen). I know from your previous message that you've put a lot of thought into your "logbook", ie your notes about writing the story, and I think the most useful bit is the section in which you describe each of your main characters. Character is the foundation of plot, so it's well worth spending time getting to know yours; although of course your characters will often change during the writing of the story. That's one of the fascinating things about the process.
You asked if you could send me a copy of your book so that I could comment on it, and I'm afraid that's not possible. You see, I have ongoing family commitments which take up so much of my time that I'm struggling to find the time to write my own stories. I do hope you'll understand. (And to others reading this, please don't attach your work to any messages, as due to pressure of time, I can't read or comment on them!)
With that out of the way, Daniel, I'd be happy to give you some advice about getting published. The first and most important thing is to make sure that your story is absolutely the best it can possibly be, before you submit it to an agent or a publisher. Put it away for a few weeks or months, then come back to it - and I guarantee you will see things that need improving. Secondly, I'd suggest that you try to get an agent first, as they will know which publishers to approach with your work. (Although be warned, getting an agent is just as hard as finding someone to publish, so what I'm suggesting is not the easy way out!) It's years since I had to do this myself, so my advice doesn't take account of the digital world; but you'll find very useful lists of agents and publishers in The Writer's & Artist's Yearbook or The Writer's Handbook. I used hard copies of both, but doubtless digital versions are now available. And these directories are important, as they tell you the types of work which specific agents or publishers will accept. Also, and this is crucial, they tell you how they like to receive submissions. For instance, some just want a covering letter and the first chapter; others might just want a synopsis; and if you disregard what they want, your work will probably go straight in the bin! Be prepared for rejection, too. It's part of an author's life. When I was starting out, I got loads of rejection letters. You just have to find a way to pick yourself up off the floor after each one, and carry one.
Also - and you may not want to hear this - I would caution you against submitting your work too soon. I'm guessing that at your age you have quite a lot on your plate, what with exams and so on, so it might be worth holding off for a bit. Writing should be fun. Try different things, experiment; read lots of different authors. That's how you learn.
Finally, in your original message you mentioned using Chat GPT and other AI tools for "checking the viability" of your ideas, and helping you write. After trying them, you wisely decided not to use them except for stuff like checking spelling, and to trust your own creativity. I applaud this wholeheartedly. Stories come from deep in one's unconscious. That's why themes and ideas often surface in the writing which can surprise you; and what you thought was a minor character sometimes turns out to be much more interesting than your lead. If that happens, pay attention to it; give it some thought. Because despite all the planning and character notes and so on - which of course have their uses - writing is a messy, chaotic, creative process. Far better to use what's in your own brain, rather than a computer's algorithms.
That's all I've got time for, I'm afraid. I hope you find the above helpful, and that whatever you decide to do with your own work, you continue to enjoy writing. With best wishes, Michelle
New ghosts – that is, Michelle’s upcoming new ghost story
Richard writes...
Recently re read Thin Ice and Dark Matter. Both fantastic and should be regarded as modern classics of the genre. Anyhow I googled to see if anything new was on the way and behold Rainforest. More than happy, cannot wait to dive in.
Michelle Replies...
Ah, Richard, I'm so happy that you enjoyed re-reading Thin Air and Dark Matter - and that the prospect of Rainforest has given you a little lift! I'm really pleased with the book, and it was a fascinating challenge to set a ghost story in the jungle. Thanks for the picture, too! With very best wishes, Michelle
questions about your Wolf Brother books and how i love them
Violet writes...
I absolutely love the series Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. I have just finished reading the last one Wolf Bane. I’ve been reading them ever since a month before the summer holidays in 2024. For World Book Day [6th of March or the day I sent you this message] I went as Renn. And I wonder will there be any more books? And in the books they never say years or months but they do say summers and moons so I was wondering if summers are equivalent to years and moons are equivalent to months? At first when I started reading Wolf Brother I didn’t really liked it but then the more I read the book the more I liked it! The Wolf Brother series Is definitely my favourite of all time but now that I’ve finished them I don’t know what to read so I was also wondering if you had any suggestions on what to read next?
From one of the biggest lovers of the Wolf Brother series
[by the way I’m using my dad's email address]
Michelle Replies...
Dear Violet, I'm delighted that you've been enjoying the Wolf Brother books so much - and thank you for sending the picture of you as Renn on World Book Day. I think your expression has a look of Renn about it: very determined! You're quite right that when people in Torak's world say "summer" (or indeed "winter"), they mean a year; and that "moons" correspond, roughly, to our months - although in Torak's world there are actually thirteen "moons", to correspond with the lunar cycle. I'm afraid that Wolfbane is indeed the last in the series, and I've no plans to write another. You see, I think that with that ninth book I've given Torak, Renn and Wolf quite a good send-off; and it's now up to them to go forward in life. Also, I didn't want to have the series fizzle out, as series can tend to do if they're continued on beyond their natural ending. As for what you might read next, well, a few years ago I wrote a five-book series set in the Bronze Age (that is, a bit later than Torak's time, but still in the very distant past). It's called Gods and Warriors and it's published by Puffin Books. It has lots of animals and adventure in it, so you might enjoy those stories too. And of course if you're still missing the world of Wolf Brother, you could always re-read some of the books; that will get you back in the Forest, with Torak, Renn and Wolf. Whatever you decide to do, thank you so much for getting in touch - and may the guardian run with you! With best wishes, Michelle