Ask Michelle Anything!
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
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?
Michelle Replies...
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
Thank you
Sofia writes...
Dear Michelle, I have been a fan of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness since I was a child (I even have a little shelf dedicated to it!) so you can imagine my excitement when three sequels were announced a few years back. I am now 28 years old and still as enchanted with your books as ever. The reason I’m writing to you is because I want to thank you for Dark’s story in particular. I always saw a bit of myself in him—timid but also curious, loyal, and deeply protective. In Wolfbane, I saw yet another vital piece of myself represented so beautifully. Thank you for showing that even thousands of years ago there were people like him, like me, like many of us, and that they were good and brave and loved. It means more than I could ever express.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Sofia, that is such a beautiful and heartfelt message. I'm absolutely delighted that you had such a strong and empathetic response to the stories, particularly to Dark. I'd had him in mind from the very beginning of the series, but as things turned out, he only found his place in Ghost Hunter - so there wasn't space to do as much with him as I'd wanted to. Getting the idea for the further three books gave me a chance to do his character justice. Your message, like many I've received, shows that it was worth the effort. (I might add that I also appreciate the graceful way in which you avoided spoilers!) Thank you for getting in touch. And may you share many more happy hours with Torak, Renn, Wolf and of course Dark, in the Forest. With very best wishes, Michelle
Any more horror on the way?
Simon writes...
Hi Michelle
I love Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhryst - 3 of my favourite horror novels. Are you planning any more novels in this genre?
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Simon. It's great to hear that you've enjoyed my three previous Gothic/ghost novels - and I'm happy to be able to tell you that the answer is yes, I've written another one! It's called RAINFOREST, and it'll be out in about September 2025. Over the next few months I should be able to share the design, once it's finalised. Thanks for getting in touch. With best wishes, Michelle
Gods and Warriors
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.
Michelle Replies...
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
Question
Jill writes...
I have read "Wakenhyrst", "Thin Air" and "Dark Matter". I love them. I have a question about "Dark Matter". The main character can't afford to take a bath. I am curious about this. Did that mean he did not have running water in his flat? Or was soap too expensive for him? Thanks for your time.
Michelle Replies...
I'm so glad you like the books, Jill. This is a great question. Jack only rents a room and it doesn't have running water, so to keep clean he has to go to a public bath-house, which he can only afford once a week. (In between he probably relies on a jug and basin in his room, if his landlady allows him to fill it in her kitchen.) Other tenants of furnished rooms at that time might have had landladies who did provided a communal bathroom for all their tenants, but in the interests of economy, landladies generally limited them to one or two baths per week, and often imposed rules, such as only two inches of water per bath. It makes one realise how lucky most of us are to have access to hot water, and increases our sympathy for those who still don't. Thanks for your question - and I hope you enjoy Rainforest when it comes out next year. With best wishes, Michelle
potential hope
Davo writes...
Is there a reason these aren't movies yet?
Michelle Replies...
Hi, Davo. In essence, it's because although I've done several film and/or tv deals for the series over the years, they haven't resulted in being made (which, as it happens, is the fate of the greater proportion of film deals). Although I'm no film-maker and the decision is of course up to the studio involved, I think it may have something to do with the fact that the films would be very expensive to make, given that everything happens outdoors; and of course Wolf would have to be computer-generated, as wolves can't be trained, and are therefore not good actors. So I'm afraid you'd better not hold your breath! With best wishes, Michelle
Wolf Brother Board Game
Andrea writes...
Hello Michelle, We are a group of Year 3 students at Wesley College in Melbourne. We love your Wolf Brother Series!!
As soon as Zoe picked up the first book she knew she was going to read the whole series!
We are in a small "Enrichment" group and we are making board games, a song and a Wolf Brother Club in the playground. Some of us are also writing the 10th book, we are calling it Viper's Fire!
We would love to email you some photos of our games when we have finished them. We hope that you will look at them.
We hope that you will continue writing more great books for us to read!!
Best Wishes from Australia!!
Christopher, Mia, Sebastian, Will and Zoe
(and Mrs Machin)
Michelle Replies...
Dear Mrs Machin - and Christopher, Mia, Sebastian, Will and Zoe: I'm truly delighted that you're all enjoying my Wolf Brother stories, and I think the activities you're doing sound marvellous! (You're very lucky to have such an imaginative and inspirational teacher as Mrs Machin.) I particularly like the sound of the Wolf Brother Club; and what a great title for the tenth book which some of you are writing. I would love to see photos of your games, as and when you've finished them; perhaps you could upload them to the Clans' Museum on my wolf brother website at https://wolfbrother.com/museum/. Thank so much for getting in touch - and may the Wolf Brother Club go from strength to strength! With very best wishes, Michelle
re-reading wolf brother
Cat writes...
Dear Michelle,
I read wolf brother for the first time as a 9 year old (quite feral) girl living in the Welsh countryside, playing with my dog, rabbits, voles, moles, robins, any British wildlife that would wander into our garden (and house!)
Wolf brother and the chronicles of ancient darkness shaped our play- we’d be running through the woods pretending to be Torak, Wolf and Renn. Daydreaming about talking to wolves. My father is the closest human I know to St Francis of Assisis (wild birds in hand, hanging out with foxes..) so we did the same.
Thank you for sharing your wolf brother world - I’m so happy your books exist, it’s hard to explain but reading the books and thinking about reading them as a child brings such a wonderful nostalgia (and “Hiraeth”- a Welsh word with the meaning ‘A blend of homesickness, nostalgia and longing; a pull on the heart that conveys a distinct feeling of missing something irretrievably lost.’)
I think I feel this way because your stories possibly ignite inherited genetic memory? (A theory….)
I’m now thirty, have had a painful three years leaving a difficult domestic situation and I look forward to re-reading your books in peace, to itch at the hiraeth feeling again,
Thank you!
Catherine x
Michelle Replies...
Dear Catherine, thank you for conjuring such an evocative picture of that feral girl in the Welsh countryside! And thank you too for introducing me to a new word. English is a rich language, but I don't think we have anything like "hiraeth". You explain it so well, and I feel the better for knowing it. I'm sorry that the past few years have been so difficult for you, but whatever the situation you found yourself in, I applaud the fact that you've had the strength to leave it behind. That must have taken courage. I hope that making the break brings you peace and a sense of well-being, and that at some time in the future, re-reading the stories can help with that. Thank you so much for getting in touch. With very best wishes, Michelle
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
Kathy writes...
I have just finished Wolfbane, book nine of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series. What a roller coaster of events and emotions throughout the whole nine books, which I have just about managed to survive. I think part of my enthralment of the books comes from the tribes belief that literally everything has a spirit, to be revered and respected. I like to believe this too. I also particularly loved the way everyday things were given such common-sense and descriptive names, like the sky being described as the Up and water described as the Wet. Having finished the books I shall miss my old friends whom I have grown to love and admire. Thank you for keeping me enthralled and I wish you much power to your imagination and future writing. Kind regards.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Kathy, That's such a beautiful message, and it made me chuckle too, when you mentioned just about managing to survive the books! At times during the writing, I've felt twinges of guilt about what I've put Torak, Renn and Wolf through during their adventures (not to mention Dark and Fin-Kedinn); so I can understand that you felt a bit wrung out by the time you'd finished Wolfbane. I'm also delighted that you like the spiritual aspects of the stories. As you'll have gathered from the Author's Notes, the clans' beliefs are based on those of more recent hunter-gatherers all over the world. During my researches I was struck again and again by their variety, wisdom and inventiveness. Thanks again for getting in touch - and may the guardian run with you! Michelle
Inspirational!
Charlie writes...
When I was around 10 or 11, my best friend introduced me to a book. It would go on to change the trajectory of my life - no exaggeration!
The book was, of course, Wolf Brother. Before long, our entire Primary 6/7 class was obsessed - one girl decided that she would marry Torak. By the time I went to secondary school, I had read the entire COAD series over the course of a year. By then it was just me and my best friend still on the hype train, but we didn't care!
I had long fallen head over heels in love with Michelle's writing style - the story grips you from the very first sentence - and, having been a lover of books and writing for years at that point, wondered about being an author myself some day. Of course I thought about other things too - hairdressing, primary teaching, singing - but it was always in the back of my mind.
One of the most memorable and special days in my entire time at secondary school was when Michelle came to visit in 2012. It was only supposed to be the S1 kids meeting her - and I was in S2 by that point - but the school librarian pulled some strings and I got to meet Michelle before the other kids even arrived (thanks Mrs Sinclair!). I still have the books she signed - in one of them, she wrote "Best of luck with your writing!"
Honestly - best day in the entirety of secondary school. Except of course, the day I left!
After I left, I struggled to find a job that brought me any kind of fulfilment, or at least, didn't affect my mental health too badly. It took eight years after leaving school, a serious re-evaluation of what I really wanted to do, for me to finally decide what I'd known all along - I wanted to be an author, just like Michelle. (I know, it's cheesy.)
So, here I am twelve years after meeting Michelle in person. In three days time, I go back to school - this time, to study Literature & Creative Writing BA(Hons).
In the hopes that Michelle does read this - I wanted to thank you, deeply, for the encouragement and inspiration you gave me all those years ago, both in person and through your books. I genuinely feel I wouldn't be in the position I am now if I hadn't read COAD as a kid (and I still love the books at 25). Your style of writing and vivid descriptions will continue to inspire me throughout my own journey as an author, and I can only hope I can write as beautifully as you do some day!
Thank you for everything,
Charlie
Michelle Replies...
Dear Charlie, What a marvellous message, thank you so much! It's wonderful to know that my books have had such a positive impact, and I'm really glad that my school visit all those years ago was part of that (school visits can be a bit of a whirl of activity, so it's always interesting to hear how it was perceived). It can certainly be a struggle to find a fulfilling job, and I applaud your decision to sign up for a Literature and Creative Writing degree. I really hope you enjoy it, and that it gives you what you're looking for. May your writing go from strength to strength! With very best wishes, Michelle