Ask Michelle Anything!
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
2 questions about Eostra!
Seren / writes...
Dear Michelle,
Since Eostra is my favourite Soul-Eater, I thought I'd ask 2 questions about her! I hope these aren't spoiler-y questions since I can't put spoilers here.
1. Is the ash-haired woman in Oath Breaker Eostra?
2. What does Eostra look like under her mask?
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Seren. I'm glad your favourite Soul-Eater is Eostra, because I really enjoyed writing about her. (And don't worry, your questions aren't spoilers; but thanks for being mindful of that.) It's an interesting idea that the ash-haired woman in Oath Breaker might have something to do with Eostra, but it's not the case. However now that you mention it, they do perhaps have something spiritually in common, in that they're both very destructive! As for your second question, I really do prefer to leave that up to the reader. Eostra is frightening, and part of the fear she creates in the reader is, I think, to do with the fact that we don't know what's under that mask, so we imagine all sorts of horrors. So I shall leave you to picture what she looks like - and why she took to wearing that mask in the first place! With very best wishes, Michelle
Multiple amazing questions
Naginn writes...
Hiya Michelle, I’ve written 4 times before and your unfortunately not rid of me yet
I hope your having a good day week and month (Torak’s birthday soon)
I have multiple short questions which I’m putting together
APOLOGIES FOR SPELLING
1. How long did it take you to write your first book
2. Have you seen the Disney movie brother bear? (The uncanny Native American version of Wolf Brother)
3. What helps you write?
4. (From a friend) what does eoastra look like under her mask ?
5. Can torak read?
6. Does Fin kedinn consider Renn, Hord, Torak and Dark his children?
7. (In outcast Renn said her mother identity was hers to share and only Finn and Saunn knew)
So did Hord think Renn was only his half sister or did he also know?
Thank you in advance for this reply
Hope you have a great month!
From Sam
Also I cannot see your reply in my inbox and it doesn’t appear on this website
Michelle Replies...
Dear Sam, I understand that my previous reply, sent an hour ago, didn't get through. So I'm trying again:
- It took me a year to write Wolf Brother: about 3 months doing research, then 3-4 months writing the first draft, and the rest of the year re-writing. That might sound a lot, when it probably takes you only a few days to read the book, but you see, writing is very hard work! (Also, Wolf Brother wasn 't my first book, but I' m giving it as an example as I suspect it's the one you're most interested in, and it was the first in the series.)
- No, I haven't seen Brother Bear.
- Writing is all about deep concentration, so I make sure that I don't have access to the internet in the room where I write, and that my phone is on silent; also, I'm in silence, and I have a view of the woods. And if I get stuck, I go for a brief walk in the woods near my house; that usually helps.
- I prefer to leave Eostra's face up to the reader's imagination. All I will say is that what's under her mask isn't good!
- No, Torak can't read, because as far as we know, writing hadn't been invented in northern Scandinavia six thousand years ago. He and his people sometimes communicate via a few signs on stones and trees, but that's not the same as writing.
- Yes, in a way, Fin-Kedinn does consider Hord, Renn, Torak and Dark as his children.
- Again, I prefer to let the reader imagine whether Hord knew about their mother's identity (he and Renn are brother and sister, not half-siblings) - although if Saeunn told Renn, she probably told Hord too, don't you think? (Also, thank you for not including any spoilers in your question!) Well that's all I've got time for, as I have to continue writing. I really hope that this time, my answer gets through to you. With best wishes, Michelle
Last three books in Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series
Kathy writes...
I do not know how much involvement you have with the printing of the books once you have written the story but I am very unhappy that the last three books in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series (Viper's Daughter, Skintaker and Wolfbane) do not match the previous six books on the spine.
The first six books published by Orion have the book title first followed by the author while the last three books published by Zion have the author first followed by the title.
Whilst I wholeheartedly agree this has no bearing on the content of the books, it is a bitter disappointment for those of us who wanted to collect all nine books and have them matching.
Perhaps this is something to think about for future books series.
I might just add I am a lady of advanced years and I am loving the series so far (up to book four) and have enjoyed several of your other books (Thin Air, Wakenhyrst, Dark Matter). I wish you good health and much power to your wonderful imagination. Kind regards, Kathy Lambert.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Kathy, Thank you very much for your message, and I'm so sorry about the names and titles on the spines not matching across the nine books. You're right to point out that the final three books are published by a different publisher (Head of Zeus) from the previous six, and I can confirm that I don't have much input on the production of any of the books, although the publishers did kindly consult me on the cover design. At the time of publishing the final three books, the main focus was to ensure that the original artist, John Fordham, was available to create the designs, so as to ensure consistency across the series (and because he's a terrific designer) - so I fear that aligning the title and my name on the spine with the spines of the earlier books appears to have been overlooked. Perhaps, as you say, this can be remedied for future series. And again, I am sorry that it disappointed you.
On a happier note, I am delighted that you have been enjoying the series, and that you also liked Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhyrst. I do hope you continue to enjoy the Wolf Brother books, and thank you again for getting in touch. With very best wishes, Michelle
Multiple questions
Naginn writes...
Hiya Michelle, I’ve written 4 times before and your unfortunately not rid of me yet
I hope your having a good day week and month (Torak’s birthday soon)
I have multiple short questions which I’m putting together
APOLOGIES FOR SPELLING
1. How long did it take you to write your first book
2. Have you seen the Disney movie brother bear? (The uncanny Native American version of Wolf Brother)
3. What helps you write?
4. (From a friend) what does eoastra look like under her mask ?
5. Can torak read?
6. Does Fin kedinn consider Renn, Hord, Torak and Dark his children?
7. (In outcast Renn said her mother identity was hers to share and only Finn and Saunn knew)
So did Hord think Renn was only his half sister or did he also know?
Thank you in advance for this reply
Hope you have a great month!
From Sam
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Sam, thanks for your enthusiasm. Here are the answers to your questions:
- It took me about a year to write Wolf Brother: about three months' research, then 4-5 months writing the first draft, and the rest re-writing it. That sounds a lot, and I'm sure it doesn't take you a year to read it, but writing is very hard work! (Also Wolf Brother wasn't actually my first book, but it's the one I thought you'd be most interested in, as it's the first in the series.)
2) No, I haven't seen Brother Bear.
3) Writing is all about concentration, so I write in a room where there's no access to the internet, my phone is on silent, and I'm in silence, with a view of trees. And if I get stuck, a short walk in the woods near my house always helps.
4) It's up to the reader to imagine what Eostra looks like under her mask; all I will tell you is that it isn't good!
5) No, Torak can't read, because (as far as we know) alphabets hadn't been invented 6,000 years ago in his part of the world, which is northern Scandinavia. However his people do use certain signs - marked on stones or trees - to communicate. Although this isn't writing.
6) Yes, in a way, Fin-Kedinn does feel for Renn, Hord, Torak and Dark as his children.
7) Hord and Renn are brother and sister, not half-siblings. As to whether he also knew about their mother's identity, I leave that to the reader's imagination; although if Saeunn told Renn, she would probably have told Hord too, don't you think? (And thank you for NOT including a spoiler about Renn's mother in your question.)
Well that's all I've got time for, as I have to go and do some writing. And please don't be disappointed if you don't get a reply to any further questions you might send, as I need time to reply to other readers too. May the guardian run with you! With best wishes, Michelle
Correct the contents of the e-mail
Sari writes...
I'd like to inform you that there has been a correction to the text of the email I sent you earlier. I mistakenly wrote "What do you think about their names?", but the correct question is about how to name the characters. I'm not confident in my English and relied on a translation app, so I'm sorry if it sounds strange! I look forward to hearing from you.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Sari, Konichiwa! Thank you very much for both emails, and I'm delighted that you have enjoyed my books since you were at school. If I understand your (corrected) question, you want to know how to pronounce, or say, the characters' names - so here's the answer. Torak: the "o" is short, like the 1st "o" in the Japanese name "Toshiro"; the "a" is short, like the "a" in "Rashomon" (you can tell I'm a Kurosawa fan!);- and the stress (emphasis) is on the 1st syllable. Renn: the "e" is short, as in "yen". As for Okami (Wolf), you know how to say that better than I! You also asked about the origin of Torak's name. Well, the short answer is, I made it up. But in doing so, I thought about sounds from old languages, particularly Old Norse (the language of the Vikings). So when I came up with "Torak", I was pleased, as I thought I'd invented a good, strong name. I was suprised when I went to Greenland to research the second book, Spirit Walker, and an Inuit girl told me that in her language, Greenlandic, it means "perfect". I thought this was great - even though Torak, being human, is not perfect. I told the Inuit girl that it also felt a bit spooky that I had happened across that name, but she wasn't surprised. She said, "Oh well, you must have been Inuit in a previous life." I hope the above answers your questions, and that you continue to enjoy the stories. Thank you so much again for getting in touch. With very best wishes, Michelle
Dark Matters
Gillian writes...
I've just listened to your ghost story ,'Dark Matters' on Radio4Extra .I thought it was truly amazing so I felt terrified by the end .I wonder what else have you written. I'm a fiction writer based in Cardiff .I like the gothic stye which I try to capture in my own writing. Kind regards, Gillian
Michelle Replies...
Dear Gillian, I'm so glad that you enjoyed Dark Matter on Radio4 Extra! Since Dark Matter, I've also written another ghost story, Thin Air, and a Gothic novel, Wakenhyrst. My next ghost story, Rainforest, comes out next year. Thanks for getting in touch, and I hope your own writing goes from strength to strength! With best wishes, Michelle
Gods and warriors
Ramil' writes...
May you share with the information about making films from your books. Gods and Warriors, for example. I love your story flow.
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Ramil. I'm really pleased that you enjoy my books! In the past I've done film deals for Wolf Brother (amongothers), but I'm afraid at the moment there are no plans to make either Gods and Warriors or the Wolf Brother books into films. And of course it's not really up to me, it's up to film studios to decide to make them. But if and when this changes, you can be sure that I'll post the news on my website. In the meantime, I hope you continue to enjoy the stories - and thanks so much for your message. With best wishes, Michelle
Wolfbane published in Spanish
Alejandro writes...
Hi Michelle ! I'm a reader and fan of your series "Chronicles of the Ancient Darkness" from Spain and I recently read your two last novels of that series, "Viper's Daughter" and "Skin Taker" ❤️❤️❤️ Do you by chance know whether the last one ("Wolfbane") will be published in Spanish by Salamandra, which is the official publisher in Spain? 🙏🏼
Michelle Replies...
Dear Alejandro, I'm so sorry for the delay in answering your question. I contacted my publishers the day I got your message, and they then contacted Salamandra, to make sure we had the correct answer. We've only just heard back from Salamandra, and I'm afraid the news isn't good. They've decided not to publish Wolfbane. What a pity. But there's nothing I can do. So if you want to find out how things end, I'm afraid you'll need to get a copy of the English edition. So sorry I can't give better news. With very best wishes, Michelle
God’s and Warriors
Julia writes...
Hey Michelle,
It's me Julia again ( I'm sorry for asking you so many questions!) I also understand your reply to me , thank you .
I wanted to ask you if anymore God's and Warriors books will be coming out since I'm so exited to read more .Also because Chronicles of Ancient Darkness was a series , and you added another three books , I was hoping you could write another one or two books about God's and Warriors ! I understand that there wouldn't be pretty much anything more to write about since Hylas defeated the Crows but Im hoping for another book to come out ! Michelle your the best author I've ever read , your books are so amazing and I'm very glad you replied to me so fast !!
From Julia❤️
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Julia. Nice try, and I love your enthusiasm, but Gods and Warriors was always intended as a five-book series, and I think I gave Hylas and Pirra a good send-off, so I've no plans to write more about them. I'm sorry to disappoint you! However you seem to have a lively imagination, so I suspect that you can make up some stories of your own. And there's always re-reading, which you're very good at. I've got to go and do some more writing now, so I'll say goodbye. Thanks for getting in touch again. With very best wishes, Michelle
Wolf Brother Book
Julia writes...
Hello Michelle ,
I wanted to write to you of how such an amazing author you are! Most of all , I love your Wolf brother series , there so entertaining and enjoyable to read.I also really hope you write more books about Renn ,Torak and of course Wolf I saw your message with someone else that you won't be writing anymore books about Chronicles of ancient darkness , but please!!! You have to , your such an amazing writer!! I keep re-reading your books because of how good they are and I just never get bored! Please Michelle think about this . I also had an idea about what the book could be about ! Like for example: Renn and Toraks ' child gets spirit walker abilities?? Or even that a Demon/ Tokoroth steals their child.( These are just some ideas !)But please I'm on my knees! You have to write more wolf brother books there just so good!!
I really hope you read my message and that you think about this ! ❤️
Julia-
Michelle Replies...
Dear Julia, thank you so much for your heartfelt and expressive message! You really do seem to love the Wolf Brother series, and I'm delighted about that. You also have some interesting ideas about what might happen to Torak and Renn in the future. However, I'm afraid that what I've said in answer to other questions like yours remains the same: I'm afraid I'vve no plans to write another sequel, so the nine existing books - ending with Wolf Bane - complete the series. You see, I feel that I've developed the characters and taken them to adulthood, and it's now for them to take their stories forwards in my readers' imaginations. I'm sorry if this is hard to bear, but I'm also pretty sure that you wouldn't want me to write further books that sort of fizzled out, which is what might happen were I to try. Thank you again for getting in touch. And since you are already a skilled re-reader, I'd like to wish you many happy hours with Torak, Renn and Wolf in the Forest! With very best wishes, Michelle