Ask Michelle
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
Partner
Josh writes...
Hello I have been trying to get tickets to one of ur book signing but as u kindly told me that there are no signing ATM could there be a chance I could purchase a signed copy of one of ur books please as It would mean the world to my partner thank you for ur time
Josh
Michelle Replies...
Dear Josh,
Your persistence does you credit, but I'm afraid the only way you can currently buy a signed copy of one of my books is if you can find one I've already signed in a bookshop - whether that bookshop is a real one, or online. (I'm sure you'll appreciate that, like most authors, I don't sell my books myself.) I hope you find what you're looking for.
Best wishes, Michelle
urgent question
Moritz writes...
In the book : Dark Matter A Ghost Story
Did the dark figure drown, if not how did it die?
Thank you for Answer
Kind Regards
Moritz Eggenberger
Michelle Replies...
Dear Moritz,
This is the kind of question I leave to the reader to decide. If one makes a ghost story too definite, it's no longer scary. Have fun using your imagination!
Regards, Michelle
question for the exam I have tomorrow
Jasin writes...
Hello Miss Paver,
what does the title of your book "dark matter" mean? How does it relate to the story?
kind regards
Michelle Replies...
Dear Jasin,
You'll be able to answer both questions if you read the book. Best of luck with the exam,
Regards, Michelle
Events
Josh writes...
Hello my name is josh I was wondering when your next signing is in Sheffield or surrounding areas if you could help it would be great as I'm wanting tickets for my partner as your her favourite author
Thanks
Josh
Michelle Replies...
Dear Josh,
It does you credit to be thinking about your partner, and I'm so glad that I'm her favourite author! But as you'll have seen from my answers to previous questions, I'm not doing signings this year and have none planned as yet for next. If that changes, full details will be posted on my website.
Best wishes, Michelle
Advice
Alessia writes...
Hello Michelle,
I would really like to ask you a question that I am trying to answer myself over these last few weeks and…I wonder if you ever had to choose between two dreams? I want to be an author and an actress. But sometime I feel I am drifting to the acting ‘side’, and sometimes more to the writing ‘side’. I don’t know how to decide or if I can make it as both? I mean can you even be both? Thank you for your time.
Alessia Wilimowski
Michelle Replies...
Dear Alessia,
My goodness, that's quite a question! And it's not one I've ever had to address, as I've never been faced with it, because I only ever really wanted to write. I don't think I'm in a position to give you advice, as the answer is, in all likelihood, something which will probably only gradually become clear to you. All I would suggest is that perhaps try not to think of it as an "either/or" question. In other words, trying your hand at writing doesn't necessarily mean giving up on acting, or the other way around. It's all about creativity, and the one feeds the other. So perhaps give yourself permission to investigate and play around with both.
The best of luck with exploring this.
Regards, Michelle
Signing Schedule
Louis writes...
Hello Michelle!
I'm writing to inquire about if you have any upcoming signings?
Little backstory: my girlfriend grew up reading your "Chronicles of Ancient Darkness" series and apparently she had met you and gotten her copies signed way back when. Unfortunately, due to her unstable family life, she was forced to give up the books when she was 16. Now at 25, she often muses about missing them.
I think this would be a good gift for her and I'd like to see if I can go to a signing to get this done.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Louis Southard
Michelle Replies...
Dear Louis,
Thanks for getting in touch, and it does you great credit to be thinking of such a thoughtful present for your girlfriend. However as you may have seen from my replies to previous messages, I'm afraid that I have no plans for further signings this year. If this changes, details of any signings will be posted on my website. And one final thought: if you girlfriend hasn't already read the latest three books (VIPER'S DAUGHTER, SKIN TAKER & WOLF BANE), one or other of those might make a nice present.
Again, thanks for your message. With best wishes, Michelle
next gothic
james writes...
Hello Ms Paver. sorry i'm being nosey but wondering if you are going to continue onto a fourth gothic novel. I've brought copies for a few youngsters who have been a bit slow in picking up the reading habit and they have all been devoured - especially "Thin Air" - honestly the only recent book in the genre that comes close is "The Little Stranger" but too long for godchildren. If you're writing i shan't expect a reply but will be keeping a lookout for reviews. Thanks for the very good reads, i listened to the first two cycling to work and frequently took a longer route to Shoreditch to squeeze another 10 minutes in....V Best.....James
Michelle Replies...
Dear James,
No need to apologise and you're not being nosey at all! It's always lovely to hear from readers who have enjoyed my books, and I'm delighted that my gothic stories, particularly THIN AIR, have gone down well.
As it happens, I am indeed working on another gothic story. It will be shorter than WAKENHYRST, ie of a similar length to DARK MATTER and THIN AIR; and it is set in a rainforest. I'm afraid that's all I can tell you at the moment, as I never like to talk about a book while I'm writing it. And I don't know when it will be published, because I still have lots of work to do on it. However I hope that has given you something to go on; and thanks again for getting in touch.
With very best wishes, Michelle
Thank-You from the bottom of my heart
Liam writes...
Dear Michelle,
Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for books you have written. They gave me an anchor into something deeper, truer and more mystical than I could ever have stumbled across otherwise. I found true companionship with the characters and guidance from the elders in those books that was unavailable to me elsewhere. Having grown up in a very repressive situation, your books gave me a sanctuary away from the harshness of the modern world. Despite being raised in a military family with little exposure to other cultures or customs, these books gave me a way out, a nostalgia for something I had never experienced but was more familiar and meaningful to me than anything I had encountered. Your words left a primal imprint on my psyche that has been whispering to me in times of strife throughout my teens and well into my adulthood. After many years of being lost, directionless and under enormous pressure from my family and peers to conform, I have finally received the call loud and clear. Today, as so many narratives built on shaky ground begin to fall around us, I feel so grounded and firm in my place on this Earth thanks to your writing which gave voice to the deepest and most repressed parts of myself.
I am far from where I grew up, but closer to the feeling of home than I have ever been. I am 28 years old, with a restored relationship with my family, living on a narrowboat, studying Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Bristol with a special interest in Archaeoacoustics, Folk Religion and Ritual studies. Thank-you for helping me find my way home.
My greatest appreciation,
Liam
Michelle Replies...
Dear Liam,
When I read your message it brought tears to my eyes. Over the years, certain books have given me companionship when I've needed it, and I'm truly glad that my stories have been able to do this for you.
You write about what you have gone through with such clarity, perception and self-knowledge that I've no doubt you have chosen a path that is right for you. I can only add that I'm delighted that this includes studying Archaeology and Anthropology - not least as it's what I would have studied had I not fallen in love with Biochemistry. As for living on a narrowboat, I envy you that. The opportunities for being close to nature must be truly special (depending on where you're moored, of course.!) .
Again, thank you for letting me know how my stories have helped you. I shan't forget what you have said.
With very best wishes for a long, happy life rich in experience.
Michelle
Start reading
Dean writes...
Hi Michelle, I'm a 38 year old, in my 20's I'd never read a book, I have always had a wondering imagination and love fantasy stories.
Your book were the first thing I read and started my reading journey.
They taught me how to read and how to enjoy stories.
Since that I've read hundreds including all the game of thrones, all David gemmels books.
Thank you.
Regards
Dean
Michelle Replies...
Dear Dean,
What a lovely message. I'm delighted that my books helped you to understand how marvellous reading is, and it sounds as if you've never looked back! Thanks so much for getting in touch - and happy reading.
With very best wishes, Michelle
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness mini series
Zach writes...
Dear Michelle Paver, I just want to say how much I love the chronicles of Ancient Darkness book series and how much it has impacted me all the way from year 6 (2017) when my primary school teacher showed me the first book till. I just want to ask if you've ever thought about writing a mini series or a sort of prequel book series to the books so we learn more about toraks father and his up bringing and when Finn-Keddinn was fostered with the wolf clan as well as when Fa joined the healers and the great fire that disbanded the soul eaters and a series where we finally learn Fa's name. You said in a previous answer how you would not want your writing quality to drop so you stopped writing the wolf brother books so how about a prequel book series?
thank you so much yours sincerely Zach
Michelle Replies...
Dear Zach,
Many thanks for that. You're not the only reader who has, over the years, asked me whether I've considered writing a prequel book or series. However I'm afraid my answer is no. You see, quite simply it has never appealed to me. Perhaps this is partly because these books have always been the story of Torak, Renn and Wolf; and I can't see myself departing from that. Also it's because I believe that the stories of Fa, Fin-Kedinn, and others, are best suggested rather than explored in detail. They work as tantalising background (at least, I hope they do), but I wouldn't want to go into them more. I prefer to leave them to the reader's imagination.
Finally, you're right that in the past I have said that I wouldn't want the quality of the stories to lessen. This is one of the main reasons that WOLFBANE will be the last of the WOLF BROTHER books - and it holds true for prequels too. After all, it's all the same world.
So it was a nice try, Zach, and it shows how much you like the series, which is great. But I'm afraid that you and others will have to make do with the existing nine books. I hope that you'll continue to find plenty to enjoy in them!
With very best wishes, Michelle