Ask Michelle
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
New Book
Jennifer writes...
Morning, will there be a new book release soon?
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Jennifer. I do have a new book in the making, but I'm afraid it won't be out this year, as there's still lots of work choosing the cover, and so on. Any further news on this will of course be posted on my website. I hope this helps a bit. Best wishes, Michelle
My experience
Daniel writes...
I don't have a question but I wanted to message and tell you about my experience with your books. I've never been a huge reader, my mom read all the Harry Potter books to my sister and I when we were kids and there were some others but it wasn't really "my thing". I think I was in middle school and my mom got me a book called Wolf Brother. And I loved it. I had her get me all the others that had been published buy that point and for future releases I was literally lined up at our local book store waiting for copies to be available.
I still have the original 6 books. I was telling some friends about it the other day and I remember hearing about a possible live action adaptation so I wanted to check if there was any news. Low and behold you've written 3 more books! I'll be getting those asap. I'm excited for my son to be a little older so I can read them with him. Thanks for the best book series ever! I appreciate the ride.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Daniel, Thank you so much for your message. I'm absolutely delighted that Wolf Brother got you reading, and I think we both owe your mother a heartfelt thank-you for getting the book for you in the first place! I love the image of you waiting at your local book store for the next installment; and it's very moving to know that you might read the stories with your own son, when he's old enough. Thanks again for getting in touch - and here's hoping that when you get your paws on the final three books, you'll enjoy being back in the Forest with Torak, Renn and Wolf! May the guardian run with you. Michelle
Short Stories
Adrian writes...
Hello,
Have you written any short stories and do you have any plans for writing a book of ghost or on other subjects, short stories at some point in the future? Thank you. Adrian Banfield.
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Adrian. I haven't written any short stories, whether supernatural or not - and that's not because I dislike them. Far from it, I love reading the short stories of other writers, including the classic ghost stories of course, as well as Chekov, de Maupassant and others; but I've no aptitude for writing them myself. It's a very special skill, which I don't seem to have - and at the start of my writing career I did try, so I speak from experience! As to your second question, if you mean do I intend to write a non-fiction book about ghosts, I don't have any plans for that either. I think I'm best suited to writing ghost full-length supernatural stories - at least, for now. Although as writing depends so much on the unconscious, who can say what I'll be writing in a few years' time? Thanks for asking such interesting questions. With best wishes, Michelle
Chronicles of ancient darkness
Milan writes...
Hello Michelle! I read your series "Chronicles of ancient darkness" as a kid and always loved it. I loved the presence of nature in these books and how immersive they were. It has also taught me a lot!
I just learned that you have added three new books to the series and I'm excited about reading them!
French being my first language, I was wondering if a french version of these was planned and will it be out anytime soon.
I can read english but I just wanted to know if it was worth waiting for a french version.
Anyways, thank you for all the good time spent reading your books! Have a nice day!
Michelle Replies...
Dear Milan, I'm delighted that you enjoyed the books as a child - and that you're keen to read the three sequels which I wrote recently, after a gap of several years. I'm afraid Hachette have no plans to publish French translations (that's their decision, in which I have no say) - so if you want to read them, you'll need to do so in English. Their titles are (in order) VIPER'S DAUGHTER, SKIN TAKER, & WOLF BANE. I really hope you enjoy being back with Torak, Renn and Wolf! With best wishes, Michelle
wolf brother
Zaneta writes...
Hi Michelle, I have at last read all nine books of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness starting with Wolf Brother and Ending with Wolfbane. They are very good, very well written and very exciting to read. I like your understanding of how ancient people lived and what they believed in. I felt so good when i finally read the last book.They appeal to people of all ages, I am actually 70 now. I am very thankful to have these lovely books on my bookcase too,.I read the first 6 in Swedish and the last three in English.
thank you again
best wishes from Zaneta
Michelle Replies...
Dear Zaneta, I'm replying to your lovely message with unusual speed, as I was just about to log off for the evening - but I couldn't without thanking you first! I'm delighted that you have enjoyed all nine of the Wolf Brother books (as people often call them in England), and I want to thank you for taking the trouble to write. I also love the fact that you've read them at all, given that they're marketed more towards children than people of our age; that shows an open and unprejudiced mind. Thanks again. With very best wishes, Michelle
novel no continue
Ezio writes...
Hello my name is Ezio, I am 13 years old and I live in Nice in the south of France. I read your novel (Chronicle of Dark Times) I really loved this book, these adventures are fascinating. I was very disappointed when I learned that the sequel was not released. I would like to know if you were planning to release it. Thank you very much in advance for your response.
Sincerely
Ezio lasbats
Michelle Replies...
Dear Ezio, I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my Wolf Brother books! From what you've said, I'm guessing that you can't get hold of French translations of the final three books, which I wrote some years after the first six. You're not the only French reader who has contacted me, but I'm afraid there are no French translations, because my French publishers decided not to publish them. I'm so sorry, but I can't do anything about this. So your only choice is to order them online in English - IF you feel able to reading them in English! In case you decide to do this, the books are: VIPER'S DAUGHTER, SKIN TAKER, and WOLF BANE. Again, I'm sorry about this. But I hope that you continue to enjoy the books which you can get hold of! With very best wishes, Michelle
Hello, I’m Xián, I’m going to start reading Brother Wolf
Xián writes...
Hello, I'm Xián, I'm from Galicia, Spain, I don't know much English, but I try,
I'm going to start reading Brother Wolf in high school
I wanted to know what inspired you to make Brother Wolf.
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Xian. You can find the full story of what inspired me to write Wolf Brother on wolfbrother.co: go to the Cave, then Why I wrote Wolf Brother. But in short, the story was sparked by my childhood love of wolves and the Stone Age - and then by a very frightening encounter with a large black bear and her two cubs when I was out hiking in a forest in California. I hope that helps - and that you enjoy Wolf Brother, and maybe the rest of the books in the series! With best wishes, Michelle
About your new book
Liam writes...
Just wanted to know when your new book is coming out. I've read ghost story and thin air twice each. Just want more of your work.
Thanks
Michelle Replies...
Glad you like them so much, Liam. It sounds as if you haven't yet read my Gothic novel Wakenhyrst, which came out after Thin Air. That has a ghost as well as other things, so I think you'll like it. As for the one after that, I'm afraid it won't be out till next year. Thanks for getting in touch - and enjoy Wakenhyrst! Regards, Michelle
New books
Aly writes...
Hi Michelle. I have just re read Dark Matter and Thin Air for the third time over the Christmas period. Are you planning on writing anymore books like this? Also Wakenhyrst is another favourite. Anything else along those lines planned?
Happy New Year.
Aly Clarke, Norfolk, England.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Aly, Thanks so much for your message; and what a great time to read - sorry, re-read - my two ghost stories! Yes, I do indeed plan to write more of them, and have several ideas to work on. The next one is set in a rainforest, but I'm afraid I can't tell you more than that right now. As and when there's a publication date, I'll post details on my website. Best wishes, Michelle
More ghost stories?
Rosalyn writes...
Hi Michelle,
I just wanted to write to say how much I love your books Thin Air and Dark Matter. My family and I love ghost stories and your books are by far the best we’ve ever read (although we can’t agree which one out of thin air and dark matter we think is the scariest!). Have you ever considered or been approached to turn your stories into films or tv shows? And are you planning on writing another chilling tale any time soon? Where do you take your inspiration from?
Thank you so much for the stories!
Best wishes,
Rosalyn
Michelle Replies...
Dear Rosalyn, Thank you for your lovely message! I'm delighted that you and your family have enjoyed Thin Air and Dark Matter. Concerning films, Dark Matter has been the subject of a film deal a couple of times, but as with many film deals, it has never got beyond the script stage (if that changes, I'll post the news on my website). As for writing further supernatural tales, I wrote Wakenhyrst a while ago; that's more of a Gothic story than a pure ghost story (although it does feature a haunting); and my next ghost story after that will be set in a rainforest - although that's all I can say about it right now. Where do I get my inspiration from? The short answer is that it comes from somewhere deep in the unconscious. I don't really know more than that, and I'm just glad when I get another idea. Thanks again for getting in touch, and I hope you have a happy and peaceful New Year. Best wishes, Michelle