August writes...

I have recently finished Ghost Hunter and I am loving every book, I finished outcast in 3 days and it will be my favorite book forever. I thank you for the amazing journey you have given and are still giving me, your creativity is unmatched. Now I was wondering if there will be more content on this series, I am aware at the attempts of the TV series and we can all hope it works out. I also know Wolf Bane is the final book, I have yet to reach it but I will get there pretty soon I am sure. But will there be anything else? Anything like a board game or some additional art (Just examples)? I and probably many other people never want it to end ha! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Michelle Replies...

Dear August, it's brilliant to know that you're loving the books so much!  You are quite right that Wolf Bane is the final book - and I'm afraid that I don't have any plans to write more Wolf Brother stories .  I explained why in a previous answer to a reader (Josiah, back in February), but briefly, I feel that I've reached a natural end, and that in Wolf Bane I've given Torak, Renn and Wolf a good send-off. As for the proposed tv series, sadly, that isn't going to happen (for more on that, see my answer to Tereza, back in May), and there are currently no plans for adaptations.  If that changes, I'll post on my website.  Nor are there any board games or additional content - although there's lots of fan art online (see my website wolfbrother.com for some amazing stuff).  I think the thing to celebrate, though, is your response to these stories, which is clearly heartfelt and intense.  Relish that.  Not everyone has the ability to get so involved in a story.   And remember, you can always experience it again by re-reading the books.  They'll always be with you.  Thank you so much for getting in touch.  With very best wishes, Michelle

Joseph writes...

I love your books, I have dearly since a tender age, and when I found out later in life they were narrated by Ian McKellen I was flabbergasted and went to listen to them and was in awe at the first books narration. But for some reason Spirit Walker and Soul Eater aren't available in the US (?) or for some reason they can't be found, bought or streamed anywhere online. The 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th+ etc. are available but not Spirit Walker and Soul Eater which are ones I have a lot of nostalgia for. Frankly it felt like a miracle when I found out Ian McKellen narrated the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, and it feels as though two different childhood wonders collided together, I'm in love with his readings of all the other books. Is there anyone you can talk to or anything you can do to make the Spirit Walker and Soul Eater audiobooks available? Is there a reason why these two audiobooks aren't available or is it just some kind of marketing error we can't have those 2 books but all the other ones? I hope so, I really want to hear them. It's heartbreaking I can't get them and I'm desperate, lol. I would pay a lot of money to just have the two in audio form but I literally can't get them anywhere.

Michelle Replies...

Dear Joseph, I'm delighted that my stories have meant so much to you, and I do really feel for you about not being able to get hold of the Spirit Walker and Soul Eater audiobooks . You're not the first reader to point out this anomaly. Unfortunately, I can't explain this, and to date,  I haven't been able to get an explanation (or remedy) from my publishers.  I can only suggest that you write to them and add your voice to those of the other readers who have asked about this.  I'm so sorry that I can't help - and thank you again for getting in touch.  With very best wishes, Michelle

Valentina writes...

Dear Michelle,
I’m writing from Italy, my name is Valentina and I’m 28 years old. Like other young people around the world, I grew up with the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. I was 7/8 years old when I read Wolf Brother for the first time, I fondly remember the moments when, impatient and excited, I would wait for the bookstore clerk to give the new book of the Chronicles to me...strictly always pre-ordered. I would caress the cover and foretaste the return to the Forest, beginning to read it already on the way home. I have always loved reading, but the Chronicles have a very special place in my heart. When I heard that three more sequels were coming out, I immediately got copies in the original language, and I just finished reading Wolfbane: the ending moved me, and left me with an unspeakable nostalgia... it's impossible to let go of stories and characters that are so beloved. In fact, I have reread the first six books almost 15 times up to now....

I think there is no higher and more satisfying goal for a writer than to touch people's hearts with their stories. You have done that, and I would like to express all my esteem and appreciation to you. Now that I have grown up (and become a biologist!) I appreciate even more the care, the deep research and practical experience behind each and every book. The reconstruction of customs and traditions, the flora, the foods, the techniques of manufacturing weapons, shelters and clothing, the hunting techniques...the Forest, and all the places that are the background to the Chronicles, feel like real places because of the care and mastery with which they were written. The people who populate it, like those in the real world, are good, not so good, people who grow and improve, or people who are firm in cultivating their dark side with no possibility of redemption. Dealing with such diverse cultures, with themes that even touch on misogyny or religious extremism, and with brotherhood among the nations always being the winner, makes these books 9 little treasures in which the reader grows along with the protagonists. That's another reason I love your books so much: I've seen Renn, Dark, Wolf and Torak become themselves. Renn is my favorite, an example for all young girls, for me the character who has grown the most and found inner peace by embracing herself and accepting her gifts. That’s so wonderful.

Books have always been my best friends. If I could get into one, I would certainly choose the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness saga. I know that for you 9 books are enough and that you are satisfied with the ending, but I hope that sooner or later there will be space for more stories. I would like to see what Torak's life would be like without Wolf, who won't be a young wolf anymore in a few years, to see Torak and Renn grow up further. I am grateful to you for not making them parents, and I agree with the motivations behind this choice...I can imagine them, at most, as foster parents. There is always an ambivalence in Torak between belonging to the human world and loving Renn and belonging to Wolf and his world. Which would he choose if he were forced to make a choice? If he had not met Torak, would Renn still have ended up walking away from life with the Ravens in favor of a more solitary one? I would love it if you wrote about this. I always hope for a comeback, as do so many other fans. Never say never!

With all my esteem and affection,

Valentina

Michelle Replies...

Dear Valentina, What a marvellously uplifting message to receive when I sat down to check my messages after a rather long and wearisome day!  I'm absolutely delighted that my books have meant so much to y0u (I love the idea of you as a child, stroking the cover of each story when it came out), and I'm glad that Wolfbane proved a fitting end.  I agree with you that there's nothing more satisying for a writer than to touch people's hearts with their writing - although in my case, it's not something I ever set out to to.  I simply write because I have to.  Having said that, though, it's marvellous to know that my stories have affected readers so deeply.  As for future stories, you know the characters so well that you've raised some really thoughtful and tempting questions about what might happen next.  For now, though, I shall have to leave them to readers to follow up.  Again, thank you so much for your perceptive and deeply considered comments - and I hope you continue to enjoy being in the Forest.  With very best wishes - and all possible good fortune in your career as a biologist - Michelle

Callum writes...

Hello,

My name is Callum, I am 10, I am a HUGE fan of your books and I would like to know if you are going to write another book after Wolf Bane.

Thank you very much,

From Callum.

Michelle Replies...

Dear Callum,

I'm really glad that you like my books!  But I'm afraid that after I finished Wolf Bane, I just knew that I wouldn't be writing any more books featuring Torak, Renn and Wolf.  You see, I think nine books is a satisfying number, and as I'm really pleased with how Wolf Bane turned out, I prefer to end it there, rather than letting the series trail off into stories that aren't quite as good, and might get repetitive.  Also, I think I've developed the main characters - not only Wolf, Torak and Renn, but others, such as Dark - to the point where readers can imagine for themselves how their lives will turn out, and what might happen to them.  As for the future, the books which I write after Wolf Bane are going to be ghost stories for grown-ups (maybe you'll enjoy them when you're a bit older).  I'm sorry to disappoint you.  But perhaps re-reading some of the Wolf Brother stories will help; I know that many readers enjoy doing this.

Thank you so much for getting in touch.  With very best wishes, Michelle

Jess writes...

Hi Michelle,
I am a teacher of Primary 7 and I have used Wolf Brother with previous classes who have absolutely loved learning about mesolithic man and all the rich learning that goes along with the story. I am keen to use it again, but this time encourage the children to analyse the text a bit more, looking at literary features you use to enhance their own writing. Do you allow classroom use of this text on whiteboards/ photocopying extracts? I have a large class and although we have a few copies, we cannot afford to buy for the whole class.

Many Thanks.

Michelle Replies...

Hello, Jess, thanks for your question.  Under the Copyright Act, you're allowed to copy extracts for non-commercial use, as long as they're not too long (as in, for example, entire chapters) - so I think what you're doing is fine. I'm so glad that the children are enjoying Wolf Brother, and that it's helping their understanding of the Mesolithic!  With best wishes, Michelle