Steven writes...

Hi Michelle,

My name is Steven Campbell and I'm a 25 year old aspiring author from Sydney, Australia. I've spent my life reading and writing stories and found your Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series when I was a teenager at high school. It got me through some tough times growing up rather poor and really helped improve and inspire some of my writing. So I wanted to take the time out to first and foremost thank you for your wonderful stories and let you know how much it meant to me.

I also would like to ask if you would perhaps be willing to read a manuscript I've been working on for the past year. I've always tried to attain the same sense of adventure and wonder in my writing that I found when I first read Wolf Brother and it would mean a lot to possibly have you let me know what you thought of my writing. However I understand if you are too busy and would just like the time to say thank you for the stories and I hope you never stop writing!

Feel free to contact me on the email above at any time, cheers!

Michelle Replies...

Dear Steven, I'm so glad that my stories helped you, and gave you inspiration. I'd also like to congratulate you on having the determination and staying power to work for a year on your own story.  That show that you really do want to write.  I'm afraid, however, that you guessed correctly, and I am too busy to take a look at what you've written.  You see, these days I have to divide my time between my own writing, and my elderly mother.  Nevertheless, I applaud you for asking (you don't ask, you don't get, as they say) - and I'd like to wish you every possible success with your writing.  The main thing is to keep going!

With best wishes, Michelle

Nadia writes...

I have loved your books since I was little. I aspire to be an artist/illustrator. And for my final project for university have illustrated 5 double page spreads and a book cover back and spine for the book wolf brother. Illustrating Torak, Fa, wolf and the bear. It would be a dream come true for you to see my work. I am a huge fan and adore your work. You inspire me!

Michelle Replies...

Hello, Nadia.  I'm delighted and honoured that my stories have inspired you!  Last time I looked, there was a place on my wolfbrother.com website for readers to post artwork. If you feel comfortable with showing your work, that would be a good way of lett ing me see it too; but only if you're comfortable with that.  Either way, huge congratulations to you for having completed what sounds like a substantial final-year project - and the very best of luck with your career as an artist/illustrator!

Best wishes, Michelle

Daryl writes...

Dear Mrs Paver,
As somebody who has to read a lot at their desk for their job, I noticed myself no longer reading for fun - I simply could not face the ever growing pile of books on my "to be read" shelf (now shelves...). I thought I ought to try something different and see if that lifted the plague of apathy i had towards reading anything that wasnt required for my job. After some digging (and randomly adding to my basket), my partner & I were surprised to see your book "Dark Matter" on both of our wishlists so I decided to buy it - if worse came to worse I could donate it to them.
Well, I was only a third way through Dark Matter before I purchased Thin Air. You have reignited my love for reading, the excitement to get into bed and get lost in another world before leaving our world to sleep. I finished Dark Matter in two days - i wish i had savoured it more but your writing didnt allow me to stop! Im now almost finished with Thin Air, another masterpiece I cant stop raving about to anybody who will listen.
I can see in other questions youve been asked to write an awful lot more books within the other worlds you have created. I feel cheeky asking if we could hope for another ghost story - knowing just how much love & time goes into each novel. But I cant help but hope I havent been greedy and devoured your two ghost story books within a week. If a ghost story isnt a future goal of yours, just know my disappointment is testament to your astounding work and you've not only created 2 books I adore, but you've also given me the ammunition to make time for myself doing what i love most: reading, reading and more reading. Love and light to you. And my utmost thanks. Daryl.

Michelle Replies...

Oh, Daryl, what an absolutely marvellous message to find as I was about to switch off my computer and go to bed!  I do feel for you when you noticed that you were no longer reading for fun.  That must have been truly disconcerting, to put it mildly; and I'm delighted that my stories helped you get over what you aptly call "the plague of apathy".  I don't think you were greedy at all for reading Dark Matter and Thin Air in a single week, I think it's great.  I intended them to be read that way, in a very few sittings, so that the reader remains immersed in the story.  As to writing more ghost stories, I love writing them, even though they're by far the hardest things I 've ever written; but I can only create them when I get a really good idea, and I never know when (or if) one will come along.  However you'll be glad to learn that since Thin Air, I have indeed written another novel, Wakenhyrst, which was published in the UK in 2019.  It's set in Edwardian times, in an old English manor-house in the fens; and although I would tend to call it Gothic rather than a pure ghost story, it certainly has a strong spectral element.  Also, I'm in the process of finishing another ghost story.  It doesn't yet have a title and I don't know when it will be published, but it's set in a remote part of the Mexican rainforest, and I think it's one of my best.  I hope you enjoy it when it comes out - and in the meantime, it's wonderful to know that you've regained your love of reading.  Thank you so much for getting in touch.  With very best wishes, Michelle

Stephen writes...

Dear Michelle Paver,

I am an educator and a writer from Colorado, USA. I have immensely enjoyed your Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, as well as Gods and Warriors. I love how you sweep the reader right into the world of your books. You became one of my favorite authors ever since I discovered Wolf Brother.

I have been working on a fantasy novel for younger readers, and I was wondering if you would be willing to share some advice on how to get published? Navigating markets and hunting for agents can feel like stumbling through a maze. What do you suggest for a novice novelist? I would appreciate your insight.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to any other novels you plan to write!

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Curro
Windsor, Colorado, USA

Michelle Replies...

Dear Stephen, I'm so glad you've enjoyed the Wolf Brother and Gods and Warriors stories. As to getting published, some things may have changed radically since I was trying to do it back in the 1980s and 90s - but some things haven't. For instance, I too felt as if I were "stumbling through a maze", as you put it.  Here are my top tips :

• ONLY submit your story when you've got it the way you really, really want it. Re-write it, leave it for a few weeks, then read it critically and re-write some more.  And so on. (Should you get someone else to read it? That's up to you, but personally I never have. I think it's too risky to rely on one person's opinion.)
• Send it to an agent or publisher who publishes YOUR kind of story - AND send it in the way they like to receive submissions. This is crucial.  For instance if an agent  wants a letter and the first chapter, send that - and ensure that your letter is short and pithy!  (Don't be tempted to send the full typescript, it will go straight in the bin.)  How do you find out what different agents & publishers want? In pre-internet days I used two directories of UK publishers & agents, The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook  and the Writer's Handbook; I imagine both will now be online, and there should be similar resources in the US.  Failing that, agents' and publishers' websites often give useful guidance: follow it to the letter.
• Be prepared for multiple rejections. They hurt, but they're a fact of life. Rage, grieve, mope; then pick yourself up off the floor and send it out again.   Or write something new.
• Should you research the market? Hmm. Personally I wouldn't when it comes to WHAT to write. (For instance, when I was writing Wolf Brother there were no children's books set in the Stone Age; but did that show a gap in the market, or no demand? I had no idea, but I wanted to write the story, so I did.)  That said, it can help to look at a few books in your genre, to get an idea of basics like novel length and chapter length.  But approach this with care: researching the market can be discouraging. If it makes you lose faith in your story, step away.
• Above all, KEEP GOING! It took me 16 years to get published, and that's not unusual. But ponder this: if you give up, you can be 100% certain that you'll never get there. If you keep at it, you've got a chance. That thought kept me going through the dark times when I felt hopeless.  Maybe it will do the same for you.
• Doubtless there's lots more guidance on the internet, but these are my top tips.  I hope you find them helpful. And I'd like to wish you the very best of luck with your novel - as and when it sees the light of day! With best wishes, Michelle

Timberlee writes...

Dear Michelle,
I’ve loved the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series (as well as the audiobooks) since I was a little girl. I collected both the physical books and all the audios narrated by Sir Ian McKellen. Sadly, due to domestic violence I’ve lost all my copies. I’ve recently finished the first book again and would love to continue to listen to them all but the 2nd and 3rd installments are not available where I live in the US. Apple Books, Amazon, everywhere it is unavailable; Is there anyway to buy these two audiobooks? Thank you so much!

Michelle Replies...

Dear Timberlee,

It's great to know that you've enjoyed the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness so much, and for such a long time.  I'm really sorry that you've lost all your copies, and under such difficult circumstances; you have all my sympathy.  As regards replacing the audiobooks, I'm afraid I'm not the person to help you, as availability is up to the publishers and their audiobook associates.  I can only suggest that you contact my US publishers, HarperCollins Children's Books; they may be able to help. Failing that, an online seller of secondhand audiobook CDs might help; although you may already have tried that.  I'm so sorry that I can't be of more help - and I do hope that your domestic situation is calmer and more peaceful now.  Thanks for getting in touch,

With very best wishes, Michelle