Michelle’s Mailbag – Michelle Paver

Michelle's Mailbag

Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.

tattoos and thankyous

evan writes... michelle for my tenth birthday in 2016 i was given my copy of the wolf brother book, every following excuse or holiday i got i would ask for the next installed and finished the series when i was 13. i held it dearly to my heart having grown up with my dad calling me 'wolf child' and running around woods and camping i instantly had felt a resonance with the series though perhaps...

Not as much as a question, but a thank you.

Ash writes... Hi Michelle, As a child the Wolf Brother series was one of my favourites. It's been so influential to me; to the point of naming what is probably my first ever character in Renn's honour when I was fourteen. I still write to this day. In part, a LOT of that is because of you. I even aim to go into the publishing industry. I'm not much of a writer, despite my enjoyment...

Clan-tattoos part 2

Sofie writes... Hello again! I forgot one part of my previous message, haha. I was wondering if you had any significance in mind when it comes to the placements of the different clan tattoos, as in if certain parts of the body would mean something special to the clans or bear some kind of importance when it comes to where they wear their tattoos. Again, if it's better left obscure I am happy still! Haha....

Clan-tattoos: some questions

Sofie writes... Hello dear Michelle! I hope you're having a wonderful summer so far and that your latest launch is going well. I heard the news just yesterday, and it seems like a thrill! I'm excited for you. I was just wondering a bit about clan tattoos, so if you don't mind I have a couple of questions! I know you've mentioned some of these things in the books of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness,...

chronicles of ancient darkness: outcast is amazing

nabatanzi writes... My book to read was outcast but I felt like entering the book. I don't know how you do it but your books are very amazing. Michelle Replies... Dear Cynthia, I'm really glad that you like my books so much, and thank you for taking the time to get in touch! I hope that once you've finished Outcast, you'll go on to enjoy the further adventures of Torak, Renn and Wolf. And just...

Freud, Jung, and the forest

Richard writes... Dear Michelle, Thank you for answering my question about analysis. To me, Freud's idea of the unconscious is like a spoiled brat who causes trouble, whereas for Jung it's the source of wisdom. The forest in COAD is like that, the source of life -- but you can't control it. No need to reply, I just couldn't help wanting to share this. I've always loved the forest in these stories and this realisation...

Wakenhyrst Book – signed copy

Lisa writes... Good afternoon, my mum has lost her signed copy of her favourite book. Would it be possible to pay for another copy at all please. Many thanks Michelle Replies... Dear Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear that about your mum's book, but I'm afraid I can't send you another signed copy, as if I did it for you I'd have to do it for everyone, and that wouldn't really be feasible. I hope...

Ghosts of Summer

Lucan writes... Having just read your latest article I feel compelled to lambast your publisher, we want ghost stories the whole year round! The summer is when the ghosts don't just skulk in the shadows but they ride forth. I have just spent the night of the summer solstice in meditation on top of the Longman of Wilmington and the barrow that sits atop it. The ghosts are very active when the earth is heated...

analysis – what type of therapy did you have?

Richard writes... fascinated by your account of your 'block' dream, and its resolution with analysis; do you mind me asking what kind of analysis you had? I know analysis and therapy quite often doesn't help so anything you'd share as to what made it work would be great, though I'm asking a lot! perhaps just -- was it the type of therapy or the rapport with the therapist? Michelle Replies... I'm glad you asked that,...

Source of the Spell in Spirit Walker – and the Ian McKellen connection

Tim writes... Dear Michelle, We have met before (and I've asked you questions before), and this time I would like to ask you yet another very specific question about a scene in COAD. At the start of Spirit Walker, when the sickness is spreading through the Forest and the first members of the Raven Clan fall ill, Saeunn and Renn perform a ritual over Oslak's body to try to get rid of the disease (he's...

Publishing Suggestions

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…