Ask Michelle
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
An homage
Sasha writes...
Hi Michelle,
I've been a fan of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness ever since I was a child. I have all the Dutch translations and I'm looking forward to buying the next three in whichever language as soon as my wallet can handle it.
It currently can't because I've adopted a dog! His name is Torak, as an homage to both our previous dog (who's name was Ronja after the book by Astrid Lindgren - which was also a favorite book of mine) and to your lovely series.
He's a very silly boy who's got a lot to learn, but who hopefully won't have to fight any demons or evil shamans. At least not in real life, I don't know what he's doing in his dreams. 😋
If you'd ever like a picture, let me know and I'll send you one!
All the best,
Sasha
Michelle Replies...
Dear Sasha, what an absolutely delightful message! I'm afraid the final three books aren't (to my knowledge) translated into Dutch, so you'd need to read them in English. But in the meantime, huge congratulations on adopting Torak the dog! He sounds enchanting; and from what you say, I have a vivid image of his paws twitching as he dreams... May you and he enjoy many happy times together -and of course without any Soul-Eaters or demons to contend with. May the guardian run with you both! With very best wishes, Michelle P.S. by all means send or post a photo, if you can work out how to do that, I'd love to see Torak.
Inspiring a young writer
Gemma writes...
Hi, I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out to see if you can help...
I am a private tutor for young children and I have a pupil (who attends Latymer Prep School, London) who has found a love of writing stories. He has read all of your books and often talks about them during our lessons. He recently announced that the authors he reads inspire his own writing and has made him want to become a children’s writer one day too. At 9 years old, this fills me with great joy.
I wanted to ask if you would be happy for me to send you a copy of one of his recent pieces to read? I know he would be thrilled to know that I have sent it onto you!
Please let me know if this is a possibility. Thank you in advance for your time. Best wishes, Gemma
Michelle Replies...
Dear Gemma, it sounds as if you're an incredibly inspiring and empathetic tutor, and it's wonderful that your pupil enjoys writing stories - and clearly is a keen reader too. It also does you great credit to ask me to read one of his pieces. However, if I said yes to you, I'd feel honour-bound to say yes to rather a lot of other readers (from all over the world) who also ask the same thing; and that just wouldn't be practicable. So with regret, I'm afraid I can't take it on. I do hope you understand. But obviously if your pupil would like to write to me c/o my publishers, they'll pass the letter on, eventually - and I'd write back. Thanks again for getting in touch. With best wishes, Michelle
Ghost Stories for adults
Joanne writes...
Hi Michelle,
You no doubt get asked this all the time but are you going to write more ghost story novels for adults?
If so, when? Your last three were absolute pearlers and scarily good!
Thankyou, Joanne
Michelle Replies...
Dear Joanne, thank you so much for that. As it happens, my publishers Orion have just announced my new ghost story for adults, Rainforest. (I've just been told by a very long-standing fan that there's already something about it on Amazon.) It will be published next year, so I'm afraid you've got a bit of a wait - but I hope and trust that it'll be worth it! With very best wishes, Michelle
Rainforest
Ryan writes...
Hello Michelle. Hoping you are well. Apologies for not contacting you for a while. I had meant to write to you after the Wolfbane event where we met last in Cambridge but as I’m sure you can imagine, life has just ran away with me. I just wanted to fire over a message to congratulate you on the deal for Rainforest which I saw was announced this week on the Bookseller. Saw that it was up on Amazon already, so of course I’ve preordered it ha. So very, very excited to read it and hoping there will be some events (life and commitments permitting of course) that we’ll be able to catch up at again! Wishing you all the best!
Ryan (HalfBloodRyan/Empire of Books/Life Time Clanner)
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Ryan, thanks so much for getting in touch - and I'm delighted that you're excited about Rainforest! I think it's one of my best, and I'm really looking forward to hearing your views, you've always been such a loyal and perceptive reader. Have a great summer, and thanks again for your message! With very best wishes, Michelle
Multiple questions
Sam writes...
Hiya hope your having a good day/week/month
1. Are you and sir Ian maklen friends?
2. Is the wolf torak still around?
3. What COAD villain would you rather fight?
4. Was Hord mentally ok in wolf brother?
5. Are there any characters you would have wanted to written more of?
6. Dose Torak have a favourite food?
Thank you and have a good day
Michelle Replies...
Hello, Sam. It sounds as if you've rather enjoyed the Wolf Brother books. To answer your questions (briefly): I got on very well with Ian McKellen when he made all his magnificent recordings of my stories, and we had fun visiting the wolves at the UKWCT many years ago. Torak the Wolf died peacefully a few years ago, aged well over fifteen - which is a very good age for a wolf. I'd rather not fight any of the COAD villains, as I'm not good at fighting! Hord was definitely disturbed. When I finished Ghost Hunter, I wished I'd had a chance to write more about Dark - and I got my wish when I had the idea for the final three books. And as for Torak's favourite food - I think I'll leave that to you to imagine! May the guardian run with you. With best wishes, Michelle
Future book events?
Amy Noon writes...
Hi Michelle!! i have loved ur books since i was in year 3, i was one of the videos you watched in the live stream in 2022 on youtube. I live in england and was wondering if you are planning to have a book event similar to the one you had a couple years ago but this time in Milton Keynes possibly? i would LOVE to meet you and show you my support. I also wanted to ask if you ever thought about making merch!! You had a chronicles of ancient darkness tote bag on a giveaway a couple of years ago and i would definitely buy stuff like that normally 🙂
Have a great day,
Amy
Michelle Replies...
Dear Amy, it's great that you've been enjoying my books, and what a long time ago that live stream seems now! I'm afraid there isn't any merchandise available at the moment, and I've currenly no plans to do book events or signings this year, as I'm horribly busy writing and looking after my elderly mother. I hope that's not too disappointing - and if things change, I'll post it immediately on my website. In the meantime, enjoy being in the Forest with Torak, Renn and Wolf! With very best wishes, Michelle
Happy 20th anniversary!!
Elin writes...
Hi Michelle!
I’ve been thinking about the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness a lot this past week since the 20th anniversary of Wolf Brother was yesterday, May 27th.
I just wanted to write you a message to thank you for this series. I was 9 when Wolf Brother was published in Sweden, my mom bought the book and read it aloud to my younger siblings and I after dinner in the evenings. We continued doing this with the rest of the original series despite me getting a bit too old to have my mom read to me by the end. I grew up with this series and I hold it close to my heart, and getting to return to it in my 20’s was emotional in the best way. Thank you for nine books of adventure and love <3
Elin
Michelle Replies...
Dear Elin, Thank you so much for your delightful message! Here in the UK we'll be celebrating Wolf Brother's 20th birthday a little later in the year, but it's wonderful to be reminded of the great welcome it received from Swedish readers; and I love the picture you paint of your mother reading the whole of the original series to you and your younger siblings in the evenings. I'm also really pleased that as an adult you've caught up with the three sequels which I wrote later. Thank you again for getting in touch - and may the guardian run with you! With very best wishes, Michelle
Your most well-written villain?
Stella writes...
Dear Michelle.
I've written to you before, asking you whether there will be a tv show or not, but now I wanna ask you about something else. This may be an odd question, but I'm curious: Who would you say is the most well-written villain you've made?
Personally, I find the main villain from Gods and Warriors very well-written. I don't write his name since these comments are official and I don't wanna spoil anything for those who want to read that series but haven't had time to do so.
I love that we got to follow him sometimes and get a little understanding for how he became the way he became. Still, you made it impossible to root for him due to his despicable qualities. It takes a very talented author to do that. I wonder if there are any other villain you've made who you think you wrote really well and why? Don't be modest. Just be honest.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Stella, what a great question - and thank you for avoiding spoilers about Gods and Warriors! I'm rather proud of the Soul-Eaters in the Wolf Brother books, although I'm not naming names for obvious reasons; but perhaps top of my list would be the father in Wakenhyrst. I think that's because in a book of that length, I had a chance to get under his skin and show in some depth what made him the way he is. I should add that in general, I enjoy creating unpleasant characters. It can be strangely liberating to explore all sorts of unlikeable traits and take them to extremes, albeit on the (relative) safety of the page. Thanks for getting in touch again. Best wishes, Michelle
merch
ossian writes...
Do you have any cronicalls of ancient darkness merch?If so where can you buy it
Michelle Replies...
Dear Ossian, Thanks for your question, but I'm afraid the answer is no, there isn't any merchandise available, as the books haven't been turned into films. So the only things you can currently buy that are associated with the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness are the books! With best wishes, Michelle
cronicalls of ancient darkness Torak in more books
ossian writes...
i like the cronicalls of ancient darkness could you make more or put Torak in another book please signed Ossian.D aged 9years and 4months
Michelle Replies...
Dear Ossian, I'm really pleased that you like the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness so much! You may not know it, but in addition to the first six books, I have written three more - Viper's Daughter, Skinbane and Wolfbane - which means there are nine books in all. I don't have plans to write any more, I'm afraid, but I hope that with nine books, you'll be able to spend lots of time with Torak, Renn and Wolf in the Forest! With best wishes, Michelle