Ask Michelle
Here are Michelle’s most recent answers to the questions and messages readers have submitted.
A Love that started long ago
Garrett writes...
Heya Michelle!
My name is Garrett, I'm from Canada, and boy what a fan I am! I remember it like it was yesterday, ten years old at a parent teacher interview in grade 5 (2012), and I was eagerly scanning the book report options on the desk in front of me. What catches my gaze in that moment? None other than wolf brother! I read the first few pages and was hooked instantly. I read it, wrote my book report, and picked up all of the sequels from the library a few weeks later!
I can say without a doubt it is my favourite book series of all time. Not only is it incredibly written but also teaches the reader so much about the ways of life back then. I was so impressed to learn that you actually went out and did hands on research to make sure the book was an accurate portrayal of the time period and place.
Here I am reading the series again at 22, and when I google you so I can send you this message, I learn that you've written three more additions to the series recently?!?!? Something I never would have expected, and I'm so glad you decided to re-visit this beautiful world you created.
I feel like I grew up with the characters, and grew alongside them as their stories continued. The way you incorporated supernatural elements to the world always intrigued me and makes me believe there is always more magic than we think out there.
This series is one of the main reasons I love nature so much, which has inspired many important parts of my life, from being a treeplanter to working at nature centres and being highly interested in wildlife biology and educating others about the natural worlds and environments around them!
I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you. With your words you made nature breath, you gave every tree a soul, every river a voice, giving every mountain, bog, island, and snow covered tundra their own personality. From the hidden people, to the groaning of injured trees, and the silence of a forest with a predator near, you made accessible to myself, and I'm sure other children and adults alike, the emotions and spirit of everything in nature.
I hope you are doing well, and I would love to hear some of your craziest stories from your adventures, your favourite things you learned in the process of doing research for the books, or any behind-the-scenes info of writing them.
Sincerely,
Garrett C.
Michelle Replies...
Dear Garrett, What a beautiful message: thank you! What makes me particularly pleased is that my stories have encouraged your love of nature, which has taken shape in such positive and active forms: tree-planting, working at nature centres, and much more, by the sound of it. And your response to the books has been everything I hoped for when I wrote them, as I struggled (and it did feel like a struggle at times!) to recreate Torak's world from the point of view of the hunter-gatherers of the past. I'm afraid I don't have time to talk further about my research, as my life is rather full at the moment, caring for the needs of my elderly mother (as well as trying to write); but in the past, as and when the books were published, I talked a good deal about my experiences in writing them, so you should be able to find quite a lot of stuff on my website and in the Author's Notes at the back of each book. (There are also several live-stream video chats on YouTube which I did a few years ago, called MPLive; in many of those I talk about the writing at various times, too.) I really hope that you enjoy the final three books, as and when you can get hold of them - and that you enjoy being back in the Forest (and beyond) with Torak, Renn and Wolf! Thank you again so much for getting in touch - and may the guardian run with you. With very best wishes, Michelle
Gratitude
Cristopher writes...
Hello Mrs. Michelle Paver, I am a young man of 24, and this is the first time I found out that your official site exists. I just wanted to thank you for creating the Brother Wolf book series, honestly, I have barely read the first book, and I am about to buy the second, but I learned about this first book when I was a 13-year-old boy in high school, and I never believed That it was actually a saga!. Not long ago I found out that to date there are already nine books, I was honestly very surprised, because at first when I discovered it, I thought there were six, but with a little research I found out that there were seven, and then eight, and recently Today I found out that there are now nine. Unfortunately for now I have not found the last two in my language, I am Mexican and for now I have only seen them in English, but my regret is that I can no longer find them in physical form, but that is not going to prevent me from at least being able to enjoy them. his work in electronic book. For now I can only say that, even having only read the first book, I am enthralled by his work, and I know that I will be pleasantly surprised as I continue reading the incredible story he has developed.Finally, and related to my confusion, I wanted to ask you a question, and I understand that for whatever reason I cannot answer it, but will you continue with the saga later? Assuming this has not already concluded in the ninth book, of course. Thank you again for offering me this world that I am about to venture into. I am writing this, an admirer of his work, Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
Michelle Replies...
Dear Cristopher, Thank you so much for getting in touch, and I'm really glad that you've enjoyed the first book. Just to explain about how many books there are: when I first had the idea for the stories, back in 2003, I was sure there would only be six books; so after I'd written the sixth book, I was certain that I'd finished the series. However readers kept asking for more, and a few years later I had an idea for three more books. So I wrote them, and that's why there are now nine. I should add, though, that the ninth book definitely brings and end to the series. This is mainly because, with books seven, eight and nine, I've developed the characters and brought them to a good place from which to continue with their lives (well, most of them, anyway). So you can be sure that when you've read the ninth book (Wolfbane) you will have finished the series. As for what language you can read it in, I'm afraid that the final three books haven't been translated into Spanish, so you'll need to catch up with them in the English editions. But I'm hoping this won't be too much of a problem for you, because your English is excellent. Once again, thank you so much for getting in touch - and may the guardian run with you! With very best wishes, Michelle
School Visits
Maria writes...
Hi Michelle,
I was wondering if you were going to do any school visits next academic year?
we would love to host you here. we are based just North of London near Watford.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Maria
Michelle Replies...
Dear Maria, Many thanks for your kind message, but I'm afraid that I'm no longer doing school visits - at least, not for the foreseeable future. I'm so sorry to disappoint you. With very best wishes, Michelle
Thank you very much for your work!
Polina writes...
Hello! My name is Polina. I'm from Russia. I first read your books at the age of 12. I'm 22 now. I still love the Chronicles of Dark Times with all my heart!
I just want to thank you very much for your work. 🫶
Michelle Replies...
Dear Polina, What are lovely message. I'm delighted that you've enjoyed my books, both as a child and as an adult. I remember the very first Russian edition of Wolf Brother, it had a beautiful cover with a wary-looking Torak in the Forest. (And I was thrilled to see my work translated into Russian, as I've always loved Russian literature.) I hope you continue to enjoy being in the Forest with Torak, Renn and Wolf - and thank you so much for getting in touch. With very best wishes, Michelle
Hi!
Paige writes...
Omg it’s so cool to talk to you!! Hi, my name’s Paige and I’m 16 years old. I’ve just wanted to say, I LOVE your wolf brother series so much!! I’ve been reading them since I was 11 in primary school! These books never get old, I’m currently re-reading wolf brother again right now!! Your books really gave me company when I was younger, I didn’t have many friends but your books really made me happy! Thank you for creating this beautiful series 💕
Michelle Replies...
Dear Paige, Thank you so much for your message, and I'm really pleased that you've been enjoying my Wolf Brother books! I'm also glad that they helped you through a rough patch when you were younger. I also went through a rough patch at about the same age, when my best friend turned against me, and I took refuge in books; so I have an idea how you felt. Anyway, I hope that is all behind you now, and that you can continue to enjoy spending time with Torak, Renn and Wolf in the Forest! May the guardian run with you. With very best wishes, Michelle
Trans and non binary people
Sam the really cool one writes...
Hiya Michelle
So I know that Dark and Kujai are accepted in the world (I think you said it in one of your you tube videos) but as the title suggests how are more gender diverse people treated in different places around the world of COAD? and are there any characters who are trans or gender neutral?
Pretty pretty please with Torak’s mark on a rock can you tell us fa name?
From Sam (super duper guy)
Michelle Replies...
Dear Sam, in creating the clans, I've studied the ways of life of traditional or indigenous peoples around the world, and their attitudes to gender differ widely, as do the attitudes of modern people today. (Thus for example, the Raven and Sea-eagle Clans welcome Dark and Kujai - while I fear that a few of the Deep Forest Clans might be less welcomng, just as they misogynistically sneered at Renn in Oath Breaker when she said she was Mage.) I've tried to suggest these different attitudes in the books, particularly through the Dark/Kujai story arc, but there would certainly have been more gender diverse people in Torak's world, as there are in our world today. However I've left that to the reader to imagine, and to try to picture how such people might fare among the different clans. As for telling you Fa's name: nice try, but nope! With best wishes, Michelle
Thank you
Dan writes...
Dearest Michelle,
I just wanted to express my appreciation for the your writing. I read Wolf Brother and its sequels as a child (many years ago!). I am now a practicing doctor and have been struggling the last year due to physical and mental health issues, not helped by the intensity of the job. Now, nearly two decades(!) later, I have returned to your books in the hope of a distraction. There is so little time free that I’ve had to listen to the audiobooks on my drive to and from work.
It’s hard to describe how fantastic an escape the series has been. To summarise it, they truly have allowed me to escape from my “black web”, for which I am forever grateful.
Sending you best wishes, and may the guardian run with you!
Dan
Michelle Replies...
Dear Dan, I'm absolutely delighted that my stories have helped you, during what sounds like a pretty rough patch; and what a great idea to listen to Ian's luminous audiobooks as you drive to and from work. I do hope that your own "black web" is now a thing of the past. Thank you so much for taking the time to get in touch - particularly given how busy you must be. May the guardian run with you too! Best wishes, Michelle
Dark and kujai
OnionToaster writes...
Are dark and kujai in love? I love your books by the way I was so excited when the 7th came out, I read spirit walker first in year 3, and I really liked it, im in year 7 now and i still love these books
Michelle Replies...
I'm so glad you like the books - and you've guessed correctly about Dark and Kujai. Thanks for getting in touch, and I hope that you continue to enjoy spending time with Torak, Renn, Wolf and the others in the Forest! With best wishes, Michelle
Fa
Sam writes...
Hallo, I’m Sam
I know you have had this question about a million times, but not from me. My super original question is…..
“What is fa’s name?”
Is it actually fa or did Torak forget? I know you’ve said you shall never tell us but I decided might as well ask myself.
Best wishes Sam (very cool guy)
Michelle Replies...
Nice try, Sam, but you're right, I've said in the past that I'll never tell Fa's name, and I'm sticking to that! But you can be assured that it isn't Fa (which just means "father"), and that Torak hasn't forgotten it. But he won't be telling you either. Thanks for getting in touch - and may the guardian run with you. With best wishes, Michelle
A Book that takes place before the events of Wolf Brother?
Ethan writes...
Hello Michelle,
When I was reading Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness, one thing always stuck to me - I always wondered what more we didn't get to know about Fa. I believe that he has a great story left to tell, and the fact that he only ever appears in the first few pages of Wolf Brother makes me curious as to whether you could develop another book in the series - this time, not following Torak's or Renn's story, but through the perspective of Fa, and Torak's mother, which is another character I would love to know more about. Perhaps the book might end at the night of when the demon bear attacks, or his last yells echoing through the forest, telling Torak to run. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
Thank you, for all the wonderful adventures you've shared on Torak and his friends. They've really inspired me to create some stories of my own!
Best Wishes,
Ethan
Michelle Replies...
Dear Ethan, thanks for your message, and you're not the only reader who has asked me about prequels. You're right in that there is an entire backstory to be told, but I'm afraid that it's never appealed to me to write it. I prefer to keep it mentioned in hints and glancing references, and I've always thought that it would destroy the mystery - particularly as regards Fin-Kedinn - if I were to write that story in full. Also, the thing I find off-putting about prequels is that we already know how they end; and in Fa's case, it doesn't end well! However, I'm delighted that you've enjoyed the books so much, and I'd like to wish you the best of all possible luck with your own writing. With best wishes, Michelle