Clan-tattoos: some questions
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, but I think the tattoos are such a lovely element to the world, so I was curious to know more.
1. I know that people of different clans marry. Would the person who moved to live with the clan of their spouse have the new clan’s tattoo done along with their existing one, would they adopt some other kind of mark to show that they’ve joined the new one, or would they simply stay as they are in terms of appearance?
2. At what age would people typically have their tattoos done? I know that children bear them, but I was wondering if it varied vastly between clans or if some would see that you reach a certain milestone or feat first.
3. Is there any tattoo that you like the most or that you think would suit you best? Personally I like the Red Deer one – I find it’s simple but pretty and noble in a way. Of course it’s hard to choose a favourite!
If some of this is better left as more abstract or simply different from case to case, that’s of course alright haha. Thank you in advance either way!
Best wishes from Sweden!
Hello, Sofie. Thanks for asking about clan-tattoos; and you’re not alone in finding them intriguing! To answer your questions: 1) What happens when an individual goes to live with the clan of their mate? It’s up to each clan on this, there’s no set rule that governs all the clans. Generally, the more easy-going clans let the incoming individual keep their original tattoos without adding a new one (unless they particularly want to); only some of the very hard-line Deep Forest Clans such as the Aurochs require them to adopt new clan-tattoos. 2) At what age does a child get them? Usually at age seven; which is why Torak recalls Fa giving him his clan-tattoos at the beginning of Wolf-Brother. 3) Which clan-tattoo is my favourite? Well, if I had to be in a clan, I think I’d go for the Ravens – but as for the clan-tattoo, I actually like that if the Sea-eagle Clan best: a four-clawed sea-eagle foot on the back of the left hand sounds about right for me, as I’m left-handed; and perhaps it would bring me luck in my writing. (Having said that, I’m not keen on the idea of actually getting a tattoo for myself; I don’t like the idea of its being permanent.) But I can see why you like the Red Deer clan-tattoo, it’s very elegant and neat, and yet mysterious, too. Thanks for asking such good questions, Sofie – and may the guardian hunt with you! With very best wishes, Michelle
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Hay Festival Book Club – Dark Matter
Michelle in conversation with Danny Robins - this is a FREE online event!
Timeless titles to offer you a break from the day to day. Can't decide what to read next? Follow your curiosity and join Hay Festival on a journey to imagine the world anew through great literature. Unconstrained by genre or form these are our monthly picks of great books worth reading (or re-reading) right now.
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Tuesday 14 October, 7–8pm BST
Wimbledon Book Festival
Michelle will discuss her incredible career, from finding inspiration for Wolf Brother on Wimbledon Common to her latest novel Rainforest, which weaves Mayan culture with themes of obsession, gender and rebirth.
The Witching Hour with Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Waterstones Canterbury
Join Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Sheperd-Robinson as they discuss their stories in a brand new collection of ghostly tales called The Witching Hour.
Yeovil Literary Festival
An experience like no other. From a writer like no other...
Successfully published as an adult author, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (“Wolf Brother”) were her first books for younger readers, followed by her brilliant 5-part series set in the bronze age, Gods and Warriors. On the adult side, her first ghost story, Dark Matter, was a UK bestseller and won massive praise from reviewers and readers alike, as did her second ghost story, Thin Air.
Toppings Bookshop, Ely
It’s nearly Halloween! Where better to get in the Gothic mood than with Michelle’s spine-chilling world of the supernatural? Come along if you’re in the Ely area (book your place first) and enjoy a thrilling evening of shadows!
Venue: St Peter's Church
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Ely
Cambridgeshire CB7 4BB
Doors Open 6.40pm Start Time 7pm
Shadows and Spirits: Writing the Unseen
Step into the shadows with three masters of modern Gothic and supernatural fiction - Michelle, Syd Moore and CJ Cooke - as they explore why dark stories continue to captivate us. From haunted coastlines to Arctic wastelands, and from age-old folklore to the secrets of the human psyche, these acclaimed authors weave tales that blur the boundaries between the real and the uncanny. In this compelling conversation, they’ll discuss the enduring appeal of the Gothic, the influence of myth and landscape, and why stories of ghosts, spirits, and things unseen still resonate in today’s world. Expect insights, chills, and a celebration of fiction that thrives in the shadows. Tickets are limited so get them while you can!
Goldsboro Books
23-27 Cecil Court
London WC2N 4EZ
Time: 6.30pm (doors from 6pm)
Women in Horror Weekend
Come and celebrate Women in Horror Weekend with Waterstones Nottingham! Including author talks from the some of the best women writers in horror, a classic film screening and spooky goody bags and workshops from Lush Nottingham! Michelle will be in conversation with Julia Armfield on Saturday from 5;15pm onwards... See you there!
Waterstones Nottingham
1/5 Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham NG1 2GR
Te. 0115 9470069
WINTER HAUNTS 2025
Online event! Ghost story, gothic and supernatural fiction day 10:30am - 6:30pm GMT... Michelle with Lucy Rose, Jess Kidd, Emilia Hart, CJ Cooke, Hollie Starling, Emma Glass. Connect with fellow fans of the strange, the eerie, and the otherworldly!
Oxford Literary Festival 2026
The Oxford Literary Festival takes place in venues across central Oxford, such as Blackwell's bookshop, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Weston Library, and Oxford colleges such as Christ Church and Worcester College. The festival includes international authors, journalists, intellectuals, historians, and poets.