Correct the contents of the e-mail
Sari writes…
I'd like to inform you that there has been a correction to the text of the email I sent you earlier. I mistakenly wrote "What do you think about their names?", but the correct question is about how to name the characters. I'm not confident in my English and relied on a translation app, so I'm sorry if it sounds strange! I look forward to hearing from you.
Dear Sari, Konichiwa! Thank you very much for both emails, and I’m delighted that you have enjoyed my books since you were at school. If I understand your (corrected) question, you want to know how to pronounce, or say, the characters’ names – so here’s the answer. Torak: the “o” is short, like the 1st “o” in the Japanese name “Toshiro”; the “a” is short, like the “a” in “Rashomon” (you can tell I’m a Kurosawa fan!);- and the stress (emphasis) is on the 1st syllable. Renn: the “e” is short, as in “yen”. As for Okami (Wolf), you know how to say that better than I! You also asked about the origin of Torak’s name. Well, the short answer is, I made it up. But in doing so, I thought about sounds from old languages, particularly Old Norse (the language of the Vikings). So when I came up with “Torak”, I was pleased, as I thought I’d invented a good, strong name. I was suprised when I went to Greenland to research the second book, Spirit Walker, and an Inuit girl told me that in her language, Greenlandic, it means “perfect”. I thought this was great – even though Torak, being human, is not perfect. I told the Inuit girl that it also felt a bit spooky that I had happened across that name, but she wasn’t surprised. She said, “Oh well, you must have been Inuit in a previous life.” I hope the above answers your questions, and that you continue to enjoy the stories. Thank you so much again for getting in touch. With very best wishes, Michelle
Upcoming Live Events With Michelle
Incredible… Inspiring… In Person!
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
Broad Street,
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.