Daryl writes…

Dear Mrs Paver,
As somebody who has to read a lot at their desk for their job, I noticed myself no longer reading for fun – I simply could not face the ever growing pile of books on my "to be read" shelf (now shelves…). I thought I ought to try something different and see if that lifted the plague of apathy i had towards reading anything that wasnt required for my job. After some digging (and randomly adding to my basket), my partner & I were surprised to see your book "Dark Matter" on both of our wishlists so I decided to buy it – if worse came to worse I could donate it to them.
Well, I was only a third way through Dark Matter before I purchased Thin Air. You have reignited my love for reading, the excitement to get into bed and get lost in another world before leaving our world to sleep. I finished Dark Matter in two days – i wish i had savoured it more but your writing didnt allow me to stop! Im now almost finished with Thin Air, another masterpiece I cant stop raving about to anybody who will listen.
I can see in other questions youve been asked to write an awful lot more books within the other worlds you have created. I feel cheeky asking if we could hope for another ghost story – knowing just how much love & time goes into each novel. But I cant help but hope I havent been greedy and devoured your two ghost story books within a week. If a ghost story isnt a future goal of yours, just know my disappointment is testament to your astounding work and you've not only created 2 books I adore, but you've also given me the ammunition to make time for myself doing what i love most: reading, reading and more reading. Love and light to you. And my utmost thanks. Daryl.

Michelle Replies…

Oh, Daryl, what an absolutely marvellous message to find as I was about to switch off my computer and go to bed!  I do feel for you when you noticed that you were no longer reading for fun.  That must have been truly disconcerting, to put it mildly; and I’m delighted that my stories helped you get over what you aptly call “the plague of apathy”.  I don’t think you were greedy at all for reading Dark Matter and Thin Air in a single week, I think it’s great.  I intended them to be read that way, in a very few sittings, so that the reader remains immersed in the story.  As to writing more ghost stories, I love writing them, even though they’re by far the hardest things I ‘ve ever written; but I can only create them when I get a really good idea, and I never know when (or if) one will come along.  However you’ll be glad to learn that since Thin Air, I have indeed written another novel, Wakenhyrst, which was published in the UK in 2019.  It’s set in Edwardian times, in an old English manor-house in the fens; and although I would tend to call it Gothic rather than a pure ghost story, it certainly has a strong spectral element.  Also, I’m in the process of finishing another ghost story.  It doesn’t yet have a title and I don’t know when it will be published, but it’s set in a remote part of the Mexican rainforest, and I think it’s one of my best.  I hope you enjoy it when it comes out – and in the meantime, it’s wonderful to know that you’ve regained your love of reading.  Thank you so much for getting in touch.  With very best wishes, Michelle