I am a Japanese reader of the Japanese translation of Viper’s daughter.
Yuzu writes…
Dear Michelle.
I am Japanese. I love your novels!
I use a translation app because my English is not good enough.
I first read your novels 12 years ago.
For me, the world in which Torak, Ren and Wolf live is very far away, and yet very familiar. The world you write about them is clear, beautiful and palpable.
I grew up thinking of them as friends all my life.
So when the story ended and Torak, Ren and Wolf began their new journey, I was very sad that I could no longer follow their journey.
When I heard you had written 'Viper's daughter' I was delighted.
The Japanese translation has finally been released and just the other day I had the pleasure of meeting them again.
In truth, I was a little anxious. Would they stay who they are? What would I think of them as an adult? Would I be able to enjoy the journey with them as I did when I was a child?
All these fears were unfounded.
I enjoyed travelling with them.
Torak has become a little more honest and better at expressing his love for Renn. Renn was a bit timid because she loves Torak. But she was still smart and brave. She was still the wonderful girl I had always wanted to be.
I hope you know how happy that makes me!
I am so grateful that you gave me the opportunity to travel with them again.
Take care of yourself.
Dear Yuzu Shirosaki, Konichiwa! And what a lovely message to receive when I switched on my computer this morning. You put it so beautifully when you say that you felt as if Torak, Renn and Wolf were your friends; they felt like that to me too, when I was writing the stories. And like you, I felt a bit anxious when I sat down to write Viper’s Daughter. I’m really delighted that you enjoyed being back in the Forest with them – and I hope that in due course, you will be able to return with them for the final two books in the series, if they are also translated into Japanese. Thank you so much 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.