Sofie writes…
Dear Michelle,
Hello! My name is Sofie, and I just wanted to write and give you my thanks.
My mom gave me the 1st CoAD book for Christmas back in 2011 when I’d turned 12 years old, and we both got hooked – I’m 25 now and I still love your books so, so much. I’ve re-read them now and then over the years and they’re always a thrill, they hold a proud place in my bookshelf. I hope to have my little cousin read them when he’s a bit older, because I think he’d love them just as much as I do. It was so exciting to hear that you’d released 3 new works for the series recently! I know it was a while ago now, but I just found out this winter and my mom and I are both going to read them like we did back in the day. The other week I let a classmate borrow my copy of part five, Oath Breaker, and she was sooo excited to have it, haha. As I understand it she just started reading them for the first time recently, and it’s given us something to be equally enthused about.
Right now I’m a university student who studies ancient religion and archaeology (by Umeå University in Sweden), and having read your books it’s just a little cherry on top to the whole experience. So interesting!! I’ve always been very impressed with the research you did in order to write this series, going out of your way to learn more about wolves for example, but it really is amazing seeing how well you breathe life into these ancient worlds. I love and adore your attention to detail, and the way your writing style makes everything so vivid and captivating without being overly lengthy or complicated. Your works have given me a huge love for culture, nature and art.
The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness will always be a series that’s dear to my heart, and I can’t thank you enough for what a gem you shared with us all. Thank you from me and mine in the past, present and future!
Best wishes to you,
Sofie
Michelle Replies…
Dear Sofie, what a marvellous message to receive! I loved reading about how both the 12-year-old you and your mother both got hooked by my stories – and that you still enjoy reading them today, as an adult. I can imagine that when you re-read them now, with insight into archaeology and ancient religions gained from your course, you probably see all sorts of different things in themfrom when you enjoyed them as a child. (I often find that myself, for instance, when I re-read re-retellings of the Norse myths which were my favourites as a ten-year-old.) Over the years I’ve had many messages from people such as you, who first read the Wolf Brother books as children, and yet still enjoy them as adults. It’s actually not something I foresaw when I was writing the stories, but I love the fact that it happens.
I wish you every possible success with your University course – which sounds absolutely fascinating – and of course, many more hours with Torak, Renn and Wolf in the Forest! May the guardian run with you. Michelle