From Rebecca

Just Wondering… What Was Torak’s Joke?

Just Wondering… What Was Torak’s Joke?
Rebecca Writes…

Rebecca writes…

Hi Michelle.
I was wondering some things:
At the start of Wolf Brother, Torak tells his father a joke.
What was that joke?
Will the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness book series be adapted onscreen (film/TV)?
Because I would love to see that.
Do you already have any actors in mind for the cast?
What was your first inspired thought for the first book?
And will Wolfbane be the very last book in the series?
Thank you.
I loved reading all these books in the series.
I don’t want the adventures of Torak, Renn and Wolf to end.
Kind regards, Rebecca.

Michelle Replies…

Hello, Rebecca, thanks so much for your message, and I’m delighted that you’ve enjoyed the stories.  To answer your questions: Concerning the joke Torak was telling his father at the start of Wolf Brother, other readers have asked me over the years and I’ve always resisted telling them, so I’m afraid I won’t change that now (consider it one of the minor mysteries of the series!).  As regards film or tv, there are currently no plans for an adaptation; if this changes, you may be sure that I’ll post the news on my website.  The inspiration for the series came in bits and pieces over several years and involved a lifelong love of wolves and the Stone Age, as well as an extremely frightening encounter with a large black bear.  For the full story, go to wolfbrother.com, then go into the Cave and click on Why I Wrote Wolf Brother.  And finally – yes, I’m afraid Wolfbane really is the last book in the series.  With that book I feel that I’ve given Torak, Renn and Wolf a good send-off – not to mention the other characters; and I’d much rather leave readers wanting more, than have the series fizzle out.  But I hope that as you’ve enjoyed the series so much, re-reading it might let you have many more happy times in the Forest with Torak, Renn and Wolf.  Thanks again for getting in touch – and may the guardian run with you!  Best wishes, Michelle


Upcoming Live Events With Michelle

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Wimbledon Book Festival

October 17, 2025
Festival patron and Sunday Times bestselling author Michelle Paver will talk about her latest supernatural fiction in this live recording with Always Take Notes, a podcast for and about writers and writing.

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.

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The Witching Hour with Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Waterstones Canterbury

October 20, 2025

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.

In this dazzling collection of original haunted tales, thirteen bestselling and much-loved authors bring the old superstition of the witching hour to new and vivid life.
Transporting you from the smog of London to the freezing mists of Svalbard, from an Irish town riddled with rumour to a sinister English boarding school, these thirteen stories will serve as your spine tingling companion to the long hours of winter.
So curl up, light a candle, and wait for the clock to strike . . .
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Yeovil Literary Festival

October 25, 2025

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.

Oxford Literary Festival 2026

March 29, 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.