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

Incredible… Inspiring… In Person!

Only 33 days to grab your ticket!

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.

Only 36 days to grab your ticket!

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 . . .
Only 41 days to grab your ticket!

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.

Only 45 days to grab your ticket!

Toppings Bookshop, Ely

October 29, 2025

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

Only 46 days to grab your ticket!

Shadows and Spirits: Writing the Unseen

October 30, 2025

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)

Only 62 days to grab your ticket!

WINTER HAUNTS 2025

November 15, 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!