Naginn writes…

Hiya Michelle, I’ve written 4 times before and your unfortunately not rid of me yet
I hope your having a good day week and month (Torak’s birthday soon)
I have multiple short questions which I’m putting together

APOLOGIES FOR SPELLING

1. How long did it take you to write your first book
2. Have you seen the Disney movie brother bear? (The uncanny Native American version of Wolf Brother)
3. What helps you write?
4. (From a friend) what does eoastra look like under her mask ?
5. Can torak read?
6. Does Fin kedinn consider Renn, Hord, Torak and Dark his children?
7. (In outcast Renn said her mother identity was hers to share and only Finn and Saunn knew)
So did Hord think Renn was only his half sister or did he also know?

Thank you in advance for this reply
Hope you have a great month!
From Sam

Also I cannot see your reply in my inbox and it doesn’t appear on this website

Michelle Replies…

Dear Sam, I understand that my previous reply, sent an hour ago, didn’t get through.  So I’m trying again:

1. It took me a year to write Wolf Brother: about 3 months doing research, then 3-4 months writing the first draft, and the rest of the year re-writing.  That might sound a lot, when it probably takes you only a few days to read the book, but you see, writing is very hard work!  (Also, Wolf Brother wasn ‘t my first book, but I’ m giving it as an example as I suspect it’s the one you’re most interested in, and it was the first in the series.)
2. No, I haven’t seen Brother Bear.
3. Writing is all about deep concentration, so I make sure that I don’t have access to the internet in the room where I write, and that my phone is on silent; also, I’m in silence, and I have a view of the woods.  And if I get stuck, I go for a brief walk in the woods near my house; that usually helps.
4.  I prefer to leave Eostra’s face up to the reader’s imagination.  All I will say is that what’s under her mask isn’t good!
5.  No, Torak can’t read, because as far as we know, writing hadn’t been invented in northern Scandinavia six thousand years ago.  He and his people sometimes communicate via a few signs on stones and trees, but that’s not the same as writing.
6. Yes, in a way, Fin-Kedinn does consider Hord, Renn, Torak and Dark as his children.
7.  Again, I prefer to let the reader imagine whether Hord knew about their mother’s identity (he and Renn are brother and sister, not half-siblings) – although if Saeunn told Renn, she probably told Hord too, don’t you think?  (Also, thank you for not including any spoilers in your question!)  Well that’s all I’ve got time for, as I have to continue writing.  I really hope that this time, my answer gets through to you.  With best wishes, Michelle