Michelle Paver's Blog

Dear Michelle.
I met a friend for lunch yesterday and we went to see your doom afterwards – it is the most spectacular thing to see in situ, (and would highly recommend a visit to anyone passing through Suffolk) although we were surprised to see the scaffolding. It would appear it is showing signs of age (understandable) so there were some experts administering ‘first aid’ to it whilst others were trying to figure out how it was suspended, and how easy it would be to remove said piece.
The plan would then be to quote for repair, raise funds, remove it to Cambridge for restoration, have it framed then replace in the church in a slightly different position.
I thought you may be interested to know how your doom is doing anyway – as well as the fact that I told another couple of visitors they absolutely had to buy a copy of Wakenhyrst.
Kindest regards,
Valda.

Michelle Replies…

Dear Valda, thank you so much for this!  I love your picture of the Doom, it brings back so many memories of writing Wakenhyrst – not to mention my surprise on coming across it for the first time, quite by chance, before I’d even had the idea for the story.  It’s also really great to know that the Doom is receiving some well-deserved, expert attention.  I do hope they go ahead with the restoration (I’ll keep up to date with this from now on), and also maybe a re-hanging.  When I visited the Doom, I was slightly surprised that it was so low down, where it seemed to me that someone might accidentally brush against it and cause inadvertent damage.  Anyway, thanks again – and thanks also for that highly evocative picture of Iceland you sent recently.  With very best wishes, Michelle

I don't have a question to ask, Chronicles of Ancient Darkness was my favourite book series growing up 15 years ago, and it instilled within me a timeless love for reading and tribal/clan worlds that I hold even today. Thank you so much for sharing your creation with us. I will never forget Torak and Renn!

Michelle Replies…

Dear Kazza, your message was the first thing I read after I woke up this morning; what a lovely way to start the day!  It means a great deal to me to know that you enjoyed the stories so much when you were younger, and that they’ve had such a lasting and beneficial effect.  Thank you for taking the time to send such a beautifully succint yet heartfelt message.  May the guardian run with you.  With very best wishes, Michelle

Hi Michelle I am an animator and artist and I completely loved the wolf brother books as a kid and have recently bought the entire series again to read at my new house, I specifically love the survival and fantasy aspects, the research you've done is amazing, I love the series and wish there were 100 more.

My question is, where can I find more? Do you have any books or films that inspired you? Or any research materials/museums you would recommend looking into? Or artwork that has the same feel?

Thank you so much
Alex

Michelle Replies…

Dear Alex, It’s great to hear that you still love the books.  I drew some inspiration from fairy stories and folklore, but I can’t name any one specific book or film, as my inspiration really arose from being interested in the Stone Age as a child.  As for research, some stand-out books which I used a lot include classics such as James Fraser’s The Golden Bough, Mircea Eliade’s Shamanism and David Lewis-Williams’ The Mind in the Cave, as well as many other less well-known books, including Spirits of the Snow (part of the Time-Life Myth and Mankind series) and Arctic Clothing, ed JCH King et al, The British Museum Press. I also consulted lots of other books on specific hunter-gatherer or indigenous cultures, such as the Ainu, the First Nations of Canada, the Inuit, the Sami, Indigenous Australians and others.  I hope this helps a bit, and enjoy your new house!  With best wishes, Michelle

hi my name is kyler. I read wolf brother. what gave you the idea to put the setting in the stone age

Michelle Replies…

Hello, Kyler. Even before I could read, I was interested in the Stone Age, because my parents had a big book about the archaeology, with beautiful, dramatic and very realistic pictures.  I loved looking at those pictures, which really caught my imagination.  As I grew older, I used to play living in the Stone Age with my friends, and I also read books about archaeology.  Much later, when I had the beginnings of an idea about a boy, a girl, a wolf and a large scary bear, it just seemed natural to set it in the Stone Age; I suppose that was because I was so keen on it when I was a child.  Well, that’s all I’ve got time for.  Please would you tell your other classmates, and your teacher, that I can’t reply to any more emails from them, as I have to do some writing.  I’m really glad that so many of you have enjoyed reading Wolf Brother, and I hope you all continue to have fun with Torak, Renn and Wolf in the Forest.  Happy reading!  With best wishes, Michelle

Hi, my name is Sarah and I read Wolf Brother with my 9th grade class. My question is: what are your top 5 favorite animals?

Michelle Replies…

Hello, Sarah.  My favourite animals are (perhaps not surprisingly) wolves and killer whales, otherwise known as orca. (When I was researching the second book, Spirit Walker, I swam with wild orca, off the coast of north Norway, and it was an amazing experience.)   However I don’t really have favourites after those two, as I like most animals.  With best wishes, Michelle

I was just wondering if you were going to make a movie about Wolf Brother I think it was an amazing book so that's my question I hope you have a great day thank you for your time

Michelle Replies…

Hello, Ezrah.  You’ll have seen from my answers to your classmates that I won’t be making a movie of Wolf Brother – though if in the future a film studio decides to do it, I will of course post the news on my website.  Thanks for getting in touch.  Best wishes, Michelle

Hello my name is Aiden i read the book in my 9th grade english class and i really liked your book and i was wondering if you was gonna make a movie

Michelle Replies…

Hi, Aiden, I’m so glad that you enjoyed Wolf Brother.  No, I won’t be making a movie (see my answers to your other classmates).   With best wishes, Michelle

Hey my name is Ray Oquin i really liked your book Wolf Brother. I was wondering how long it took you to write your book, and if you were gonna make a movie. Thanks for your time.

Michelle Replies…

Hello, Ray.  I’m really glad that you liked Wolf Brother.  The book took me about a year to write, as I’ve explained in my reply to your classmate Connor.  And no, I won’t be making a movie of it, because it’s way too expensive; that’s for a movie studio to do (as I’ve told someone else in your class).  And in case you’re wondering, Wolfbane is the final book in the series.  I think nine is a good number to end on! With best wishes, Michelle

Hello, my name is Nevaeh Deel, and I learned about your book by reading it in my English class, and It is now my most favorite book that I have ever read, and now I have a question for you. How and when did you start writing books?

Michelle Replies…

Hi, Nevaeh.  I wrote my first story when I was five, on my mother’s typewriter. It was about a mouse goddess who led her people to safety after a glacier threatened their village. When I was at school I went on writing stories, and plays for my friends to act in, but it wasn’t until I was at university that I started seriously trying to write a book, and get it published.  Of course, I still wasn’t good enough to be published, as writing books is hard, and it can take years to learn.  I just kept on trying, and sending stuff out to publishers – although this took ages, as I was also studying for a degree in biochemistry, then later at law school, and becoming a lawyer.  Eventually, though, I managed it!  Which I suppose goes to show that when you write, you need to be persistent.  With best wishes, Michelle

how did you learn about Wolf Brother?

Michelle Replies…

Hi, Kayleigh.  I’m not sure I understand your question, but if you mean how did I learn about wolves, and how Torak his people lived in the Stone Age, please see my reply to your classmate Andy, as I explain it all to him.  With best wishes, Michelle