I had the unique experience of Interviewing Michelle Paver, author of the Wolf Brother; book one of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. The interview was held on Monday, March, 2005 via telephone.
"Torak woke with a jolt from a sleep he'd never meant to have." Thus begins the New York Times Best Seller, Wolf Brother, written by Michelle Paver.
The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness' first book Wolf Brother begins with the aftermath of a bear attack.
| Psitalk: |
Was the opening chapter of Wolf Brother influenced by a real-life event? |
| Paver: |
I was hiking in California when I came across a bear and her two cubs. I had to convince the bear that I was not a threat to herself or her cubs. |
| Psitalk: |
The hero of your tale, Torak, lived in north-west Europe. I understand you have spent some time in Finland and in the Uplands? |
| Paver: |
Yes, I visited Finland and with my guide and we rode 300 miles into the northern wilds where I experienced living outdoors and eating on berries… |
| Psitalk: |
I asked if she realized that JRR Tolkien had set his saga of middle-earth also 6000 years ago (4000BC). I asked if she believed comparisons between Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and her the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness were fair. |
| Paver: |
No, I didn't realize that The Lord of the Rings was set in the same time period. But I am flattered by the comparison. |
| Psitalk: |
Why did you choose this period? |
| Paver: |
I chose a time period following the last ice age at a time when man was still a hunter-gatherer and had not acquired agriculture knowledge and began farming. |
| Psitalk: |
A wolf is a prominent character in your novel. Do you have a wolf or a dog at home? |
| Paver: |
I have always loved dogs but living in Wimbledon, England…I have a pet Cocker Spaniel. |
| Psitalk: |
Where did you get the idea for the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness? |
| Paver: |
I got the inspiration for the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness one afternoon at home. I was sitting in my garden and the glimmer of an idea suddenly came to me and in a few hours I had mapped out the entire series of six books! Each is set in a different geographical area and continues the quest of Torak who is trying to save his world. |
| Psitalk: |
Do you believe people have a personal quest? |
| Paver: |
I don't believe that everyone has a personal quest. Some people like to live quiet lives. |
| Psitalk: |
When do you get interested in myth and folklore? |
| Paver: |
When I was a child I loved to play in the woods. I really love trees! Tolkien also loved trees. |
| Psitalk: |
I understand that the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness have just been optioned to Director Ridley Scott, the director of Bladerunner. |
| Paver: |
Yes, it is very exciting. |
| Psitalk: |
There is also an audio book in the works. |
| Paver: |
Yes, Wolf Brother has been made into an audio book and is narrated by Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. It was a real pleasure speaking with him. |
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Ms. Paver stated that she had just finished work on her second book of the series that weekend. Spirit Walker should be bookstores in February 2006.. |
