Maggie Stiefvater - Forever

Its a little odd to be saying good-bye to a world Ive lived in for almost four years, a series that changed my life pretty completely, but here I am. Now that Ive come to the end of it, I figured its a good time to say something about the parts of my story that really exist outside the pages of the books.

First of all, the wolves.

Ive tried to stay true to actual wolf behavior throughout the series (although I wouldnt recommend kissing one anytime soon). For readers whod like to find out more about wolf behavior, I recommend the documentary Living with Wolves as a good starting point. The roles of Ulrik and Paul and Salem are all standard ones in a real wolf pack: the peacemaker, the alpha, and the omega. The reality of pack dynamics is fascinating stuff.

Its also real that a wolfs place in our world is highly debated. The hunt Tom Culpeper helped instigate is based on real wolf hunts staged in the western United States and Canada as ranchers and wolves struggle to find equilibrium. The facts remain wolves are lovely but powerful predators and humans are jealous keepers of their territory and their livelihoods so more wolves will meet their death at the end of a hunters gun or in the shadow of a helicopter before this is all done.

Second of all, Mercy Falls, Minnesota.

Ive been told by many readers that its impossible to find on a map, and Im sorry. Shiver originally took place in Ely, MN, which is a real place, then Bishop, MN, which is not, and finally Mercy Falls. In my head Mercy Falls is quite near Ely and the Boundary Waters. Outside of my head, its quite near nothing at all, as it doesnt exist. That part of Minnesota, however, does host a very real population of gray wolves.

Other real places in the books include the candy shop (based on Wythe Candy in Williamsburg, VA), the Crooked Shelf (based on Riverby Books in Fredericksburg, VA), and Bens Fish and Tackle (although I wont reveal where the store it was based on is located, to protect the identity of the sweaty man who owns it).

Third of all, the people.

Some of the characters are loosely based on real people. Dmitra the sound engineer is a real person, although in real life she doesnt have a big nose, nor is she female. Graces parents are real, though theyre not mine. And Ulrik is an actual person, although hes not a werewolf.

Fourth of all, the poetry.

As Sams favorite, Rilke is most prominent, but theres also Mandelstam, Roethke, Yeats, and other assorted German poets. Even if you are a die-hard poetry un-fan like myself, I still recommend Stephen Mitchells beautiful translations of Rilke and German Poetry in Transition, 19451990, edited by Charlotte Melin.

And finally, the love.

Many, many readers have written me asking wistfully about the nature of Sam and Graces relationship, and I can assure you, that sort is absolutely real. Mutual, respectful, enduring love is completely attainable as long as you swear you wont settle for less.

So this is good-bye to Mercy Falls. Its time to find other uncharted worlds.