Bulletin Board

Dear BC - I decided to ditch life as a consultant and plunge headlong into what I really wanted to do: write fiction, so on or about Sept.10-12, 2001, a slew of agents in NY and London received the first three chapters of my manuscript. Unfortunately, I had chosen to write about a monumental but fictional terrorist attack on the United States. Most of the responses I did get back from agents went something like this, "You can't seriously expect us to try and sell this story to publishers in light of what just happened?!" Put off temporarily, I went back to being a consultant but five years later, my Muse has just raised her head again and every day now, I feel compelled to dive back into writing. Thank you so much for your "Advice to Writers" section on your website - if there is anything akin to a motivating kick-up-the-backside, then that's what you produced in that section. Simple, uncomplicated and right on the money. Thank you for saying, "Story, Story, Story" - never has so much been said in so few words. Oh, by the way, yes, I love Sharpe, and Thomas of Hookton and the Arthur series and the Saxon stories too...just in case you were wondering. As the expression goes, peace be unto you. Be well, stay that way.
Shah Azmi

Hi Bernard I don't expect you to remember, but when you were last in Australia I interviewed you over the phone for my newspaper The Courier-Mail. At that stage, I had just read your first two Saxon stories and was about to embark on Richard Sharpe's adventures. I'm afraid I now have something of a Richard Sharpe addiction, which I shared with the readers of my newspaper in a column I wrote in Saturday's paper - you'll find the column on my blog at http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/watercooler/index.php/couriermail/C100. If you do make it back to Australia, and in particularly to Brisbane, I would love to interview you again for my paper. Anyway, thanks from a grateful Sharpe fan, regards, Rodney Chester

Hi Bernard, Just seen Sharpes Challenge, excellent. Sean plays the part very well. Story idea..Sharpe in the Crimea. Richard would be in his 80's by then but maybe a son to carry on his fathers stories. Or Richard as a observer for the Green Rifles ? Can't wait until Sharpe's Fury is released in Australia, Cheers, Chris Sinclair

Dear Mr Cornwell, just finished Stonehenge and even though I didn't enjoy it quite as much as some of your other series, it was interesting to read about a subject and an age of which I really knew nothing. Keep up the great work, and I hope you never retire! Ok, maybe a semi-retirement of one book a year.
Michael Calkins

Having fallen in lust with Sean Bean some years ago, I watched Sharpe's Challenge again tonight. I did enjoy it, but truly think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read the 3 books Challenge is based on. Too bad they didn't take one of your other books & make a real movie. I have read & reread all your Sharpe books & will continue to do so. Nancy

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am totally enthralled by the tales of Uhtred as this is my favourite period in history before the Normans invaded. Mainly because it is hard to find information on this period, apart from the writings of bede and the Saxon chronicles, and for this reason it stirs the imagination more than any other period for me. So you see, you cannot end Uhtred's tale with Lord's of the North. He simply must go on. Soon please. Malc.

Can I just say how much I enjoyed the latest installment of the Sharpe series. Once again, in Sharpe's Fury, you feel that you are witnessing the events as they unfold. From my knowledge of the Peninsula War, Sharpe still has several battles to paticipate in and I cannot wait for his next adventure. Keep up the good work.
Raymond Oswin

Dear Mr Cornwell, Just discovered that Sharpe's Fury is available in Australia. I hope that I am not the exception to say that I have read and enjoyed all the Shapre's book at least three times. I have read the four Books re the US Civil War ans not the link with Sharpe's son. Could there be a book - Patrick Harper and Richard Sharpe's sons find themselves in the Crimera assualting the Heights of Alma months before the Charge. Both witmess the Charge. Could provide some rationale for Sharpe's son injuries as described the Civial War books. Pity that all the Sharpe's DVD are not the Region Code that enables them to be played in Australia. Ross Cook

Just wanted to take a moment and tell you I recently discovered the Saxon series and am enjoying it immensely. I do not mean this as an affront but I was not aware of your prior novels. Now that I have 'discovered' you, I look forward to exploring your past work. You make history alive and exciting which is exactly how it should be. There are many that try and make it as dull and suffocating as possible which is a shame. Im sure that the same words are written/said to you many times over; but I just wanted to add my piece. Thank you very much for some extremely enjoyable reading.
Christopher Flacco

Hi Bernard. I'm Enda Cullen, a lyricist writing from Ireland. I'm a huge fan of Sharpe (and the Starbuck Chronicles). I remembered in one of the Sharpe books / movies Harper when drinking with another Irish Sergeant used the phrase "Bas in Eireann". I've developed it into a lyric that one of my co-writers is developing. If you are interested to hear how it turns out please let me know. In any event, thanks for your storytelling. Enda Traditional Ballad) © 2006 Enda Cullen & Ian Smith (Edit 3) Bas in Eireann / Thy Will Be Done Intro (Same as Chorus /Acapella) Bas in Eireann / A Soldiers Prayer Let my last breath be / in Ireland fair I pray one day / my bones be buried there And when / my earthly time has run Thy will be done Verse 1 Rivers, Mountaintops, Ravines For Wellington / Ive crossed them all To fight the French at Talavera Badahoz and Sabugal In Sun so cruel it burns my eyes With heavy pack / upon my back Ive Portugal and Spain to save >From Nosey-Bonapartes attack Verse 2 Stephen Hayden is my name A Rifleman / in tunic-green Worn and torn and tattered now >From many bloody battles seen Fifteen miles a day we march Oer rugged trails / that rip our feet One man in three has boots to wear The rest bleed oer the stones beneath Lead-In (1) Cannon like the thunder rolls Young men and boys cut down like trees As Eireanns sons on either side Begin our fight on bended knees Chorus 1 Sayin Bas in Eireann / A Soldiers Prayer Let my last breath be / in Ireland fair I pray one day / my bones be buried there And when, my earthly time has run Thy will be done Verse 3 Our Officer / his sabre drawn In pools of his own blood he lies He never heard the ball that stung The Lord made this his day to die Now Frenchies line the walls above Their silver bayonets catch the sun Veterans of the Grande Armee Their Eagles tell of honours won Lead-In (2) Variation Cannon like the thunder rolls Young men and boys cut down like trees Before our Forlorn Hopes demise We Irish fighters bend our knees Chorus 2 (Revolving) Sayin Bas in Eireann / A Soldiers Prayer Let my last breath be / in Ireland fair I pray one day / my bones be buried there But if now, my earthly time has run Thy will be done Tag If now, my earthly time has run Thy will be done