Your Questions

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Recently I boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise slated to head to Bermuda. Unfortunately Mother Nature forced the RC suits to steer us to Canada. Well, I forgot to pack the book I wanted to read on the cruise so I visited the on-ship general store & came across "Stormchild". I must be honest, I am not a hardcore book reader, nor have I ever heard of you before. But I had a book in my hand, spotted the "Stormchild" cover, then read the back...sounded like my taste. So I opted for "Stormchild". Turns out that I didn't have much reading time at sea, but started it & wanted to read more. I finished when we returned home & must say, that "Stormchild" may be the best book that I have ever read. Thank you. I felt strongly for the characters, especially Tim & Jackie & I was touched by the ending lines. I have two questions; -Has there ever been any talk of putting this on film? And, which one of your other titles would you recommend to me, keeping in mind that I like stories of the sea, sailing, & adventure? Thank you again. And I will strongly recommend "Stormchild" to others. Sincerely, Jack Santos Pt. PLeasant Beach, NJ

A

No talk of putting the book to film, but I'm glad to know you liked it. You may also enjoy the other sailing books (click on the link to your right for 'The Thrillers') - Wildtrack, Sealord, Crackdown, and Scoundrel.


Q

I never thought I would find a series that I liked better than the Sharpe books - until I listened to The Archer's Tale. However, I got a bit confused. I listened to the book on tape - and went back to the first tape twice, but still didn't catch on. How did you get from Thomas' father - the richest man in Hookton, who whipped Thomas for making a bow. Then, all of a sudden, Thomas was the bastard son of the noble priest. Were the 2 descriptions of the same father? Did I miss a transition? Please help me resolve this question. I love all your books. Keep them coming. Terry Hoye

A

Not all of a sudden - he was always the priest's son - yes, Daddy did a naughty (not uncommon), and though his father is the wealthiest man in Hookton, wealth in that village is relative.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I read all your books and loved every one of them. I thank you very much for all these wonderful hours of reading. I find it great that you take some of your precious time to answer messages from your fans. As you probably deduced from my first sentences, English is not my first language : I'm half French, half Belgian. Though I'm a big big fan of Sharpe, I have the feeling that you are a bit unfair with the "Frogs". Soult, for example, is almost ridiculous in your Sharpe's Havoc novel though everything I read about him leads me to believe that he was a great soldier. Don't you agree ? In the historical note at the end of Sharpe's Havoc, you write that you couldn't find news of Major Dulong after the Saltador. I found a quote about him on the napoleonic-literature.com website : he supposedly was made Colonel and died in 1828. It would be nice if Sharpe was to meet him again ... I'm considering writing a novel about Dulong : do you know if it has already been done by someone before ? Thank you again for your great books : I just finished The Last Kingdom and can't wait for the Pale Horseman !!! Fabrice CORNET

A

I've never come across a novel about Dulong, and he'd make a great hero - so good luck! I don't think I was unfair to Soult in Sharpe's Havoc - it all happened much as I describe it. There were lots of terrific French Marshals and generals, their problem was that they never quite worked out how to deal with Wellington.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell What do you think of Macmillan's New Writing scheme? (Link here http://www.panmacmillan.com/aboutPan/macmillannewwriting.html to save you looking it up). Opinion seems to be about evenly split over whether it is a genuine attempt to find new writers, whether it is some kind of scam (although if it is a scam, I can't see what Macmillan get out of it), or whether it is simply a bad idea doomed to failure (because literary agents already know every writer who has talent). If the scheme had been in existence when you were trying to find a publisher for the first Sharpe book, would you have considered it? What chiefly puzzles me is the logistics of assessing many hundreds of submissions. From your experience of the publishing industry (and your editor's?), do you think it's possible for a publisher to do that, and how might they go about it? Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the subject. Carole

A

I don't know a thing about it, sorry. Anything that encourages manuscripts to publishers seems to me a good thing, though, and if that benefits MacMillan, why not? MacMillan, like every publisher, knows that there are good writers out there, and lots of them don't get apprehended by agents, so perhaps this is a good way of beating the bushes. Can they make it work? Dunno. My publisher certainly reads unsolicited manuscripts. They want writers! Forgive me for not looking into it in detail, but I can't think it's a bad thing, and if it turns up a couple of good writers then that's good news.


Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am a big fan of the Starbuck Chronicles. I was wondering if you visited the battlegrounds before writing? I have visited most of the US Civil war Eastern theater battle fields including camping at Harpers Ferry on the remains of a Union abatis. Which promted me to re-read The Bloody Ground. Please continue the Starbuck Chronicles. Donald Senkbeil

A

Yes I did - I try to visit all the battlefields depicted in my books.


Q

Hi Bernard, I have recently finished rereading The Winter King which I first read in 1996 (making me 14!). I have also completed The Last Kingdom and note similarities between the protagonists - namely that Uhtred and Derfel were both captured and reared by their enemies. I was wondering if there is a particular reason behind this or if this is a method of writing that you find comes easily to you? I would also like to say how much I am enjoying the Sharpe series, particularly the attention to detail and description of battles. The Arthurian trilogy stands out as my favourite of your works and I am thoroughly enjoying revisiting it. Jenn

A

Gosh, I never noticed! You're quite right. I suspect it is some deep psychological flaw in me, and have to tell you that it's much too late to make a correction. But thanks for pointing it out.


Q

I would like to know why I can't find the book Heretic in italian Language. thank you and compliments for your books. Pier

A

I do believe the Italian publisher, Longanesi, does have plans to publish Heretic in Italian - perhaps it's not out yet? You may want to contact the publisher directly for more information.


Q

What is an auroch? you mention it in Stonehenge. Karsten Hansen

A

The auroch is a species of wild cattle (cows, bulls) which is now extinct. I believe the last wild auroch was killed in Poland in the 18th Century. They were huge! Vast! Not your everyday moo-cow, but a hulking great wild beast that could gut you with a swing of a horn. We do have auroch skeletons, and one college in either Oxford or Cambridge has a drinking horn made from an auroch's horn - a huge thing.


Q

Over the last 3 years or so you have become my favorite author. I have now read all your books except the one off novels. I am currently reading the Last Kingdom and am struck by a certain linked theme to the 3 Arthur books. In the Arthur books you featured the conflict between the Britons and invading germanic peoples, Last Kingdom is set during the conflicts between the 'English' and the Danes. Both periods of history are so key to the nature of present day Britain. In a similar fashion the Roman invasion of Britain and the Norman conquest are important. Any chance of novels set at these periods?
William Allen

A

I've given it some thought - but no plans for either at the moment.


Q

Dear Bernard, I must say that you are my favorite author, and I do read quite a bit. My favorites are the Arthur books and I've read them several times; of course I love Sharpe and Thomas of Hookton also. I can understand ending the Grail Quest but I would like to ask if you have given thought to a "prequel" to the Grail Quest. I could see you doing amazing things with the Cathars, Montsegur, the early Vexille family, and the Dark Lords. I find the Albinginsian Crusade to be endlessly intriquing (much to the chagrin of my Catholic wife!!!). I understand you will be busy for years on the new project and am anxiously awaiting book number two in October (Maybe January in the States), but hope that perhaps the Dark Lords can lure you into telling their story. Best regards and continued health and success. Mark Chapman

A

Sounds good! I'll think on it!