Your Questions

Q

I had a notion to construct a novel on our family in the West Indies Regiments...but the task of creating endless "conversations" which would be totally fabricated seemed really onerous...ie totally fictious.and seems to take up a lot of "time" in the novel...but of course you are writing fiction....this seems in conflict with the purpose of the author whom I assume is trying to instruct some truthful episodes of historical reality...your comments. BC

Submitted March 29, 2005

A

Not quite sure what to say about this! Dialogue is hugely important, not just for delineating character, but also for subtly moving the action along. The trick of it is to make it sound natural, when, of course, it's working very hard to do those two tasks. I like writing dialogue. If I found it onerous I suspect I wouldn't be writing novels. Everything is constructed. Dialogue isn't there to decorate the book, but to make it work, and I suspect you'll have to give it some of the burden that is presently taken up in non-dialogue patches. Good luck!

Q

Dear Bernard, i have just read Fallen Angels and must congratulate you on another fantastic offering. I remember when A Crowning Mercy came out the second time around you said that there were three books in this series, or you had written another book under the Susannah Kells pseudonym. What was the title of the third book, is it available, and where to your knowledge, or will it be re-published? Looking forward to the next Sharpe also, any idea where it will be set, and how long till publication. Many Thanks Neil

Submitted March 29, 2005

A

The third Susannah Kells title is Coat of Arms (The Artistocrats is the US title). There are no plans to re-publish it, but it can be found on the used book market.

The next Sharpe book is set after Sharpe's Escape (ie in 1811), probably in southern Spain (around Cadiz) and I hope it will be published in spring 2006.

Q

Dear Bernard - Just a note to tell you how very much I enjoyed "The Last Kingdom" - truly another fantastic 'tale of long ago' rivaling the Warlord Chronicles. In your Historical Notes, you mention "consulting a host of secondary works" as sources for the period. I suspect one of which was Beowulf, but could another source possibly have been Monty Python? I couldn't help but re-read the passage where King Edmund meets his fate and in my mind replace Edmund and the Danes with the Pythons - what a good laugh !! I half expected the pincushioned King to sit up and tell us he's not quite dead yet! (Methinks the Author might have truly enjoyed writing that bit !). Also, I very much admire your use of such an obscure concept as the "sceadugengan" to bring us into the otherwordly portion of Uhtred's heroic journey. P.S. Was great to read the March 22nd post on you BB by Dr. Richard Abels- I do believe I've seen him on TV's History Channel on occasion. As always- Thank you for posting the first chapter of your upcoming work. Any plans yet for US or Canadian book tours? Best Regards, Kelly Dudgeon

Submitted March 29, 2005

A

I don't think I consulted Monty Python. I just remembered it fondly. No US or Canadian book tours on tap at the moment.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just finished reading The Last Kingdom. It's a brilliant work and it drew me in immediately. Strangely, my ancestral home is also Bamburgh Castle in Northumbria (about 15 miles from Alnwick?). According to our published geneology, my family, the Fosters, held Bamburgh until 1709. It was then sold to Nathanial Crewe, Lord Bishop of Dunham. Lady Crewe was the daughter of Sir William Foster. This particular branch of the Fosters was sprung from the loins of Reginal Foster. It appears that he can be traced back to Anaker, Great Forester of Flanders. Looks like someone jumped the Channel at some point. I wonder, are we related, Mr. Cornwell? Or is the Foster geneology incorrect? Regardless, The Last Kingdom thrilled me, as does Alfred, pious, self-rightous, priest-wanna-be that he was. For without him, I seriously doubt that I would be speaking English today, if I even existed. Can't wait for the next book! Donna Yelton

Submitted March 29, 2005

A

It would be nice if we were related, wouldn't it? But alas, my forebears held Bamburgh Castle back in the late Saxon period and lost it even before the Norman Conquest, so I suspect your lot are latecomers! But what lucky families we come from, to have once owned such a gorgeous place!

Q

Greetings and thanks from a new fan! I saw the article in the Boston Globe and started looking for your books (O.K., so I let the article sit awhile before I acted on it)! My husband has just recently become "a reader" and he also is enjoying your work. We have just finished Wildtrack. Wonderful! Can eggs really be preserved by boiling them for 5 seconds? We read Sharpe's Tiger and will continue the series. Also read The Heretic. We live in Chatham most of the time and have been to England a few times so that is what sparked my interest. Don't worry, we'll never show up on your doorstep!!! Thank you for giving us so many hours of pleasure. Jean Williams

Submitted March 29, 2005

A

So I'm told. The effect is to seal the interior off from the air (shells, believe it or not, are permeable). If you seal an egg it should stay fresh for months - I did once varnish some eggs and that worked for a long voyage, except some of them stuck together.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell First I would like to forgive me for my horrible English (I am using a translation program and I do not know if he is trustworthy), my name is Ana and is Brazilian. Necessary you congratulate it, you are an excellent author, taste very of its books, mainly of the Trilogy of Arthur. He would like to know if you have plans to launch more headings in Brazil. We have only launched here the Trilogy of the Grail and the Trilogy of Arthur, I read more two books published its in Portugal ("Stormchild" and "Stonehenge"). Mr. Cornwell has many fans for here that as I, they would like to read the Sharpe series. Please it thinks about the subject and it publishes the Sharpe series here in Brazil. One I hug, Ana

Submitted March 25, 2005

A

Thank you very much for your kind message. My publisher in Brazil is Record - and I do believe they have plans to publish more of my books there, but I don't know if that includes any of the Sharpe books. I believe they have recently published 'Gallows Thief'.

Sorry I don't have any other information for you. Hopefully you will see more of my books in Brazil soon!

Q

I have just finished Sharpe's Fortress, and I am enjoying the series very much. Only one question, is there a difference between the American and the UK versions of the books, and if there are what is it? thanks, --Joe

Submitted March 25, 2005

A

No difference, except the Americanisation of the spelling of some words in the US publications.

Q

hello Mr. Cornwell! I have just finished The Last Kingdom and think that is some of your best work. I have read the the follow up will be released in October, so does that mean Jan. for us poor sods in America? And also, do you have any new books debuting before The White Rider? I appreciate your time! Until the next time, Richard Mock, Ga.

Mr Cornwell, Firstly I would like to thank you for your books. My question is regarding your up and coming books, normally you seem to release 2 books a year, one in the Spring and another later in the year. From your What's Coming page it only seems that there is one due this year, have I missed a release? One last point PLEASE let Starbuck finish his adventure. Thanks Darryl

Submitted March 25, 2005

A

The next book will now be called The Pale Horseman and I do believe it will be released in the US in January, 2006. No other books planned between now and then.

Q

Bernard, I read in today's papers that Sean Bean's home in London has been burgled with the loss of some personal items. Strangely the report also mentioned that Sean was about to reprise his Sharpe character on film. This rumour seems to be persisting as I saw a similar comment in one of the many TV journals a few weeks ago. Paper talk? Have been a Sharpe fan for many years and, now retired, am still spending some of the pension attempting to complete a collection of signed first editions - must have a goal of some sort! May your pen never run dry - keep them coming. Kind regards Pete

Hi Bernard, I like many others have enjoyed the Sharpe's series and know that you are planning on writing about his earlier period for the tv but will the actor still be Sean Bean since he will be a young man? I really like him and have watched for him in other parts that he has played. Also do you think there will be a tv series on the "Starbuck Chronicles". Looking forward to your reply and please keep up with your health as we look forward to many more books written by you. Doreen, Winnipeg, Canada

Berbard I have just read in todays paper that Sean Bean is to return to playing Sharpe again on ITV. Is this true? If so will the new TV films be set in india or will new stories be written for him? John Webb

Submitted March 25, 2005

A

Sorry to hear that about Sean! I haven't heard anything new regarding more films, but if I do I'll be happy to post it. No plans at the moment for a tv series based on the Starbuck chronicles.

Q

Mr Cornwell, re "Fallen Angels", where Gitan fed Culloden with sponges soaked in hot lard, did you create that form of torture, or is it a historical fact? If so, when and where was it used? Thank you, David Cundy UK

Submitted March 23, 2005

A

It existed. But I wrote the book so long ago that I don't remember the source. Sorry.