Your Questions

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I read several of your books: Sharpe, Stonehenge, the Grail cycle, Arthurian books, and always found them very enjoyable. I read your Arthurian cycle twice, once translated into Italian, my native language, and once in English which is now my daily language since I now live in Texas. I enjoyed it thoroughly, both times, and if have even a small regret about it, that would be I know it is going to be very hard to read anything nearly as good, beg your forgiveness, even from yourself! Yes, I do plan to read your relatively newer Saxon stories and trust they will be a good reading too. I'd have so many questions I would like to ask, that I wish I could buy you a beer, or a coffee and enjoy some conversation. It will never happen, since there must be so many with a similar desire and only one Bernard! But if you ever stop by our local bookstore, unlikely as it may seem, you do have a coffee waiting for you! If it pleases you to answer, allow me just one question: when you start a new cycle, do you write the plot beforehand and then fill the gaps, or write as the story unfold, more freely in your mind? One of your affectionate readers, Christian B.

I have read all your books and enjoy them very much. I know you have a new book coming out and I look forward to reading it in October. I'm quite pleased that you aren't interested in doing any more books about Arthur, especially a prequel, although it would have been nice to find out what happened more indepth to Derfel after Arthur sailed to Avalon. Have you ever thought about writing any books on Ancient Egypt? Anyway, I'll stop babbling. Thanks for the many hours of enjoyment and i hope you keep writing for many years to come. Dave

I just read under the question's section that Sword Song, the next in the Saxon Series will be published in the UK in October and in the US in January.I won't be able to wait until January so I'll order through Amazon UK but I really am curious about why there has to be such a time difference. Ann Madonna

Mr. Cornwell, Hello, I hope you are well. I wasn't able to see you at the HSN Conference this year due to scheduling conflicts- which is a shame because I was looking forward to it for quite some time- I was just wondering how the experience was for you? was your bit at the conference taped in any way and is it possible to track a recording down? I imagined I'd see some of it on Book TV but no luck yet.

Second, I wanted to ask you if you had ever read the works of Alistair Maclean? Where Eagles Dare, Ice Station Zebra, Guns of Navarone etc... he seems to be a towering figure in the action-lit genre and I was wondering what you made of his work? How about the works of Frank G. Slaughter? he was an historical novelist/doctor who wrote of, among other things, the untamed Florida swamps and savage lands of the 1860's in books like Storm Haven and Fort Everglades. I have been enjoying searching for out of print copies of his books recently. Thanks again for your time. R. Kulb

Hi Bernard I am a huge fan of yours! I live in Brazil and I have read almost all your books! but I have a doubt that I don't know if you really have the answer! Do you Know how many books will the SAXON STORIES have? It is not that important but I really want to know! here in Brazil have just arrive the second one! thank you! Alfredo

MY WIFE IS A HUGE FAN OF YOUR NOVELS (EXCEPT THE SHARPE SERIES), I SEE YOU HAVE A NEW NOVEL SWORD SONG PUBLISHED LATER THIS YEAR, DO YOU KNOW IF YOU WILL BE IN THE UK FOR ANY SIGNINGS/EVENTS. WE LIVE IN SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE. REGARDS, ANDREW WORMALD

It would like to know if it exists forecast for launching of other books of the series The Sharpe Books (only five volumes had been published: Sharpe´s Tiger, Sharpe´s Triumph, Sharpe´s Fortress, Sharpe´s Trafalgar and Sharpe´s Rifles); and of the series The Saxon Stories (only the first volume and the second volume had been published: The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman). I would like to know if exists the possibility of the series The Starbuck Chronicles to be published in Brazil. .
Gustavo Gewehr

Dear Sir I have read most of the Sharpe novels ( only four to go) and have also enjoyed the TV series which gets limited exposure here in Australia but which I was fortunate to watch during many lonely winter nights in Manchester where I was consulting for 18 months. I have lived in Sydney for nearly 30 years now having previously lived in South Africa (for 32 years). I have always wondered whether you based your character on the former England and British Lion of the same name and today I was delighted to read, in the forward to Sharpe's Rifles which I bought this morning, that you had indeed done so! I was fortunate enough to see him play for the 1962 British Lions in South Africa and will long remember his skill. The try he scored to win the match against Western Province had everybody talking. He was, unfortunately, injured in the Northern Transvaal match and only played in the last two sets but the South African crowds had an enormous regard for him. What a player! As I recall the other flyhalf was Gordon Waddell. I saw my first Lions side in 1955 and the flyhalf then was Cliff Morgan. The last one I saw was Tommy Kiernan's 1968 Lions again with brilliant flyhalves in Barry John and Mike Gibson. What lovely memories I have of rugby in the those days. I plan to visit my family in South Africa next year during the 2008 Lions Tour. Please forgive my ramblings, but thanks for the wonderful Sharpe stories and for bringing back some lovely rugby memories. Maybe you would you care to share with me why you based "Sharpe" on the great rugby player? With kind regards, Patrick McDuling

Dear Sir, Your Warlord Chronicles is my most favourite adaptation of King Arthur, and although I have neglected to own a copy for myself, have given some as presents to friends who enjoy an excellent read. Every summer away from school, I re-read the trilogy; it's become a ritual now in its 7th year. That is...to be honest, more than a third of my life so far haha. Each time I discover something new, such as the intrinsic meaning of a phrase I had merely glanced past before. Although no continuation is in the making, I was wondering if you considered writing a "prequel"? Not specifically on the Roman occupation of Britain, but of Roman civilization. I notice in your Arthur and Saxon novels, there's a theme of a struggle of peace and human goodness against barbarism and war, and I believe a novel of Republican or Imperial Rome would be another masterful play of the theme. Jonathan Looi

Hello Mr. Cornwell, it's me again. I wrote you previously while doing a report on your book, 'Sharpe's Havoc'. I was just wondering, out of a curiosity that I've developed, what was your favourite book to write? I know that as a writer you must enjoy all of your books equally, but if you could pick one Sharpe's book, what one would it be?

Also, I realize that your parents were both militarily employed, and I was wondering if it was this relation between the creation of your life and war that has influenced your war writing? If you're not too busy, could you post a reply to this? If you don't get the time don't worry about it, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. Have a nice day Mr. Cornwell. One of your biggest fans: Joshua Taylor