Dear Bernard. Hurrah that the new Uhtred is finished!I’ve just re read the series so I’m really looking forward to that one, whatever it may be called. I have a couple of questions, firstly: Wasn’t The Fort originally to have the UK title of Captivate Kill and Destroy? Only a minor one but it did rather catch me out as I was looking for it on Amazon and it took me a while to realise it was already out in the UK! I’m assuming your publisher persuaded you that the Fort was a catchier title?

Anyway, my main question/suggestion. I am just coming to the end of Gallows Thief. What a great book and a real favourite of mine. I’m sure this has been asked before but is there likely to be another story featuring Rider Sandman and Sergeant Berrigan and if so have you perhaps considered these two meeting up with Sharpe and Harper? It could happen! It would have the virtue of setting the story after the other Sharpe books and I know you always bemoan having to interleave new Sharpes between existing stories so that would solve the problem. Alternatively perhaps Sandman could be featured as a character in the next Sharpe story which I fervently hope is coming next… Thanks as ever for your wonderful stories and for your kindly forbearance in the face of pushy fans such as myself! Kind Regards Rob Comber