Mr. Cornwell,

I have read most of your books, enjoyed them all, and at last I have started on the Starbucks Chronicles. About two-thirds through “Rebel” I found this wonderful sentence: “Fools usually need repetition to understand even the simplest of ideas.” The speaker was Major Thaddeus Bird, and of all the characters in all your books,  Major Bird comes closest to be of like mind with myself (I am no Uhtred or Sharpe). Would you reveal your inspiration for this character? I’d really like to know.

Keith Biesiada