Hello Mr. Cornwell, I would have preferred to have written to you via post as it seems more formal but as I live in Australia I do not trust that it would even arrive. I am an avid reader of your books and have been pushed to read your books since I was 9 years from my pardy who has read and reread all of your books more times then I can remember. The first book I read was Sharpe’s Eagle and although it took me the entire year to read this book I thoroughly enjoyed it. My pardy is a very knowledgeable person and as a former commander in the navy has a passion for military novels. Everytime I visit his house to give him a present of an O’Brien or Forrester (I don’t give him Cornwells as I don’t trust that he would already have it) he proceeds to give me five more books or in fact a series of yours that I need to read. So far he has not let me down and indeed I do not think he will. As I before mentioned I am from Australia and I am a 22 year old male living in the city of Orange in Central West New South Wales. I am trying my hardest to locate your books in the local bookstores and it is sad to say but my heart leaps when I finally find one in its dishonorable place among the bargain bin. Nevertheless I will proceed to hunt for your books and am pleased to say I have at least attained the Starbuck collection. I am extremely to admit that I have read almost every Sharpe and although it would give me pleasure to present a signed Sharpe to my Pardy I would not risk it as I do not trust that I would get it back in good condition, or even at all, let alone being able to find another. At the moment I am currently reading through the Saxon series and am up to the burning land. It is odd to say that whilst I am playing representative rugby union for my state (and sometimes country) I find myself thinking I am similar to Uhtred and let my passion and anger drive me. Some questions that you will no doubt laugh at because of time and location but here goes. Were you planning to come down to Australia? Were there any ideas of a Sharpe or Saxon video game? Will there be any more Saxon novels? And last how is the weather? I hope this ‘letter’ finds you well and rest assured I will continue to read and buy your books whenever I can. Yours sincerely, Drew Bale from Orange, Australia