Hi Bernard Just a huge thank you! I have just finished reading Sword Song and, as usual, was not disappointed! Cracking good read….. Thanks for writing incredibly exciting books. Up until The Saxon Stories I thought your Arthur trilogy was the best thing you had ever written but I am completely besotted with Uhtred, Alfred, et al and can’t wait for the next in the series! I have been to two of your book talks, both times in Lincoln, England where I live. It was at the time of The Grail Quest series and I was so taken with this that I took up shooting longbow – and pretty damn good I am too! Sadly, I’ve had to put up my bow for a few months as I’ve developed bilateral tennis elbow. No more getting “into the zone” for a while! With The Saxon Stories the thing that has captured me most (apart from the blood and gore and violence – keep it coming!) is the ships. Those magnificent viking ships. I usually quail at the thought of getting into a rowing boat but if Uhtred invited me on board a true viking ship I think I could be persuaded… You paint such a wonderful and enticing picture of what it must have been like to sail in those open boats on the way to war/pillage, etc. I know you are a sailor yourself – have you ever had the chance to sail in a replica viking ship somewhere??? Right, I think I’ve taken up enough of your valuable time. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you in Lincoln sometime! Best wishes Therese xxx