Your Questions

Q

I heard a rumor that you way be speaking at The Dekalb library in Decatur Georgia soon. Could you tell me when? I would hate to miss hearing you speak as I am a big fan of your Sharpe's series. Thank you. Tom Wolf

Submitted January 21, 2005

A

I will be there on Thursday, 10 February 2005. For complete details click on the Diary link on this website. I'll look forward to seeing you there!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Great books in all your series formats. Have you considered a character from the Civil War? Regards G Mitchell

Submitted January 21, 2005

A

The English Civil War? I've thought about it but have no plans for it any time soon.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was wondering whether Commendante Teresa Moreno was based on a real person, or whether she is a work of fiction? Regards Penny Heathwood

Submitted January 21, 2005

A

Utterly fictional!

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, I have read your sea stories and thoroughly enjoyed them, can we look forward to more? Thank you, Lynn Jobin

Submitted January 21, 2005

A

Perhaps some day, but not soon.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I'm a great fan of your work! I partcularly enjoyed the Sharpe Peninsular books and the Grail Quest Series. One question! Have you ever thought about writing a series set during WW2? I believe with your talents it would be a big success! Keep up the amazing work! Jonathon Clayton

Submitted January 20, 2005

A

Sorry - no plans for any WWII books.

Q

Dear Bernard, Without giving away too much, can you give your fans a little sneak peak into your next Sharpe addition? Where will it fit in with the rest? What battles will you be covering? Do you have a ball park timeframe as to when it will be released? Also do you have a particular favorite peninsular battle & why? Mine is the battle of Salamanca & the charge of the KGL. Their discipline to break those squares astounds me! All the best Michael

Submitted January 20, 2005

A

The next Sharpe, I think, will come immediately after Sharpe's Escape, and will be set around the battle of Barossa. It probably won't appear until 2006 or even 2007, because I'm giving him a break at the moment. A favourite peninsular battle? Salamanca or Vitoria, I think.

Q

Do you ever come to the west coast? In particular, say.....Denver? Michael

Dear Mr Cornwell, Are you planning to visit Australia any time in the near future, particularly Melbourne, for a book signing? I am sure your Australian fans would love to meet you. Gerard Robertson

Submitted January 20, 2005

A

I have been to the west coast - although I've never been to Denver. Perhaps some day? I'd love to go to Australia as well, but it's not on the schedule yet. Check the Diary page every now and again as all appearances will be posted there.

Q

Hello, its me again! How was Christmas, (if you'll pardon the familiarity). In the foreward for Sharpe's Rifles you lament that you were unable to write a series about riflemen. Did you ever consider having the South Essex redesignated as Rifles (I know this can be done as it was how the Royal Ulster Rifles were formed) or give Sharpe a company of the 60th instead so as he could be attached to other Regiments? Also I note in response to a previous question that you are writing a story in the American Revolution, is it a continuation of Redcoat of a new story? A bit late though this may be, have a happy New year and keep up the good work, yours sincerly, Mickey O'Donohoe

Submitted January 20, 2005

A

Not really - the advantage of the South Essex is that they are redcoats, so the novels can have both the rifles experience, through Sharpe, and the redcoat experience as well. It's a fictional device to help the stories, though strictly, of course, inaccurate.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I realy enjoy reading your books especialy the Grail quest and the India trilogy. I would like to know if and how many more books you plan to write. I am about to read a Simon Scarrow book (The Eagles Conquest) and would like to know if he is as good as you because I don't want to waste my time. Thanks, Will Mitchell

Submitted January 20, 2005

A

How many more books will I write? Until I couldn't possibly write any more I hope! I don't believe you'd be wasting your time at all.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I am an avid reader of your Sharpe books and others. I have read them all but two and I doubt that I have the will power to save them. Two questions spring to mind. Why does Sharpe sharpen his sword before a battle and not after? I would have thought a sharp sword would have been handy at all times. Are the Sharpe books as popular in France as elsewhere in the world? Regards Barry Iacoppi (New Zealand)

Submitted January 20, 2005

A

He does sharpen it after. I just don't tell you about every time he does it. To date, not one Sharpe book has ever been translated to French although a number of my non-Sharpe books have and appear to do well.