Your Questions

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I was wondering how you create the scenarios and strategies that Uhtred utilizes to defeat his enemies.  Are you drawing upon tactics documented to have been used during the actual battles, or are you creating them yourself, or a mix of both?

Thanks, from a fan,

Brett

Hello,

 

I'm a big fan of the Uhtred series, especially so the different take on many well known figures of the viking era. It's especially enjoyable at a time when interest in the tales of Ragnar and his sons is increasing again in the English speaking world.

 

Due to my own family history, I'm particularly interested in Ivar The Boneless - as I believe the MacLeods may have descendants of the historical Ivar's descendants, though it's sketchy whether the Ivar who invaded England and the Ivar who held fiefdom in part of Ireland were truly the same - and this brings me to Sigtrygg. The historical Sigtrygg was not only King of Dublin, but Ivarsson. In your series we've already met Ivar's son and grandson, but I don't recall any mention of Sigtrygg and his brother being related to them. Is their father another man named Ivar in this series, or is he a distant relation/descendant of Uhtred's old acquaintances?

 

Thank you for the hours of enjoyment spent reading these tales. I look forward to many more, and I intend to start on your other books soon.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Graeme McLeod

I wonder if you have any advice for a novice self-publishing author of Fantasy novels? I'm really interested in what you might suggest, after the book is written? I've worked with an editor, am building a website, will have author pages on amazon and goodreads.  Is there any advice you have? Are editor's 'genre' specific, meaning is it better to find an editor with experience editing Fantasy novels, or is that too specific?

Really, any thoughts you have, I would be happy to hear them.

Thank you.

Lee McClellan

In my Harper paperback copies of The Lords of The North, Sword Song, and Death of Kings, Alfred's daughter is named Æthelflaed.  In The Burning Land she is named Æthelflæd; however, on page 378 both versions of her name appear.  Why is this?

Gabrielle Ann SINGLETON

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I have in my hand one of your novels for the first time. The Winter King. Uther has just passed so I have many hours of reading ahead of me. My mind is busy accommodating the shift in preconceived notions of the Arthurian legend  from movies and previous readings. I look forward to where your writing will take me, and I see it may not be a very comfortable journey Life itself though isnt always so comfortable either. I have always been fascinated by the old world and especially the upheaval and decimation of the pagan religions as formalized Christianity blanketed the world.  Traveling to your part of the world is something I'd like to do someday but if that day ever arrives I hope to be better steeped in your history, and yes if I viewed it through the eyes of a little old world magic And legend, I'd not be disappointed. I always seem to be looking for my next read fiction and nonfiction.  No book arrives before its time I've always heard so the time must be now for me.   When I find an author I always wonder,  What are you reading at the present time?

Good thoughts sent to you and yours.

Judy

In the first Uhtred book, he says meeting the girl Alfred slept with (called Merwenna) was very significant. Are we supposed to assume he got her pregnant? It's weird that he's only fathered 3 kids in all these years....

Cathy

In Burning Land, is the bee scene something you read about while doing research or is that completely your imagination? It's incredible! Probably hear it all the time, but my husband and I love your writing. Pure genius.

Teri McCarthy

Dear Bernard,

Firstly, a point of information. In all the chronological lists of the Sharpe series, Sharpe's Havoc is listed as after Sharpe's Eagle, which surely cannot be right. Havoc is Spring '09 and Eagle is July '09. Plus, Rifleman Pendleton was alive in Havoc and died at Talavera, ("only seventeen and so many pockets left to pick").

I also noticed a previous correspondent wondering why Sharpe never met any Polish Lancers. I noted your reply, but if you recall, Sharpe, or rather Major Kearsey, did meet Polish Lancers in Sharpe's Gold. Admittedly Sharpe didn't face them in the open field, but he certainly met them in the dead of night in the Spanish village.

The Flame Bearer, you will be pleased to note, was the top hard back seller in the UK as of a week ago, but what I find curious is that I have not seen one newspaper review of the book in the British papers. I wonder why that should be?

Keep up your wonderful work, Sir, and I look forwarded eagerly to your next offering. Much as I've loved Uhtred, I do hope it's a Sharpe.

Regards

John Hill

Would you consider interrupting the chronology of the Saxon stories in future novels, as per the Sharpe series?  While I am eager to see our hero reclaim his birthright at Bebbanburg, it would be refreshing to read about further adventures of younger Uhtred. Certainly there must be some gaps to fill in Saxon history that involve Uhtred and his impressive companions (Alfred, Pyrlig, Staepa....to name a few) during their prime.

Jeff

Hello,

When you started on the "Starbuck" novels, did you consciously tailor your writing for an American reading public??? i.e did you assume the  U.S Civil war setting would attract more American readers, so you had to change your research/writing style to hold them?  Or was that not on your mind?

Regards and thanks,

Adrian.