Dear Bernard I recently bought one of your Anglo-Saxon novels but cannot bring myself to read it yet. It worries me that someone else’s ideas might somehow intrude into my plots! I am half way through a third novel set in 9th century Wessex. I began these in early 2004 and I’m reluctant now to leave my protagonist who I think is maturing faster than me! A couple of agents liked the first two enough to ask to read the full manuscript but that’s as far as I’ve got! Comments such as “well written” and “well researched” have encouraged me to press on, though I suspect I may not have enough gore for some modern tastes. That said, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed returning to a period of history I studied at university back in the 60s and the mental challenge of developing good plots must help to stave off dementia. I promise I will read the Uhtred books once I get tired of Winfrith! Kind regards, John Ward