Would you please be so kind as to pass onto Mr. Cornwell my heartfelt thanks. I am a new author, my book was published today, and I owe a debt to him. First, he has posted some very good advice for authors on the web. Some items such as his response to how much research do you need? which was ‘Justt enough and no more’, might sound trite but I understood him at once. It helped enormously. His other tips on writing were just as sound and highly useful. Second, my book is historical fiction, Mr. Cornwell’s primary motif. I was influenced by and included a version of what he called ‘dabbling in magic’ or as I put it, magic that is ‘plausibly deniable’, Strange events long ago might or might not be magical, but they can certainly help a story. Only after I had completed my manuscript did I realize I also used the device of an old man thinking back upon his adventurous life, which Mr. Cornwell used in his Grail books. This was inadvertent on my part, but then Mr. Cornwell did not exactly invent that format of story telling. Still, he is an influential writer, and I may have unconsciously mirrored that technique. Third, when I wrote to Mr. Cornwell asking about agents he, or at least one of his people responded, and responded courteously. I appreciated that very much as it is, alas, not the normal treatment would-be authors usually receive. Thank you for your encouragement. If he is interested he can see a synopsis of my book online at http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/BookStoreSearchResults.aspx?SearchType=smpl&SearchTerm=Thos.+Pinney Should he be interested I would be delighted to send him a complimentary copy. After all, I have enjoyed his writing for years; perhaps he would find my efforts entertaining. Should he read it I would value any comments he might have. It might be too late for *this* book but the sequel is already written. I made the same mistake many new authors do I let my story run on; it was just so interesting to me. Later I found that >500k word manuscripts are a bit much for publication. But it is not too late to listen to any offered advice. Finally, should Mr. Cornwell ever be in Texas, (better make that the Greater Houston area, Texas is a big state) I would be delighted to stand him a pint of whatever beverage he should desire. That is the advantage of being a good author you have friends all over the world. Thomas Pinney