Hello Mr Cornwell. I am an ‘Essex Man’ like yourself. The Peculiar People, as I’m sure you know, had a chapel in Corringham near where I now live. They were as you say ‘very peculiar’ but nonetheless had a good name in the area. I am an admirer of all your work but particularly what I call your ‘Dark Ages’ novels. I eagerly await ‘The Pale Horseman’ and would dearly love to know how Derfel got from the beach at Camlann to the monastry at Dinnewrac. I am also convinced that somehow or another he had the last laugh on Sansum. I am a bit of a folklorist and have managed to put together a novel of my own based on Fairy Lore and somewhat questionable science. I’ve called it ‘Behind the Moon’. Do keep your eye open for it. If it ever gets into print I think you would enjoy it. Thank you for your wonderful writing and more power to your pen. John Kempster