Mr Cornwell, This is the first time I have ever written to somebody in your position. I am not one of these people who is excited over spotting celebrities, I have never been in any kind of fan club (apart from Rochdale AFC but that is more a punishment than anything else) and I have never been impressed by primadonnas. I tell you this so you’ll realise what an effect your writing has had on me that it moves me to put finger to keyboard and let you know. The Warlord Chrnicles are simply the finest books I have ever read. I read them all at least once a year just so that I never forget even the smallest details of the story. My youngest son was very nearly christened with the middle names “Derfel Cadarn” thanks to you. I am a struggling writer myself and so can only really pay credit to you by calling you an inspiration. Whenever I am fighting with plotlines and characters I simply open one of your books and lose myself into the historical stories you weave so magically. It always gets me back on track and I soon find myself typing frantically again. Please don’t take this as an admission of plaguerism, I’m not a stealer of ideas – simply an appreciator of what I consider literary genius. Many thanks for everything. Darren Lang-Whiston