Hi Bernard –

thanks for the many wonderful hours I’ve enjoyed wallowing in your creations. In particular Sharpe (and I think Thomas of Hookton was slightly turning into Sharpe in 1356). Would you believe I’ve read every Sharpe at least 4 times? Sounds obsessive but I am a very fast reader.
While you say you don’t want to be sent ideas for Sharpe books – I am a lawyer myself and believe my ‘request’ is not suggesting an idea as it simply asks you to fill in some gaps already created by your own imagination, and therefore without doubt your own intellecual property no matter how I phrase it.
It is this – I would love you to do a book that covers Sharpe’s childhood, all the way up to and including his first battle in Flanders. There’s so much detail you’ve already hinted at throughout the series – I think it would be a massively interesting story.
By the way, I have two books commercially published which according to your message above means you will buy them and read them joyfully. Looking forward to your feedback.

Thanks again.

Adrian Deans