Mr. Cornwell, my father and I have immensely appreciated your books, especially the Arthur series, over the years. Thank you for bringing such enjoyment to us in our readings! I do have a writing-related question for you that I pray you have not already answered. I took some time to sift through your FAQ section and didn’t see this addressed, so here goes: Over the last few years I have been involved with National Novel Writing Month, an annual writing contest to help aspiring authors get their stories written down in 30 days. My favorite personal effort so far falls squarely in the realm of historical fiction, and as I’ve pursued this project, I have come to two realizations. 1) I believe the story has merit and could be publishable with polishing and refinement, and 2) my understanding of the time period in question is severely limited. I have read extensively on it and have tried to make it as true to the period as I can while still making the story engaging, but there are still so many details that I just don’t know. As I have written, I have found myself comparing my own story to the work you have done, so I was delighted to find how active you are in answering questions you receive. So, at long last, here is my question: how do you approach writing historical fiction books? Specifically, what are your guidelines for when to adhere to history and when to depart from it? How willing are you to basically make something up in the absence of concrete information? These questions are concerns for me as I contemplate letting this story fall into the hands of a reading public that may have, in some cases, much deeper understanding of the time than I. My goal is to capture the realistic flavor and feel of the period while still telling a memorable tale. I thank you for your willingness to respond to your fans, and appreciate you sharing your experience so freely. Rhett Moeller