I’ve just finished Fools and Mortals and I’d like to thank you for doing more for my appreciation of Shakespeare in a few days than a series of school teachers managed in the corresponding number of years, albeit a bit late for me to re-sit that O-level. I gathered from an earlier answer you gave that you see this as a one off rather than a new series, but I’d certainly read more about Richard’s progress if you happen to feel like writing more about him at some point. You make a couple of references to productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream you’ve been involved in. Can I ask which part(s) you’ve played in it? Also, did much of the characters of the actors you worked with find its way into the characters of the actors in your book? Looking forward to the next instalment of Uhtred in 2018 and whatever you decide to do after that!

Tony Mills