Dear Mr. Cornwell – Thank you! I just found that the link to your advice to new writers is now fixed. And I’ve read it. It’s good to know that I’ve guessed at some things correctly. I’ve started dissecting novels of writers I admire. It’s proving to be a very valuable exercise. I do have one question for you, and I’ll admit that I haven’t intensively searched this site yet so the answer may already be there, but how do you feel about fan fiction? My feeling is that without the blessing of the creator of the borrowed character(s) then it is poaching. But, here’s my problem. One of your Sharpe novels raised a question in my mind, and then I started writing a story to answer “What happened?”. Well, now I have a novel that is growing in directions I had never dreamed of, and I’m afraid no one shall ever see it, because well, you write Sharpe. He’s yours. And, I can’t tell you what I’m pondering, because that could cause problems in the future. I can’t propose a collaboration because, well, I’m a completely unknown quantity, both to yourself as well as the publishers. (Good heavens, that was brass.) Do you know of any way, or any one who might publish this story with your blessing? If the answer is no, that is certainly fair enough, and I’ll just have to go back to the drawing board. But it would be a shame for Nathaniel to never see the light of day. Any ideas? Sincerely, Mari Stewart