Bernard: I confess I had never heard of you despite having watched most of the Sharpe stories on TV. Then only 3 months ago an English friend told me about your books. Now, thus far I have bought seven and read five. The Fort, Stonehenge, the Uhtred books 1 – 4, and now the start of the Grail series. As long as I can read faster than you can write, I think I will end up reading them all! Trouble is, I cant put them down. I am in awe of your ability to hold a readers attention. And even more I am in awe of your breadth of detail and grasp of history. I have never considered myself a fan of any author (well, maybe Rutherford) , and have never written to one, so this note is a first for me! You see, I am an expatriate Brit like yourself. (Great website by the way!). I grew up along the Thames, know Salisbury well, and have also walked the beaches of Bamburgh and driven the tide-covered road to Lindisfarne many times. When Uhtred attacked Durham castle, I was right there with him on that impossible hillside. For that moment I WAS Uhtred! You are that good! Now in retirement I am an aspiring historical novel writer myself. Its fun even if I never get published. But I wont bore you with that, you get too many of those already no doubt. But Ill just give you a clue: I have a photo which I took on my last visit to England of the manor house of my great x 6 grandfather, in 1630. Its a school now. I have a family tree back to him, and I even have a copy of his will! How inspiring a starting point is that? I envy you living on Cape Cod. I have stayed at the Danl Webster in Sandwich many times. And I have walked along Erickson way in South Dennis, just for the ambiance now theres a story for you! At least Im convinced of it. So good luck and keep writing. Please! Basil Maddox. Cincinnati Ohio.