Your Questions

Q

Hello again, I am trying to write my 1st novel about the American Civil war (more importantly the Irish involvement) and was wondering if you could answer a few questions. (1) When I tell my friends Im writing a book they all want to be in it, but I dont know how to do that without changing my story dramatically any ideas?

(2) I know when you wrote Rebel you did quite a bit of research and was wondering if recommend any books on the battle of 1st Bull run, the Army of the Potomac or early training?

Lastly, in many of your books you mention a "fire step", what does mean and what was it used for? Thanks for your time and your knowledge.
Adam Azzalino

Submitted November 7, 2006

A

(1)That's easy! Leave them out! Your ideas are what will make the story work, and you can't shoehorn characters into a book just to get a free pint! And decid who you're writing for - an audience or your friends? Believe me, if you get published, they'll stay your friends! Good luck!

(2)Oh boy - so many! Too many to list here! The number of books on the civil war is extraordinary, and I'd have to spend an hour just typing titles here if I were to answer your question fully. Truly, then, the best place to start is with a good general history of the war - Shelby Foote's three decker is terrific, or Battle Cry of Freedom by James Macpherson - and work from their bibliographies! I'm sorry if that isn't really helpful, but the field is so wide that you can almost dive in anywhere and find useful material. I would also subscribe to one or two of the (many) civil war magazines; they often have terrifically useful articles on the most obscure subjects (and obscure is good for novels).

The fire step is simply the platform on which men (or women!) stand on top of a rampart. They are protected by the parapet, but the firestep is simply the walkway of a rampart.

Q

Your Sharpe's series was shown on BBCAmerica this past Spring 06. Love your series of Sharpe's Adventures. What a great cast and storyline. My husband and I are confused about the episode "Sharpe's Sword" and "Sharpe's Regement". We remember that El Mirador killed Sir Henry Simmerson in Sword but he appears again in Regement and then in further episodes. Can you explain? Thanks so much. Karen Beck

Submitted November 7, 2006

A

If I remember rightly - El Mirador just wounded Sir Henry in Sharpe's Sword. In fact I'm certain it was a wound and not, alas, a deathblow!

Q

Have been enjoying your Sharpe books for a decade, not to mention the Arthur & Grail Quest books, am just now reading "Sharpe's Fury" having just finished the first of the Saxon books. Does seem there's an "eternal hero" (Thomas the Archer is Sharpe-in-the-14th-century, Uhthred is Sharpe-in-the-9th-century) and you've caused us to love him so. Thank you for what you've given us all. Quick question though - Is the Eric Sykes, to whom you dedicated "Sharpe's Fury" the British officer, and spy, who helped "invent" modern close-quarter-combat?
Ronald Pehr

Submitted November 7, 2006

A

No. Eric Sykes is the brilliant, wonderful comedian who lit up our lives for so long and who is, thankfully, still going strong in his 80's, and who can still make me laugh extravagantly.

Q

Dear Bernard - Have enjoyed many of your books over the years. One thing I stumbled across recently that truly amazed me was that all Sharpe's promotions were based on the same time frame as a real soldier who came up through the ranks. Who was he and where can I read about him? Because he must have been some soldier. With all the disease and death in battle it amazes me that any one man managed to live through the whole peninsula campaign (apart from Wellington, who including his India days as well, as I'm sure you'll agree, seemed to have lived a charmed life) but to come from the ranks and get to Colonel? That's incredible... Regards, Mark

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

His name was Elley, and alas, you won't find a book on him. He wasn't the only one, but Elley did it fastest (as far as I can discover). A seaman in Nelson's navy was flogged round the fleet and still rose to be an Admiral of the Fleet! It really isn't that incredible - by 1815 alomost one in ten officers were up from the ranks - the army (and navy) weren't entirely stupid and did promote good men whatever their origins.

Q

Hi I have just completed Sharpe's Fury, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a rule that I read one book a week, and if a book takes 3 days to read, it means the book is very good! Over the past few months I have come to appreciate you dilemma about which book to write next (Sharpe, Starbuck, Saxon Series, sequels to existing books and totally new books). How do you decide what book to write next? Finally, do you have timetable for the rumoured sequel to Gallows Thief? All the best, and thank you Simon

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

How do I decide? Mainly be what appeals to me . . . and no, I don't have a timetable for the sequel to Gallows Thief - though it's something I'd really like to write soon . . . . .

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have enjoyed all your books for some years and now I am happy that my sons are also starting read the Sharpe books. However, we now live in the middlea east and find it difficult to buy paper or hardback editions of books so we read e-books. The difficulty is that not many of your books are available as e-books. I have found only 6 of the Sharpe books including the recent Sharpe's Fury and from the saxon series only the Last Kingdom. Do you have plans to publish other books as e-books as we would like to collect the rest of your books. Tim Salter

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

There are plans for more e-books. Go to www.harpercollins.com for more information and to sign up for their e-book newsletter.

Q

I had a lot of trouble imagining the 7 barrel gun that Sharpe used in Sharpe's prey, I was wondering what it was because I can't find any 7 barrelled gun on the internet. Is it some sort of gattling gun?(a handheld one?) thanks for the books! David

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

No, it was the Nock Volley Gun, seven half inch barrels clustered together and fired by a single lock. It was made for the Royal Navy and the first five hundred were rifled (!!!) - they broke the shoulders of the sailors who fired them (they were designed to shoot French sharpshooters out of the rigging of enemy boats). Thereafter the guns were smoothbore, but their kick was still so huge that they were rarely used. But they did exist!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for many happy hours of reading. I just started reading your work this year with The Grail Quest, Stonehenge, the first two books of The Saxon Stories and am now reading the last of The Arthur Books. I hope , one day, you will write a book about Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours. Thanks again Bob Schaeffer

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

I shall think about it! But no promises . . . . . . .

Q

I just read your recent interview. Why does Wicca annoy you? Susan Morris

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

Because it's a misunderstanding of a perfectly respectable pagan religion, a fake recreation of something that, I suspect, its adherents don't understand, and, in the end, surplus to requirements.

Q

Normally the problem I have with books being turned into movies, is that the actor playing the lead character bears no resemblance to the character I have pictured in my mind, but I found Sean Bean to be an excellent choice to play Sharpe. Do you have any say in the casting when one of your books is made into a movie? Robert Jennett

Submitted November 2, 2006

A

I had no input - none at all, which is a good thing because I'd be horrible at casting.