Your Questions

Q

Hello: I was just wondering if you thought you might be coming back to the Washington DC area for a book tour this year? I have enjoyed seeing you in the past and was pleased to see in my local store today that the new book in the Alfred trilogy is out. Thanks - Glenn

Submitted January 24, 2006

A

No plans for a Washington DC area trip at the moment, but I do hope you'll enjoy The Pale Horseman.

Q

Any time frame on when the next Sharpe book will be published? Mary Young

Submitted January 24, 2006

A

Not sure. I'm working on a Sharpe now - perhaps for publication in October.

Q

This is a dumb idea but I loved what you did with Patrick Lassan in Starbuck so: Is it possible that we could meet a grandchild of Derfels in the Saxon stories? I know the time difference is probably to big but it would be nice... Ah well I said it was dumb. PS. For a good read try Allan Mallison. Have you read any of his books? Max

Submitted January 24, 2006

A

It's not dumb, it's a nice idea, and I've been playing with it, but will it happen? Dunno.

I haven't - not out of distaste - but simply because if you spend all day writing historical fiction it isn't what you want to read of an evening.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I just finished reading your book "The Last Kingdom". What a wonderful book except that I will have to devote yet more time reading "The Pale Horseman". :-) I am attempting to write a novel myself. I read your short writers guide and found it to be very helpful indeed. There are still questions I have about the process though. How do you go about creating your story and developing your characters? How much forethought goes into the process? At what point do you feel good enough about an idea to actually start writing it? I fear that I am not articulating the questions with enough accuracy to get clear answers which may be due to my not fully understanding what exactly I am trying to ask. I realize you must get many inquiries so please accept my gratitude for your indulgence. Sincerely, Richard Free

Submitted January 24, 2006

A

How do you create a story? The only way I know is by writing it. I often compare it to climbing a mountain - you get a third of the way up, look back, and see a much better route, so down you go and start again, and so on and so on. Other writers do it differently - some plan the whole book in advance, but I can't do that. So there are no rules, and I'm increasingly convinced that much of the process is instinctive. Forethought? A lot, but much of it is wasted, mainly because the story changes so much in the telling. Characters tend to spring off the page (and if they don't, they're jettisoned). To be honest the only way I know of writing a novel is to do it - because the act of writing creates so many opportunities, thoughts and situations. You have to do the research, i.e. know the period pretty well, and have an idea who the protagonist is, but beyond that I don't know what will happen. I tend to throw the hero (or heroine) into a situation in chapter one and let the tale go from there and, though this is no help whatsoever, I usually have no idea what will happen in the next chapter!

Q

Good afternoon, Mr. Cornwell. I´m a huge brazilian fan, and have a few questions. But first let me say that I adore your books and when I knew that you take the time to talk to us via your website, it made me care even more for you. So instead of reading my friend´s editions, as I started, I bought them all. Dinner´s on me! ;) Question: The druid religion you used in "The Warlord Chronicles" is very different from others appointed by many authors. That came from any kind of research or came from your mind? If came from your mind, it is so different because there is no real info on druids or because you just wanted to?

Question: In brazil we only have the 3 warlords, the 3 thomas hooktons, gallows thief and 3 sharpes published. You happen to know when we will have the other series? Thanks for the time! Alexandre.

Submitted January 24, 2006

A

We know next to nothing about the Druids, apart from what their enemies tell us, and that's not much, so yes, we all tend to make it up as we go along! We do know about oak-grove temples, and human sacrifice, but the rest is mostly imagination. Mike Ripley's new novel, Boudica and the Lost Roman has some great druidic stuff.

I'm sorry, I don't know when another book will be published in Brazil. Soon I hope! I'll see what I can find out.

Q

Dear Bernard, I've ben a huge fan of yours for a few years now, and have read your entire output so I must first thank you for the many hours of pleasure you have given me. My favourite series is the grail quest and I do hope that one day Thomas is given reason to march again but in the meantime I guess I'll just have to be patient. My questions are these. Firstly, in your saxon stories that I'm enjoying just as much as everyone else, you seem to have made a distinct shift in the character of your hero's commander. Wellington, Arthur, Lee etc are all skilled, confident military leaders and Alfred seems anything but, appearing to be hesitant and full of doubts and I wondered if that was a deliberate intention on your part? On a more practical note I'm delighted to hear that the next book in the series will be out soon and I was wondering if you were planning a book signing trip anywhere near the south of England? Thanks for your time and I wish you every success in the future!

David Young

Submitted January 19, 2006

A

It is deliberate. Alfred strikes me as a very clever man, but not a natural warrior. His passions are learning and the church, and though he applied considerable intelligence to defending Wessex I don't see him as a classic war-leader, but rather as a reluctant fighter. He does ensure Wessex's survival, which was a considerable achievement, but I'm sure he would rather be remembered for his piety and scholarship! Justin Pollards's new biography of him (Alfred the Great) is well worth reading . . .

We don't have any kind of tour schedule for the new book yet, but check the Diary page of this website on occasion as it will eventually be posted there.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a UK expat (Londoner)living in Houston..and..shame on me ...just started reading/listening to The Sharpe series... Great stuff...and fills my leisure time as I am semi-retired...Thank you for the most enjoyable experiences...!!! I have a question, In listening to Sharpe's Escape read by Patrick Tull...he gives Sharpe a "Northern Accent"..this confused me..as the text referred to Sharpe growing up in the South of England/London..and he is in the South Essex Regiment... I have tried to research this on the Internet...to no avail.. Could you please tell me, where is Sharpe from and where did he grow up ?...also...is Sharpe's early life discussed in any of your books ?... Thank you in anticipation...I am now focused on tracking down and reading/listening to all of the Sharpe Books in the chronological order you state on this site... I assume this is the best way to read them ?...please advise... Thanks & Best Regards George Colonna

Submitted January 19, 2006

A

Sharpe was born in London and ran off to Yorkshire around age 16. I do recommend reading the books in chronological order - you'll find a complete listing on the Sharpe books page of this website. I'm not planning a book about Sharpe's early life, at least not at the moment. Hope you enjoy the books!

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell 2 questions. One is about your books! I enjoyed A Crowning Mercy recently, and notice that many others have enjoyed the book as well. Therefore, if a third book exists (after Fallen Angel), why do you say it won't be re-published? Surely it would make sense for your publisher to cash in on your popularity and reprint the third one? Secondly, (this is a bit cheeky). Harry Flashman is second (only behind Sharpey) as my favourite fictional character. You mentioned on 4th January that GMF is working on a new Flashman book. Is that true, so soon after Flashman On The March? he usually takes 4 or 5 years between books. I can't find this info anywhere else! A bit cheeky asking you this, but I'm almost as desperate for Flashy books as Sharpe books. Many many thanks.

Submitted January 18, 2006

A

I suspect the publisher feels there would not be much interest in it.

So far as I know it's true - his publisher told me that, anyway. I'm sure the wait will be worth it.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I hope you & your family had a very Merry Christmas. I was delighted to hear that you are working on a new Sharpe novel as he is still my personal favorite. I know that the entire Sharpe concept was inspired by the Hornblower novels, but I was wondering where the inspiration for the character of Sharpe himself came from. Did you know somebody similar to him in personality, bad childhood, obstacles in the workplace, etc. I find his dual personality (stone killer vs. honorable soul) very intriguing. Thanks for everything. Darren Ivey

Submitted January 18, 2006

A

I think I made him up! There's certainly no model that I can think of. It seemed a good idea to have him promoted from the ranks, and I guess the rest followed.

Q

Dear Bernard in the past you have admitted you are a fan of Robert.E.Lee and his generalship so I always wondered what you thought his finest moment was since there is some debate. Longstreet always thought 2nd Bull Run his best. Others that Chancerolsville his Masterpiece and others the Overland campaign as a whole in fending off the Grant juaggernaught what do you think is he best moment and have you read Alfred Burns recently re-issued book on Grant/Lee and Sherman and the 1864 campaign as a whole which is an interesting counter to Fullers view???? Also you have written about the Saxon invasions and the Danish invasions will you ever write about the battle's of Stamford Bridge and Hastings which really settled the issue on who was master of England and of course Harold the last Saxon King??? P.S You have mentioned that you may write another book on the American Revolutionary war. Can you give any clue on what its about and will it be after the next Sharpe book??? regards Geraint

Submitted January 18, 2006

A

Robert E. Lee? I suppose I'd choose Chancellorsville . . the simplicity and elegance of the tactics are awe-inspiring. I do have the Burns book, and like it a lot. Thanks!

Hastings? It's not in the plans . . . but who knows?

I could give you a clue, but won't! I'm very superstitious about revealing the exact subject of future books, probably in case they don't get written. It won't be the next book - but I hope to get to it soon . . .