Your Questions

I'd like to start by saying that your books are amazing. I'm 22 now and I started off reading the Warlord Chronicles when I was 16, and after I finished the trilogy I went straight back to the first page of the Winter King and read them all over again. I bought Harlequin and read the whole book in one day, it was that good. Your presentation of battles and emotion within your books is unlike any I've ever read. Also, if I haven't been bought The Last Kingdom for christmas I intend to buy it in January. I'm sure that it will be the first book of another great trilogy. My question is this though. I'm a young actor and I've just graduated from a college in Nottingham. I was wondering if you would know of any intention to turn any of your books into films, and if so who would I need to contact in order to try and get an audition. I've heard rumours that there will be some more Sharpe films made, but they were just rumours. Thank you. Daniel. P.S. Will Obadiah be appearing in any future Sharpe releases? Thank you once again.

Thank you for the immense pleasure my family and I have had from all your books and the Sharpe videos. We read and re-read the books! One question - All your "villains" have come to the end they deserve except one, Sir Henry Simmerson. Will you ever be writing anything that finshes him off suitably???? Many thanks again! Alan Roberts

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I had a question about the Holy Grail series. I was watching a show on the history channel called the "weapons that made britain" and there was one on the longobow. They talked about a fallen archer, named William Jerdenell, who created a dynasty of archers. I was wondering if you based Thomas' stories off of this archer, only because Jerdenell is one of the only archers to have an actual grave and is symbolized inside of a church. Thanks for your great works, I can't wait for more of them. Sincerely, Steve Scheide

Hello. Bit of a longshot but do you know if any peninsular campaign tunics survive that have the "forlorn hope" patch - have you ever seen one or just relied on written description? I've asked at the national army museum, imperial war museum and christie's but no joy. It's not a major importance I was just curious. Have a lovely Christmas and New Year. Kieron

Obviously as an Englishman it seems natural that some of your heroes Sharpe, Derfel. Arthur etc hail from our green and pleasant land. I am interested however in how you "choose" your heros. Particularly - why make Starbuck a rebel? and suppose you were to write about the English Civil War - would our hero be a cavalier or parliamentarian? Nolan Salmon

Mr. Cornwell: I've been reading your books for years, and always enjoy them. Often I learn something from your exhaustive research, and often you bring up interesting questions. Early in your book "Heretic", you refer to the stone missiles fired from early cannon. This is the first I've heard of such an idea. If they were stone missiles shaped into a ball, surely it would be easier to cast cannon balls, since they could cast the cannon? You later mention the "bolts" used against the castle,and describe how the barrel of the cannon is packed with other material, to ensure the force of the powder is not wasted. Interesting idea ... would they not have to do the same thing with stone missiles, and if so, we are back to the shaping of the missiles again. Care to elaborate? Glad you didn't fall into the same trap that Michael Crichton did, in his book "Timeline" - where he first mentions a "breech loading cannon (in the Middle Ages!) being dragged across a field whereupon it was "loaded from the muzzle". Michael didn't see fit to comment on this unusual situation. I hope you'll reincarnate Thomas of Hookton yet again ... Mike Goldstein

Dear Mr. Cornwell. I LOVE your books and I thank you for the hours of fun I have had while reading them. I just have one question. The Starbuck Chronicles. As far as I know you have only written four of them. I was just wondering if you intened to further the series. Thanks again. Rick Hindmarsh

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Back in Jan '04 you answerd a question by saying that Starbuck will reach Appomattox. But now I'm reading some nasty rumors on other websites that you're planning a fifth- and final- Starbuck book in which Nate will die. I emplore you Sir, please don't kill off Nate. For my money, he is your best character- even better than Sharpe, whom I enjoy immensely- with Uhtred running in second. The Starbuck Chronicles are the books that first introduced me to your writings. Those four books are some of the best you've ever done. So much of Nate's story remains yet to be told. Getting Nate to Appomattox would cover such ground that the resulting books would be spectacular! I don't know if the rumor regarding Nate's death are true or not - I hope they are not! I patienly wait for more of Nate's story and hope that he will indeed reach Appomattox. Tom

Dear Mr Cornwell, I really enjoyed The Last Kingdom as well as your other books that I have read to date. My long interest in genealogy led me to do some research which indicates that I am a direct decendant of Alfred (33 generations). This has really made me look at his time in history with a deeper interest. I look forward to the next book(s). I see from your diary section that you will be making some appearances next year. Are there plans for any others, perhaps in the New England area? Jeff H.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I live in Montreal and I have finally found a store that sells your books. I have read a few of your books and they are without a doubt my favorites. In your books, I have noticed that many of your main characters speak the language of their enemies. Is there a reason you chose to do so? Frederic-G. Rollet

Mr. Cornwell, I really appreciate all of the books you have written. I am always amazed at the historical detail you manage to achieve...even through subjects of such great difference. How do you do your research for your books? What places do you go, what type of material do you use? Finally, how big a factor is the research in the creation of the plot? Do you go into a story knowing what is going to happen, and just flesh out the details in the library, or have your stories been completely changed by one or two chance findings at a museum? Thanks for the answers and the wonderful literature. Casey