Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard For your forthcoming Escape book tour will you be in Colchester and please could you say the date it will be released ?? While you have said you will not get Sharpe to the war of 1812. What about Fredrickson he is over there and Lundys Lane and Cooks Mill would surely beckon for him just as a stand alone to find out his fate after his break up with Sharpe. P.S There is a bit of a gap between Fredricksburg and Chancerlsville in between could Starbuck get to the battle of the Stones River ?? Look foward to Sharpes escape.

Submitted February 27, 2004

A

I believe Sharpe's Escape will be released on 1 April 2004. Don't think the book tour will take me to Colchester, but we should be receiving the full itinerary to post on the Diary page soon. As to your other questions - I'll think on it! But it won't happen very soon - too much else to be written.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell - You may not remember but you kindly signed 'Heretic' for me and 'Gallows Thief' for my daughter, Emma (at Durham uni) when you were in Norwich in October last year. Both were avidly read almost immediately, and we're very grateful. If I may, I have two questions: (1) Do you intend to write any more novels in the first person? Among my favourites are the Warlord Trilogy and the sailing thrillers, made all the more interesting by the singular perspective; (2) Do you intend to write any more modern thrillers? I have rarely read anything as breathtakingly exciting as 'Stormchild', particularly the cat-and-mouse suspense once the Genesis Community had been found and the stunning denouement. Looking forward to 'Sharpe's Escape'. Thanks once again. Fred Marsh.

Submitted February 27, 2004

A

I'm writing one now - it's tentatively called The Last Kingdom and is the first in a series that tells of the repulse of the Danish (Viking) army from England during the early 9th century. I won't say much more except that I haven't enjoyed writing a book so much since the Warlord Chronicles. Sailing thrillers? I'm not planning any more, but that doesn't mean much - it could happen, but probably not in the next year or two.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, your books, I feel, are terribly short, no offence for I lost hours of sleep cause of them, but most of them don't swell beyond 400 pages. My friends judges books by their thickness, over 550 pages are normal for them, and jeers at me for reading such short novels. So Mr.Cornwell, are you planning on writing a longer book? Alfonso

Submitted February 27, 2004

A

How many lines on a page? Most of my books are between 120,000 and 155,000 words, which is probably average. And never judge a book by pages, some publishers put 30 plus lines on a page, even 40 +, others as few as 26 or 27. It also depends on paper thickness! My British editions look much longer than the US ones because the Brits use slightly thicker paper, but I promise you I don't write short books - just average length.

Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I read your book "Stonehenge", I loved your book but have one question; in the book Derrewyn says " The stones killed them. The gods did come to the temple that night and killed the man who claimed he was a god and crushed the woman who thought she was a goddess." So did that mean that Lahanna and Slaol did unite just for a second, I think you should have had a solar or lunar eclipse going on when Lahanna ( the moon) and Slaol ( the sun) united for a second. If you are too busy to reply that is okay I would just like to know. Your Fan, Kat

Submitted February 27, 2004

A

Oddly enough that particular stone did collapse very shortly after the monument was built, but it's up to the reader to decide how much divine intervention was involved! I thought about the eclipse, but in the end decided against it. I was probably wrong.

Q

I've enjoyed your novels greatly through the years. Richard Sharpe and Patrick Harper have marched along with me to some pretty inhospitable spots. The Penguin paperback format was small enough to stuff in any duffle, cheap enough to be traded when finished, and the tiny print was no challenge to young eyes. Now safely enjoying my pension on the retired list, my priorities (not to mention my eyesight) have changed somewhat. I have the leisure to reread my favorite books, albeit with the help of glasses, and shelves on which to store them. Is your publisher entertaining any thoughts of bringing out the full Sharpe series (to date) in either hardback or a larger trade paperback format? If not, may I suggest considering it? As for Sharpe - long may his series and his author continue! Barb McColgan

Submitted February 24, 2004

A

It may be considered - but probably not until the series is done - and that's a few years away!

Q

Hi. Any thoughts of visiting New Zealand to promote (not that it needs it!) your next book? Would be great to see you over here. Best regards and thanks for many good hours of reading. Peter Harris

Submitted February 24, 2004

A

I'm afraid New Zealand is not on the schedule this year. I will be in the UK in April and in Canada in May - the schedules for both trips should be posted to the Diary page soon.

Q

I recently read a posting in which you indicated that you had stopped writing the fourth Hookton book. I assume this means that you are discontinuing the series? When do you believe the Viking book you're working on now will be finished and released? Thanks for your time. Matthew Jacobs

Greetings! I know this probably has already been asked, but I can't find an answer on any of the forums, so here it goes: You said you stopped writing the 4th Thomas book. Does this mean the project is "dead" or are you planning to resume it some time later. Looking forward to your Viking book, love scandinavian culture! However, I would also love some more books about Thomas... I think it's one of your best characters ever! (being that Culwch was probably my fave hehehehe) Keep on writing, thus enriching all our lives. Thank you. André.

I have heard that you have stopped writing the fourth novel about Thomas of Hookton. Will this novel never be written or are you planning to write it in the future. Thanks. Michael Jones

Bernard, let me get this straight: You WERE writing a fourth Thomas of Hookton book (but not in the Grail series), then you decided NOT TO write it and are now working on a Viking story! I'm sure a lot of Thomas fans would want to know why. May I be so bold as to ask? Kevin Wakefield

Submitted February 20, 2004

A

I did stop writing the fourth Thomas of Hookton book because I feel his story has ended with Heretic - although it is possible that I may take it up again in the future. The Viking book, I hope, will be done and ready for publication in October.

Q

I read that you have given Nat Starbuck an extended vacation,and that some of the recommended reading about the Civil War is by the author Stephen W. Sears. Are his books fiction (Gates of Richmond and Landscape Turned Red.) I have enjoyed the Starbuck Chronicles and feel a closeness to Nat Starbuck. Thank you. Nancy Charls

Submitted February 20, 2004

A

The books by Stephen W. Sears listed on the Suggestions for Further Reading page of the Starbuck Chronicles are not fiction. I hope you'll enjoy reading them!

Q

Dear Sir, are you ever going to write a Sharpe's book that will tell what happened to Sharpe's daughter in Spain after the war ? thank you for your time T.D. Young I

Submitted February 20, 2004

A

Probably not - but, never say never!

Q

Re: The Nathanial Starbuck Chronicles Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have just concluded book four of the Nathanial Starbuck Chronicles. Please write additional volumes to augment this wonderful series. I feel that Nate and his friends are my friends and his enemies are mine as well. I was crushed that Lucifer died, but delighted that Nate avenged his death as he did. Certainly, you cannot permit Billy Blythe to escape unharmed. And do Sally and Nate marry after the War; do Sally and her father reconcile; do Nate and his father reconcile? We know what happened to the real actors but now we need to know (pardon me) the rest of the story. At the conclusion of your historical note to The Bloody Ground, you promised that Starbuck will march again. I certainly hope so. Many thanks for your contribution to a number of evenings of entertainment. Bill Broaddus

Mr. Cornwell...I became instantly enamored with your StarbuckChronicles, bought and read them all, and then passed them on to a kindred soul who also read all four without stopping (well, maybe a dime novel in between)...our question is regarding wether you have plans to write a 5th installment and if so when? We would anxiously await it...in the meantime, we've both decided to start the Sharpe series....thanks for all you do...Jack King

Hello Bernard, I have loved every book of yours that I have read. I hope that you will continue the Starbuck series. Do you have one in the "pipeline" now? I miss it!! Thanks and keep up the good work. Scott

Sir, I have ejoyed reading and rereading several of your books, especially the Starbuck Chronicles. I love history and live in Richmond (Chesterfield actually). I am curious to hear if you are planning to continue the saga? Respectfully Jeff Auxier

Dear Mr Cornwell, I feel that I cannot go on waiting forever to read the conclusion to the Starbuck Chronicles. I think that eight years is a bit long to wait. I am seventy-five now and I don't suppose I shall last out the time . What was the the point of saying that Starbuck will go on when he won't. You keep adding to Sharpe books when some of them don't really relate to his later life. I am so disappointed that I no longer buy your new Sharpe books. I have got everyone of your books, but I think I'll stop now because you don't finish what you start . Yours sincerely George Davies

I discovered your books browsing through Barnes and Nobles. Just read the Startbuck Chronicles and they were absolutely excellent. I have shared them with my father. We are both military veterans and my son is in the Army today. You somehow captured so much of a soldier's soul in this series. Nathan Starbuck could go on for as long as you would want and we would love to read his post war adventures too. Believe that Hollywood is missing the boat, all your books would translate into the most exciting of cinema. I will pray that you live and write well into you century mark. You are a genius! Thanks for the wonderful enjoyment that you are providing the world with your books! I am planning on buying and reading them all. Want to make sure that I own these for my personal library. I will read them again and again. David C. Wedner

g'day Bernard all the way from Sydney Australia. Trust you are keeping well. I have just re read the Starbuck series for the 3rd time. Taking the train to work every day helps in my reading. You gotta bring back Nate. you promised, your last lines in the Bloody Ground-"Starbuck will march again". but when I ask.......... take care, regards David

Submitted February 19, 2004

A

I am pleased that so many of you have enjoyed the Starbuck Chronicles. I hope to return to them someday, but I'm afraid I don't know right now exactly when that will be. I do appreciate your messages.