Your Questions

Hello Bernard

Hope you and Judy had a pleasant Yuletide!

I read Warriors of the Storm and enjoyed it as much as..well, as much as the last one!

By "I have business in the North!" I assume Uhtred means business delivered with the sharp edge of a sword, rather than the kind of business that involved Board meetings and pie-charts...?

Wanted to ask a few questions, if that's ok...

It was interesting that Haestan's luck finally ran out in Warriors of the Storm, and I like that he was denied Valhalla. Why did you decide to kill him at this point though? Had Haestan just out-lived his usefulness to you as a writer?

I remember many years ago reading Sharpe's Revenge, (probably my favourite one actually)and you saying that you always imagined Sharpie would end his days as a grumpy country Squire, not in France, with a Frenchwoman! But that "Heroes choose their own Stories..." So, I was wondering if Uhtred has ever surprised you in a similar way?

The final thing I was wondering was an opinion...

I don't know if you saw this, but about 13 years ago the BBC  did a poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. At the time I voted for Wellington, but now after you kindly explained things to me in your books...I think I would vote  for King Alfred. After all, without him, there would be no England!  I think Alfred came in just outside the Top 10 in the end.

I wanted your opinion on the Top 10.

Churchill was Number 1, and behind him were, (I can't remember the order),  Brunel, Darwin, Nelson, Elizabeth the First, Newton, John Lennon, Cromwell, Princess Diana and Shakespeare, do you consider that a fair list? And who would you vote for as the Greatest Briton?

Hope I've not taken up too much of your time with this! I'm supposedly writing a novel myself, so maybe I should be getting on with THAT,  rather than sending you this!

Hope you have a good week.

Regards

Matt Copley

Wiltshire

I only have one concern in this life.  It haunts me daily.  At work, at home changing nappies and wiping snot from little faces that look like mine. Even in the local supermarket when the nappies run out! Will there ever be another book in the last kingdom series?  In truth I'd prefer more books but would be glad of even one more.  I don't think I could cope with not knowing if Uhtred ever bashes his enemies by the sea :( I have guessed (hoped) that he does from your clues, however, I need more blood!  You have given me oceans of the stuff I know, but just a little more?

Susan Coupland

Hello Mr Cornwell

My name is Carlo and I'm reading your books in Bern, Switzerland:). So today I'm just finished Starbuck - Part 4. As a very interested person in history, especially civil war (I also read your Waterloo Book and loved it), I'm worried about not finding any information about Starbuck's journey after Antietam. So do you have any news for me:)?

Yours sincerely

Carlo

 

Hi Bernard,

Fantastic news about the Starbuck tv series, when will we get to see it in the UK?

This surely has to be the inspiration you need to continue Nate's story.

Martin

 

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading your books.  I truly do enjoy them. I cannot say I have a favorite series as I find each one equally entertaining and engrossing.

My reason for contacting you is that I am just finishing up the Starbuck Chronicles.  I am truly hoping that you will soon return to writing these. My appetite has been whetted and I must say I am eagerly looking forward to more of Nate Starbuck. I guess I am in need of "closure." :)

I wish you the best.

Sincerely,

Lance Brown

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell.

I see from your home page that they are making a TV series about Nate Starbuck. I recall that it was the making of Sharpe that caused you to drop Nate and write more Sharpe. I read Sharpe and Starbuck in tandem once a year as my wife wont let me read them more often (once I have my nose in these books nothing gets done, so she says), so I hope that this TV venture may stir you on to return to Starbuck again. I really need to know how you intend to drop Washington Faulconer in it when Stonewall Jackson is shot by his own side. This just has to be Faulconers fault. You once wrote that you worried that Starbuck was to much like Sharpe. I don't think so and judging by the number of fans who beg you to write more I'm certain that they would be snapped up as quickly as all your other super books.

>From a big big fan.

Mike Walker, Worcester, UK.

 

I would like to thank you for the countless hours of entertainment you have provided this old retired guy in the last 3 years. I first read Agincourt on my wife's suggestion. Then found the Sharpe series.on kindle and read one after another until finished. Done the same with The Warrior series and Starbuck. I really loved the Starbuck series maybe best of all. I know why you stopped writing them and sadly I thought them done. However now that there is a film production in the making might you do another?

Thanks again

Brian Duke

Dear Mr Cornwell,

first of all I wanted to say thank you so very much for writing so many terrific novels. The points in history you have chosen are of course gripping, however it is your story telling and characters that keep so many of us enthralled and re-reading your many novels. (I tend to wolf down each new book and then enjoy all the subtle details in the next reading.)

One question (out of Gods alone know how many I have) is about your version of Merlin. How much, if any, of yourself went into his character? I just get the feeling there was some crossover there more then other characters. I could easily be wrong! I hope this message finds you well,

all the best,

Daniel.

 

Hi Bernard,

First, thank you for all your novels, I think I've read them all, many three or four times (and always find something new).

I don't know if ideas for new series are easy or hard for you to come up with, but I have two:

One would be the story of Ragnar the Younger. We rarely see anything written about the lives of the Danes in Denmark in this period - it must have been interesting with so many men heading off to new lands. Maybe Ragnar has a son who goes to the raid on Paris?

The other would be another story with Thomas of Hookton. I love those stories. Maybe he becomes a wool trader but gets dragged back into the 100 years war.

Thanks again for the great books.

D'Arcy Draper

Hello Bernard,

Loved your books from when I started reading Sharpe in the Mid 90's. The  Starbuck Chronicles next, then the Warlord Chronicles.  I have to say that the latter are my favourites and though I've read all your books several times, those I've re-read the most.

My Question:

A lot of your books have the Pagan/Christian Old World/New World conflict you seem to enjoy writing about this a lot.  Where do you think this comes from?

Thanks

Keith

P.S.

I know you have no real control over these things, but has any one mentioned if they will dramatise The Warlord Chronicles?  I really enjoyed the last Kingdom on the BBC

Hello,

I was watching an old repeated episode of " Who wants to be a Celebrity Millionaire" presented by Chris Tarrant, an question featured the Anglo-American war of 1812-1814. Not a war i know a lot about, I did know the British burned down the White House during that war, and that is about it.  They were more important events happening in Europe during that period, which came to a violent conclusion  in 1815, so I can understand why you have not set a Sharpe novel in North America circa 1812-1815.

Since 9/11, a lot of books, films and TV series ( i.e Homeland) address Americans fear of acts of terrorism in North America. Do you think,  if you wrote about the burning of the White House by the British (maybe featuring Sharpe), would this resonate more with Americans and Europeans than if you set a future Sharpe book set in Europe?

Regards and thanks,

Adrian.

Bernard.

I have been an avid reader of your books for longer than I care to remember. One problem.

Write more. I love them.

From ' Sharpe' to ' Uhtred '. Fantastic. Though I must say neither tv series, although good ,do your books justice. Could you tell me when your next book is out?

Thanks.

Paul.

 

I have read a lot of your books and I am absolutely obsessed with Uhtred's story but I thought it would be interesting if there was a possibility of "spinoff" like just with the backstories of other minor characters, that were mentioned. For example Ida the Flame-bearer, Ragnar the Younger, Ravn, or any other characters. Have you ever thought of doing any works like this?

Thanks for writing your stories by the way, I have read each book in the series 2-3 times. Also, I write some stories about your characters (they are not very good) just for fun. What I wrote about Finan was completely wrong though. I really liked the backstory that was revealed in Warriors of the storm.

-Jim Brook

 

Dear Mr Cornwell

Thank you for the pleasure your writing has always given me.

So far I have written four thrillers myself that I have been forced to self-publish and three more that I still have in manuscript form only having exhausted my resources. This is the result of 7 years work and despite pushing hard the only response I get from publishers is 'I like your work a great deal but you're unknown, untried and have no sales record – we can only offer you a partnership contract.' It's a catch 22 situation that you may be familiar with from your earlier days and I was hoping you could give me some advice on how I can one get over this hurdle to achieve the Holy Grail, a traditional contract.

Your valuable time in replying will be most appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Clive Sorrell