Your Questions

Hi,

First of all, just want to say (what I'm sure you read alot) that I'm a huge fan. I love history and studied it at University. Recently with a friend we have taken up self publishing for fun and a hobby. We were wondering if you had any advise about writing battles? Do you go through a specific research technique or focus more on developing the battle around the character?

Thank you for reading our message.

Sam Campbell & Ben Dixon

Mr Cornwell,

As an avid writer through my teens and hoping to carry on the craft through my career [being a military man on  occasion needs distraction] and was wondering how to organise notes, or how you find it best.

I have two A4 hardback notebooks full of ideas, some are the same with tweaks, some are very diverse and whilst that well of information has been the basis of three Warhammer fan fictions I produced, it seems that it's harder to make connections between the mass of numbers, names and places.

So, am I organising and note taking 'wrong' or is there another technique that may make it easier?

Regards,

James Andrew

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I especially liked the dialogue of the (almost) dying Uhtred in The Pagan Load with the bystanders… and with himself.
How long do you write on a book like this?
Your fighting scenes (this is not the main reason for reading your books) are so incredible realistic:  did you every train or learn martial arts like sword fighting?
Regards
Christian Zier

Mr. Cornwell,

Let me say that I am enthralled with your Saxon series, and I cannot wait to read The Empty Throne. It is something I look forward to every January. That being said, I have a three part question for you:

1). Have you watched the Vikings on History Channel, and what is you impression of the show?

2). Is the historical figure Ragnar Lothbrok, whom the show is based on, in anyway related to the Lothbroks who invaded England? one of the small children on the show is so named Ubba, I couldnt help but wonder.

3). In all of your Saxon books, you mention a tactical formation. This Triangular formation you have called numerous things, whether it be "tusk" or "swine head" you have made slight variations on the same formation and it is different in each book. Is there a reason for this historically? or is that a "writer's choice" to avoid stagnancy?

Thanks so much

Rich, NJ

Is there any chance you might have another book with Thomas as the main character?
The archer series and the sequel "1536" are my favorite books that you have written. Thank you for the exciting and enjoyable readings of your books!!
Jane Porter Sarges

So having worked my way through all your historical novels, I decided to give Hornblower a try. Fantastic obviously! Although the appearance of a character called Sharpe in Hornblower in the West Indies did cause me some confusion - I assume there's no relation?  Interestingly, whilst your Sharpe was named after a rugby player, Forester's character's namesake was a cricketer Cloudesley Sharpe (albeit an extremely obscure one).

Anyway, I was wondering - since you spend so much time patiently answering your fan's questions - if there are any you would have wanted to ask C. S. Forester if you had had the chance?
Dan

Mr. Cornwell,
My wife and I are about to embark on a 9 day vacation to Northern Wales and the Peak District with a one night stay in the Cotswalds. We will pass directly through Wolverhampton (Tettenhall) our way to Conwy and were wondering if anything was known of the actual location of the Battle of Tettenhall which you so beautifully described in The Pagan Lord? If so, we'd love to walk the ground and try to visualize Uhtred and his son working their magic on that momentous day! Thank you for your outstanding work as it has been the source of many hours of wonderful entertainment over the past decade.
Best Regards,
Michael Hanselman

G,day from Australia, I would like to say awesome to you, you are a clever person and I think your work is awesome. I am a poor reader as reading sends me to sleep. But from my local library in Kalgoorlie Western Australia they have your book in audio and I have never looked at them before until now and the Saxon and warrior stories were just great. I have seen the sharpe's series and Sean Bean played the characters so well and when I hear the audio for the Saxon and Warrior stories the narrators try to sound like Sean. Did you have input on this and if so was the intention for this to be so?

I can't wait for the next audio book. Awesome work

Regards

Jason Archer

Mr. Cornwell
I have been watching the History channel show Vikings, Following the tale of Ragnar Lothbrok. In your books you call his sons Lothbroksons I.e. Ubba Lothbrokson, or Lothbrok. My question is would they have been called Ragnarson, Lothbrokson, or just Lothbrok? My understanding is that it could have been either of the prior two? Also in what situations would different names be used if indeed they went by both?

I adore your Books! after reading the Saxon Tales from beginning to Death of Kings, Pagan Lord wasn't out yet (I have since devoured that and await the summer installment), I then Binge read ALL of Sharpe over the course of a couple months!

Thanks so much for the endless enjoyment!
-Braxton Wells

Hi Bernard Cornwell,

you like to read ALL genres of books (like horror, suspense, comedy) or just books that have relation with the military history, policy, classic tales, and others that influence your books ? Thanks!
Vlad Presnyacov Agassi