Your Questions

Q

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

Submitted May 2, 2014

A

I didn’t train! It’s all imagination (and a lot of reading memoirs!).  The book took about 5 months to write.

 

Q

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

Submitted May 2, 2014

A

I haven't watched it, sorry!

 

He’s certainly based on a real historical figure . . . but we know very little about him which is a gift to a novelist!

Carelessness, probably?

Q

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

Submitted May 2, 2014

A

No more plans for Thomas at the moment.

Q

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

Submitted May 2, 2014

A

I suppose I’d have liked to know more about who he based Hornblower on? Except I suspect he based him on himself. But it would have been interesting to hear his answer (he offered two or three, all different, so who knows?)

Q

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

Submitted May 2, 2014

A

Oh, I wish!  The river has gone (redirected and tamed and moved away) and most of it is now housing estates. I’d give it a miss! But you could visit Ethandun? That hasn’t changed! Look for the westbury White Horse (google?) and the battle was almost certainly fought on the hill above the horse.

Q

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

Submitted May 2, 2014

A

I don't have input on the audio books and, truthfully, I've never listened to them so I had no idea the narrator sounds like Sean!

Q

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

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

I’m no expert on ninth century etiquette. I suspect they called themselves Lothbrokson to be allied to a famous family, as against an individual, but truly that’s a guess.

Q

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

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

I read an immense amount of history (naturally), I do not read horror or fantasy (just not my taste), and adore a well-crafted thriller or police procedural because I simply don’t have the talent to write those! So I consume Stuart MacBride, John Sandford, Alex Berenson . . . the list could go on.  But I probably read more non-fiction than fiction – perhaps because I spend my days writing fiction?

Q

Dear Bernard,

I was wondering what you thought of self-publishing - ie what are the possible pitfalls and is it something you would have considered if you were just starting out today?
Also, I have to say how very much I enjoy reading your books. From Sharpe - of course! - to the Saxon stories and I have just started reading the Starbuck stories. Marvellous!
Whenever I read one of your stories it inspires me to want to write something myself. That is quite a gift you have there. Thanks for everything.

Les Taylor.

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

I don’t have any particular views on it. It obviously worked wonderfully well for Fifty Shades of Gray and for The Bridges of Madison County, but are those outliers? I suspect so. If a writer wants readers (and who doesn’t?) then I think the classic route is still the best to go – i.e. through a publisher, because the publisher’s job, among other things, is to publicise a book. But I know how hard it is to find a publisher, and even finding one doesn’t guarantee success, so self-publishing is plainly an alternative. So how to make it work? I’m told that offering a couple of free books is a good way to start, your reader has nothing to lose except time and if they like you they’ll come back for more. Sounds reasonable? Would I consider it if I was starting out today (and thank God I’m not). Probably yes!

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

I have truly loved reading your books. I've been reading your work for years, but only recently started the Sharpe series because it took me a LONG time to find a copy of Sharpe's Tiger. But I found one about a month ago and have been flying through them ever since. I am glad to say that they have lived up to your other series completely. Sadly I once again find myself stuck as I cannot find Sharpe's Havoc. But rest assured I will find it eventually. Although I have loved all of your works thus far my favorite by far has been the warlord chronicles. The way you brought the legend of Arthur alive was breathtaking. I was very disappointed with the ending simply because it was the ending. Realizing that there would be no more stories about Derfel and Arthur was heartbreaking. I particularly enjoyed the way you dealt with magic in that time period. Merlin is always a key character in the story but it seems authors must always choose weather to present him with magical powers, or as just a councilor. You left it to the reader to decide wether Merlin was actually influincing events or if it was coincidence. It was masterfully done. After reading your masterpiece with Arthur it occured to me to suggest that you consider writing a book or series on another legendary figure, Robin Hood. There would be more facts to work with but still the same sense of a legend brought to life by your work.

 

Another interesting historical group I would love to see you take on is the three muskateers. Even though they are a fictional group the time period is very interesting and the pre existing fictional characters provide a perfect entrance to the story. I know you mostly focus on English history but I thought I'd recommend it.

Regardless of if that ever happens I look forward to reading all of your future works. I end with the often heard plea that you make your way back to Starbuck in the near future, but I know you will when you are ready. Lastly thank you again for introducing me to these great stories. Now I am off to reread the saxon tales.
Phil Wells

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

I have considered Robin Hood....and the Three Muskateers?

That’s kind of you, but I suspect I have too many other books I want to write first! But thank you.