Your Questions

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.

 

Q

Hi Bernard,

despite being an avid reader of your novels, I am eagerly awaiting the publication of 'Waterloo', in September. I am curious to know if, during your research, you used old gravestones and church records to uncover information about the 'lesser known' soldiers who took part in the battle? By chance, I came across a headstone recently, in a derelict churchyard in Northern Ireland, marking the grave of Ensign Dyas. Dyas is recorded as declining a promotion by Wellington but served at Waterloo and retired from the army with the rank of captain.  It's a small world isn't it?
Hugh

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

It is a small world, and no, I didn’t comb graveyards! I did comb the first-person literature (diaries, letters and memoirs) and that yielded enormous amounts of material. But thank you for telling me about Dyas!

 

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell:

I discovered your Saxon stories a couple of years ago and read them all without stopping. I then agonized for a year for The Pagan Lord to be released. I have loved them all! You are a superb storyteller. Since I am of Danish heritage, your books have awakened my love of history, and I have been trying to read as much as I can about ancient Scandinavian history--actual and novelized. It is fascinating and wonderful. So thank you for that! I am partial to the Norse side as you can imagine. I'm glad Uhtred has remained pagan. I wonder if you have come across any novels about Canute the Great? I have searched to no avail. I think his story would make a wonderful novel. Thank you again for writing such terrific and exciting books. I'm looking forward to the next Uhtred and am thrilled it will be in January 2015. I will be sad when his story ends.

Best regards,
Lise

P.S. You should check out History channel's The Vikings. It's quite good; although, they aren't very good at shield walls yet. It's the story of Ragnar Lothbrok and his adventures. Since not a lot is exactly known about him, they've been able to play with the facts a bit. It makes it fun. Having read your books and with my own research, it's nice to know what is coming. I'm also able to explain to my son and husband how a shield wall should work!

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

I haven’t, I’m sorry – maybe someone else can recommend something?

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,
I am currently reading Warlord chronicles (for the third time), and there are some very interesting things that didn't seem to bother me the first time. I've noticed that armies of Dumnonia and other kingdoms of Sub-Roman Britain are surprisingly small, only few hundreds of men; only when they join forces we can speak of thousand or more warriors. Even if we accept the theory that the population of Sub-Roman Britain decreased dramatically after the collapse of Roman system on the island, it was still populated by more than a million people, at least. And this is all happening before The Plague of Iustinian which reduced European population so much. Oh, and Saxon armies are quite small, too. I would expect that warlords like Aella and Serdic would lead massive hordes of invaders/settlers. Can you shed some light on the subject, please? Many thanks.
Miroslav Subašić

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

An army of 1000 men would be large! Certainly in post-Roman times (even by the fourteenth century an army was rarely above 10,000 men, though the French did assemble 30,000 plus for Agincourt, much good it did them). It’s a matter of logistics above everything else, you need to equip and feed men, then organize them, in states that are much smaller than now. So in Arthur’s Britain there are at least seven kingdoms . . . .instead of one, and if you’re an invader it’s a matter of ships. The Vikings were notorious for what we might call fickleness – a band of men would join an army, but if the plunder wasn’t arriving fast enough, they hived off on their own. The Saxons were well organized – the fyrd and the burh system – but it’s easier to feed men in a burh (where the food will be stored anyway) and the moment you launch an army off into the countryside you immediately incur all the logistical problems of feeding them, which tended towards smaller armies because they were much easier to supply. Alfred could probably have assembled an army of 20,000 men plus, but after two days they’d be starving!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

My son, Chris, and I are avid readers of your stories, all of them, but especially Uhtred, friends and foes. I am sure that you contributed to his choice of film directing as what he loves to do. We are celebrating his graduation by a "lets go imagine we are having a skirmish here" trip to Northumberland first fortnight of this June, including Bebbanburg. We would love to know what are your favourite views, places and nooks inside or near Beb.
Thanks for your story telling,

Julie Lennox

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

Bamburgh Castle, obviously!  And don’t miss Lindisfarned (Holy Island), and I’m very find of Dunstanburgh Castle – a good coastal walk with magnificent views. Alnwick is worth a visit too! Enjoy!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,
I have been an avid reader of your books since watching sharpes eagle with my nan, one question I have is do you have any regrets regarding sharpes company onward? I for one was extremely sad when Theresa was killed off.
Thank you so much for reading this
James

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

My only regret is killing off Hakeswill!  I keep wondering how to resurrect him.

Q

Will The Empty Throne be the last book of Saxon Stories? If not, how many are you going to write?
Congratulations for your job and I'd like u know you have a great fan in Brazil!
Vagner Stefanello

 

Love the saxon series, just finished the Pagan Lord, any idea when the next book in this adventure will come out?
Thank you,
Phil Reed

 

Hello Bernard,
Just a quick thank you for the Warrior Chronicles. I downloaded the first book from Itunes last October and have just finished The Pagan Lord last night. I paid £1.99 for the first book which seems like robbery! All the books were great and I've got plenty of other reading material to keep me going however I was hoping you wouldn't mind letting me know when you think another installment may be ready. I haven't read any of your Sharpe novels so perhaps I'll give the first one a go! Thanks again they were hugely entertaining for the precious hour in between putting the kids to bed and getting some sleep.
Cheers,
David.

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

The next book of the Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories is The Empty Throne.  It will be available in the UK at the end of October and in the US next January.  It is not the last book of this series, but I'm still unsure how many more there might be....

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell

wondered if there are any plans in the work for more Sharpe books? I have read my collection several times, and would like to think there are more to come,
thanks
John

 

Hi Mr Cornwell

as a real fan of Sharpe both the tv series and the books which I have read and enjoyed very much first of all thank you for such an excellent series well written and well produced, are there any plans for a sequel tv series or any more Sharpe stories to be written

yours

Bill Smith

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

I do have plans for at least one more Sharpe book.  I'm not sure there will be more films.

Q

Hi Bernard,

Finally got round to reading The Pagan Lord - just as fantastic as the rest of your books! I find it so frustrating when I don't get the chance to read books I so dearly want to, so it was great when I finally did. I was wondering if you will be in England, or the rest of the UK later in 2014, or next year? I know you have a busy schedule so it must be difficult to find the time but it would be great to hear you give a talk and/or get some books signed!

Thank you for all your books; I am yet to read one I have not been enthralled or inspired by!

Cam

Submitted April 30, 2014

A

There's a good chance I will be in the UK for the release of The Empty Throne at the end of October.  Keep an eye on the homepage of this website; we'll post the itinerary as soon as we know it!