Your Questions

Hello Sir,
I notice that in a few past posts from you, that you have suggested that your mind/head was at Waterloo.  Is Rider Sandman going to make an appearance in a future novel?

cheers,

Edward

Hey mr. Cornwell!
First of all i would like to say how cool i think it is that you take time to answer all of your fans like this. I am 16 years and lives in Denmark, so english is not my native tongue. I like to write short stories, sci-fi and other fiction. I have found a website (strange horizons) where people can send in their short stories and I am currently working on one but it is going very slow. Do you have any advice for how to keep a story going? (know it's a hard question)
Also just a quickie, the saxons in The Winter King, are you aware if there were danes among them or did they come later?
Thanks in advance:)

Asger Åkerstrøm Knudsen

Dear Mr. Cornwell

First of all, thank you for all the amazing work bringing history to life. Just in the same way Carl Sagan could make physics seem interesting to everyone you sure make history an amazing adventure attractive to every reader.

First of all two small questions, that may be related to the longest question:

Will there be more Starbuck? Will there be more Sharpe?

Now... I noticed you have some battles left on you curriculum, and even after covering pivotal moments like Waterloo or Poitiers I can't help but thinking of Hastings, Blenheim, and Gettysburg (where Starbuck would make an appearance of course).

By the way (extra question), what about Roliça, and Vimeiro? I know that compared to other battles referred here they are mere skirmishes, but as a portuguese I couldn't help it, sorry.

Thank you for your attention
João

I stumbled onto your novels with 'The Last Kingdom' and have since read everything you've written.  Your books have provided me with countless hours of enjoyment and I hope you continue to write for many years to come.  I was intrigued to read in one of the comments a hint that you might be writing yet another Sharpe novel.  Can we expect that the boys 'will march again'?

Thank you
Bob Trombly

On page 334 of 'The Burning Land' you refer to Aethelstan as being Edward's son yet, in the family tree at the beginning of the book, he is placed as Aethelflaed's son? Whose son was he actually? I don't remember seeing his name mentioned anywhere else in this book?  Thank you.
I, of course, love all your books as does everyone else who enjoys English history.
Jane Whitticks

Having just read 1356 on holiday I was pleasantly surprised to see yet another mention of Towcester having also seen it mentioned in Death of Kings. I would love to know how a fairly small Northamptonshire Market Town figures in your writing when most people have never even heard of it, yet alone know about it's rich history - have you personal knowledge of our Town ?
Chris - A Towcester resident of many years !

Hello Mr Cornwell.

I have been watching the Sharpe series on TV for as long as I can remember, as I have a huge (and sadly unrequited!)  crush on the delightful Sean Bean, and even though my teenagers ridicule me I watch repeat after repeat. I' have now discovered them on Youtube too, so along with my boxed of DVDs I thought I was set for life.

However, whilst messing about on Amazon I discovered all the Sharpe series on Kindle and decided I had better start reading them in order. I have now purchased up to and including Sharpe's Gold, and I wanted to write to you simply to thank you for rescuing me from a diet of poor chick lit. Let me explain, I'm a 47 year mum of 5 who is rarely awake for long enough in the evenings to read anything of note, or anything that keeps my brain active. Hence the chick lit. But with the Sharpe novels I am transported to another time, and even though I know in my head that Richard will make it though to the end pages, no-one thinks to tell my heart, and I read with bated  breath.

I am also learning a lot about that period of history, and they do say knowledge is never wasted.

So, basically, this is a fan letter to say thank you. I do have just one question though. Now that Sean Bean has been so phenomenally successful as Sharpe, and you have been quoted as saying you wrote subsequent books with him in mind, do you ever regret describing him as you did originally, with black hair? It makes little difference to me, having come to the books after the TV, as I see Sean in my mind regardless, but I wonder if you have ever thought about re-writing the tiny descriptive parts?

Yours with gratitude, hoping this finds you well and content,

Karen Sellers (The Highlands, Scotland)

Mr Cornwell,

I have enjoyed reading this particular set of your novels perhaps more than any other book I have read. In fact, I have now just finished the series for possibly the seventh time! Your take on the Arthurian legends was an inspiration for me to study this period and visit some of the places that feature in the novel.

My question to you, if you don't mind my asking, is this. You have evidently given your permission for your books to be transcribed to audio which I know must have brought them to life for many people who perhaps aren't avid readers. Would you ever consider allowing them to be either televised or (ideally) made into feature films, or do you consider the imagination of these characters to be essential to the impact they have?

I appreciate you must be asked this question a number of times so I would not be at all offended if you do not find time to answer, however your books have had such a major impact on me I found it impossible not to ask.

Kind regards.
Matthew Freeman

Mr. Cornwell,

I really enjoy your books, especially the Thomas of Hookton and Warrior Chronicles series.  Three things to ask:
1) Any chance a TV show/series will be made about Thomas?
2) Have you thought about sponsoring some type of tour of the French battlefields/areas detailed in the Thomas of Hookton books?  I know you did your research there, but as I read the books, I have a desire to tour those areas, especially with an author, and listen to and discuss how historical fiction novels are conceptualized and written.
3) Were you asked to participate in, or were you consulted, during the filming of the TV series "Vikings"?  I keep expecting Uhtred to show up; perhaps next season?
Thank you!

Matt Shaner
Houston, Tx.

I have just finished reading 1356, (FANTASTIC) could not put it down.
I have read most of the Sharp Series, all of the Warlord Chronicles and the Grail Quest series, Azincourt, Stonehenge, Gallows Thief, A Crowning Mercy and Fallen Angels all very good reads, but will there be any more of Thomas of Hookton?
Terry Collins

 

Dear Mr Cornwell
I have just finished reading 1356.  Excellent storytelling, characters and, as ever, a compelling read.
The main character, Thomas of Hookton, is I assume the self same Thomas from the Gail Quest series (Also excellent; I am sure that you must get bored with all the compliments).  Will you be writing a prequel to 1356 to bring us fans of Thomas up to speed on the intervening years from the end of Heretic to the start of 1356?
If one is not planned might I ask you to consider this?
Can I end with a final compliment.  Loved the Starbuck Chronicles.  I have first editions of these and will one day send them to you (WITH return postage) and ask you to sign these.
Best wishes
Simon Galea