Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have just read with excitement that Michael Mann has signed on to direct the movie adaptation of Azincourt. Do you have any thoughts as to who you would like to see play Nicholas Hook? Yours sincerely, Stephen.

A

Oh, I'd be terrible at casting. Do you have a good idea?


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: How soon shall Starbuck march again to Fredericksburg? I walked the battlefield last year and currently doing a paper for college on it. (I have both The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock by Francis Augustin O'Reilly and Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! by Gorge C. Rable resting mere feet from where I'm now writing; both are extremely telling sources.) But sir, after all this research, I want to inhabit that world and Starbuck is the man to lead me there. I hope now that since your latest has returned to the United States' shores, you will remember we are a nation awash in history. Good luck in your next endeavor, whatever it may be. Regards Adam Azzalino

Starbuck has been on holidays since 1996! Isn't about time he came back to continue the fight, and what better time then all the 150th celebrations that will be occurring through the next four years>

Phillip Knowles

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading the four Starbuck books and I would like to thank you for writing them! I have enjoyed reading your books over many years (the first was Wildtrack, way back when) but I have to say that I think the Starbuck stories are amongst your very best. Besides being a great read, I think the stories give the reader a glimmer of understanding of how terrible that conflict was, especially for the poor buggers who had to line up and shoot at each other. I note in the Starbuck section of your website that you have sent Nate on an extended vacation. He's probably bored by now, so can we have him back? After all, I think Sharpie has earned some time off! Thanks again. Best Wishes and Kind Regards, Scott Fisher.

hello I love all your books and I think I have read virtually everything you have ever done. I have just finished the starbuck chronicles and plead with you to continue the story. The american civil war is not over, Billy Blythe is on the loose and Starbuck has got a scar on his face that little Sally won't be able to resist. Would love you to write more of these. Also love the saxon quest and can't wait for the next one. anyway sure you're a busy man, and if you're not, get busy and write me a novel (please :-) yours sincerely Chris Newton, massive fan

You mentioned a "vacation" on the Starbuck Chronicles but it has been 15 years. The last book led me to believe there would be others. How old are you and do you still have time to write it/them? Thanks and love your books or I would not ask . . .

Edd Baldock

A

I hope to get back to Starbuck one of these days....


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have been reading the Saxon series and was waiting for the next chapter when you brought out the Fort, as I like that time period could you say when you will continue with the Saxon series please, as with Sharpe, Arthur, and the Grail they are a pleasure to read, thank you for brightening many a winter night and relaxing holiday, Peter T

I´d like to know when will be ready the new book (sixth) of "The Saxon Stories" series. Jose Marcio Velasco

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am in love with the saxon stories you wrote and would really like to know when the 6th book will be available to read! Thanx your the best.

Zach German

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am in dire straits. I have just finished The Burning Land and now am bereft of another book to read. I am a fan of runnning series and have recently read the Patrick O'Brien series (Jack Aubrey) and the C.S. Forester (Hornblower) books. I would gladly jump into one of your Revolutionary War series but I've had my fill of that period for a bit. I must find out what happens to Uhtred. Page for page I think your Saxon tales has been the best written and enjoyable series I have read. Any chance you've got the next installment sitting on a disk somewhere ready for the publisher? I'm not dealing with the wait very well. Your loyal reader, Jeff Melcer. New York, NY

And what if we can't wait for October?

Sandra Z

A

The sixth book of the Saxon stories will be called Death of Kings. It is scheduled to be published 1 October and, if you can't wait for October, you can read an excerpt of the book by visiting the 'What's Coming' page of this website!


Q

I have enjoyed reading and collecting most of your books, especially the sharpe, arthur, grail and saxon series. Due to a stroke I now have difficulty holding conventional books and now use a Kindle device, which is easier to hold. However to my surprise I find that two of the sharpe books (sharpe's sword and sharpe's siege) are not available in this format. When I contacted Amazon they blamed the publisher. Can you please shed any light on this matter and if there are any plans to make these books available. Thank you.

Philip Kelly

Greetings Bernard, I have all the Sharpe Books at home, and always take two or three away on holiday with me. i now have a Kindle, on which I have downloaded all those available i.e. up to Sharpe's Company. When will the rest of the series be listed. Many thanks for giving hours of continuing pleasure in my dotage. Kind regards Bernard Darby

Hello Bernard! The Sharpe books are excellent, well done. However, I'm a frustrated Kindle based reader! I have enjoyed the Sharpe series until I went to download and read Sharpe's Sword...and found it's not available for UK based Kindles! >From a search on the web, it seems other UK Kindle owners have moaned about this since at least February 2011. Oddly, it's available for USA Kindle users! Any chance you can give your people a nudge to investigate this? It's a huge disappointment to find the whole Series is not yet available...reading 13 books and finding the 14th is not available, but the 15th and others are, is exceptionally frustrating! I don't want to skip a book, and would rather not buy a paperback if I can help it. I do therefore appreciate it's available as a book, but once reading the series on Kindle, and having spent a small fortune downloading and reading 13 books, so far, at £4.49 a time, you may appreciate the frustration at finding that one (or more) books are not available. The books are excellent. Thus, for the benefit of your UK Kindle based fans, any help or pressure you can bring to bear to speed up Sharpe's Sword onto Kindle would be appreciated. Not a problem of your making I do appreciate, but it's one I suspect you may not have been aware of. I'm now faced with the prospect of having to switch to another author while I wait for Sharpe's Sword to appear! Which could take weeks...or months. :( Cheers, Keith.

A

Thank you for letting me know. We've contacted the publisher again and hope the situation will be rectified soon.


Q

hey I was just wondering if after you put out the newest book of the saxon stories you'll be signing any where down the cape? Thanks Nick, Harwich

A

It's possible, although nothing's on the schedule yet. Keep an eye on the Diary page of this website.


Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am a huge fan and have devoured most of your amazing historical novels. I especially enjoy your Saxan Stories. I am aware of your opinion that life is too short to embark on so many writing possibilities that others often suggest, but i was curious if you have ever considered re-crafting a literary classic like The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas? At the time it was written it was a historical-fiction (although written originally as a cliff-hanger series for newspaper and later compiled into a novel). I firmly believe that, under your spell, the adventures of Edmond Dantes could be re-imagined in grand style. Anyway, I anxiously await book 6 of The Saxon Stories in October and wish you well on your next brain-child. Best Regards, Rick Conard - Charleston, South Carolina

A

Well, that's very kind of you, but I'd much rather imagine my own stories. Dumas did it pretty well!


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, please, just information, there's someone in your family, present or ancestor named Anny Cornwell?. in my sights I saw this name and some scenes, like a movie, however this name had a particularly strong expression. If yes, would like to know a little of her story, and if not, thank you for your attention.

Renata Polati

A

Sorry - not as far as I know, but to be honest I don't know too much about the Cornwell family (I didn't meet any of my relatives till I was 50 something). Anny is a fairly common name, so it's more than possible that we're related, but alas, I can't tell you.


Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am sure I join many thousands to thank you for the Sharpe series. I just finished the last book and I must say I will miss Richard's company. In view of the fact that I so enjoyed the Sharpe series, what would you suggest as my next read? Best Regards and keep up your wonderful work, Michael Clough

A

Perhaps you will enjoy the Saxon series? The first book of that series is The Last Kingdom.


Q

Hi Bernard, I met you at a "The Fort" signing in London months ago. You did a very good impression of my Belfast accent! I always Particularly enjoy your Irish/ Irish descendant characters in your books, and was wondering if you would consider a novel set in Ireland and from that perspective, in maybe the same era as the Arthur or Uhtred books?? Beth

A

I have a feeling that Uhtred and Finan will travel to Ireland - Finan has reasons to go back and Uhtred would want to help him. I'm not promising that! But it is something I'd like to write.


Q

i have just watched a BBC 4 program called "The Vikings saga's" all about Iceland, i noticed some names that are in the saxon stories. did you or have you read these as part of your research for these stories? yours, Martyn Williams

A

I did read, and re-read, the sagas, so it isn't surprising that many of the names are the same - and there aren't that many names to choose from. I wish I'd seen the tv programmes!