Your Questions

Q

Is there another book in the Saxon Stories in the offing? I finished all you wrote through 2009.

Jon Samuels

Hello Bernard Cornwell Well I have fallen in love. Not long ago I discovered 'you' quite by accident and after reading a couple of your books became hooked. I am reading The Saxon Stories at the moment and have fallen in love with the characters namely Uhtred. I anticipate having withdrawal symptoms when I have finished this particular series. What should I do? (lol) Will there be any more in this series or a new one perhaps. Sue Parker

Good morning, Bernard. I was wondering when the next "The Saxon Stories" will be published. I'm a huge fan of the series and you. And I can't wait 'til the next book comes out.

Kohath

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm a Brazilian fan, and last night I dreamed that I was talking with you (Bizarre, I know) so I decided to write to say that I really enjoyed your books, specially those about Uhtred adventures. Books in Brasil, unfortunately, are expensive and I'm just a student, so I have to buy it slowly, but I'm sure that someday I'll complete my Bernard Cornwell book collection. I wanted to ask how many books will have the saxon stories, and your prevision to the next book (I really love Uhtred stories) Sorry about my poor English, I'm just trying to express how much I admire you. Thanks for your attention, Amanda

I have just finished reading all five of your 'The Saxon Stories' and so enjoyed them, I had problems putting them down, so please tell me there is at least one more book to come and when. Uhtred is still such a long way from recapturing Babbanburg surely there is a lot more of story to tell. These books give such a wonderful insight in to the history and Saxon times.

Suzanne Miller

Mr. Cornwell, I am so glad that I found your books. I have read all the Thomas books and then the saxon tales and I plan on finding the Arthur books. I have one question and that is if you can tell me the date for the next book after the Burning Land and a possible title.. or hint it.. Thank you so much Lukas Miller

will there be more Saxon stories? When will the next one be published? Ken Quina

Submitted February 2, 2011

A

I am working on the next Saxon story now. We anticipate it will be ready for publication by October of this year. I'm not sure at this point how many books will be in this series - but at least a few more! Sorry, no title for the next one yet ....

Q

Dear Sir, I am reading 'The Fort' at the moment and on page 122 (hard back) Brigadier McLean said '.... that Sir Walter Raleigh played bowls as the Armada approached.' Is this deliberate to make McLean look as he didn't know his history or a mistake? Yours faithfully John Clarke. PS I do like the way that you write stories, especially Sharpe.

Submitted February 1, 2011

A

It is an error, and one, unfortunately, I did not catch before the book went to print. It should be corrected for future editions.

Q

So enjoyed the Alfred series - thank-you! I'm just hoping that you might do the same for William the Conqueror in time for 2016 and the 950th anniversary of the battle of Hastings.....You can probably tell from my surname that I would have allegiances. Is there anything in the offing? I do understand that your ancestor has unfinished business at Bebbanburg to deal with first. best wishes, Richard Pomeroy

Submitted February 1, 2011

A

Hastings is possible but, truthfully, it's not high on my list.

Q

I just wanted to say thanks for so much enjoyment I get from your books, having read many of them time and again, especially the Saxon series. I am certainly looking forward to Uhtred's next adventures and am sure I will be one of the first to the bookstore to read it. I was wondering though, how much time and effort you spend on researching each novel? Again, many thanks for such gripping reading.

Nicholas Huckstep

Submitted February 1, 2011

A

Research never really stops; I'm continually researching - if not for the book I'm currently writing, then for the one I'll write next, or that I'll write a year or two from now. I've been reading history since I was a child, and all that reading contributes to what I do. However - when thinking about a new book I'll spend some months reading in a very concentrated way, though how long and how much depends on the book. When I wrote The Fort, set in the American Revolution, though I know the period well, I still needed six or seven months of reading. I've spent a lifetime reading about mediaeval warfare, but the detailed research for Azincourt began about a year before I started writing that one. I probably spent at least two years on dedicated research before writing the Arthur books. I don't spend too much time researching Sharpe these days, partly because I've spent forty odd years reading and researching the period, so much of it is now second nature.

Q

To date I have all of the Sharpe books which were done in hardback, the last of these being Sharpe's Fury which was released in 2006. I am disappointed that a new one has not been released since then. Have you plans to release another Sharpe book in hardback form?

Gareth Petty

Submitted February 1, 2011

A

There will be more Sharpe, but not this year.

Q

I am eagerly awainting the next Saxon Chronicles book, Have you had any inquiries for a tv mini-series based on the stories? Also, any inquiries re a film based on your Agincourt? Best regards from a big fan, Ross

Submitted January 31, 2011

A

I have a feeling that I'll never see another novel of mine on the screen (which is fine! My business is putting books on shelves, or into e-readers, not putting pictures on screens!). But thank you, anyway!

Q

I purchased a Kindle and use it for all of my reading now. I like to refer back to the maps you have included in your books, but the Kindle is difficult to read maps with. Is there any way you could post your maps that we can print out?

John P. Hodson

Submitted January 31, 2011

A

I agree about the Kindle - I read e-books on an iPad which makes it much easier to decipher the maps, but it's a hell of a nuisance always flipping back and forth between pages - the old-fashioned book is so much more convenient! I'll explore the idea of putting the maps on the website, thanks!

Q

Hi there! I'm from Brazil and I'm a big fan of you,and i have one question for you. The Arthur Books are my favorite novel of all times but one day i noticed one curious thing: the first book have a bear in the book cover (in the brazillian version), and the bear is the Arthur symbol. the second book have a dragon in the book cover, the king symbol. so far so good. but the third book have a horse in the book cover. i dont know if you have knowing about the book covers in other versions, but i just want to know: Why a horse?? I'm sorry about the grammar errors. and thanks a lot if you read this. bye. Nilton Sebastião Garcia de Almeida Neto

Submitted January 31, 2011

A

Honestly, I have no idea! I don't choose the covers, and I'm not sure I ever saw those covers. I guess it was the publisher's imagination?

Q

Love these well written books! Would just like to know when the next (6th) in the Saxon Stories may be available if possible please! Also, Thomas' story is done/caput .. no more ?? Thanks for taking so much of my time.

Jim Garry

Submitted January 31, 2011

A

I am writing the next Saxon story now, so hopefully it will be available later this year. Thomas' story is done, at least for now.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've recently purchased & viewed the first 10 Sharpe TV series show along with Sharpe's Waterloo. Having numerous times read the Sharpe novels, I was wondering if at the time the series was being developed in 1993, whether you were offered a chance to write any of the screenplays of your books? If not would you have wanted to?

Earlier you had mentioned that you had no control over the content of the TV series, but I was wondering, as the writer and creator of the Sharpe characters and stories, how you felt when new characters & storylines (Sharpe's Gold) were used. Did you feel that the visual concept presented by these film stories added to or subtracted from your original vision of Sharpe & his adventures. I myself especially like Waterloo, but can't understand why the producer of the TV series couldn't get the name correct or use the right name of the Scottish commander (Mac Donald) during the fight at the H. Chalet. As a student of history it always bother me when a real individual accomplishments are not presented correctly. Most of the stories had parts of your story lines although character names were changed.

Which of the series movies did you personally enjoy the most and which one best presented Sharpe in the manner you as the author wrote him? Thank you Jeff Juri

Submitted January 31, 2011

A

I wasn't offered that chance and, frankly, I didn't want to be. Writing a screenplay demands certain skills and I'm not sure I have them (or what they are) and I'd rather leave it to the guys who do it so well.

My view was that the TV Producers had constraints which don't apply to me (I don't have to pay for extras, I just make 'em up). And I thought the actors were so brilliant, especially Sean as Sharpe, that though I regretted some of the story changes (not because they were bad, but simply because the original stories were my creation) I felt they added to the overall impression of the series. I agree with you about MacDonald, and others, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. And I liked the stories they invented (Justice, etc), but never felt I had to incorporate those in my version of Sharpe (though I did take Rifleman Harris from the series!).

I think Sean presented Sharpe exactly right in every episode. My own favourite is still Sharpe's Company.