Your Questions

Dear Bernard, I just wondered if you had ever considered writing about the Anglo Zulu War of the 1870's? Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift, Ulundi, Red Coats, Boers and hordes of Zulus, there must surely be enough there for a hero in the Sharpe mould to find himself in the thick of one of your thrilling trilogies? Kind Regards Justin

Dear Mr Cornwell, good evening. I'm writing from Italy, and I'm a fan of history usually . I've just finished to read the archer of Azincourt (great Novel , my compliments ) and now I buy The lord of war (about England of VIII Century D.C. ..this is the title translation in Italian ..) A curiosity, as you describe so well various part of UK history, don't think to write also something about a UK period important , for me, but not so observed, as Lord Oliver Cromwell, the inventor of commonwealth ? many thanks in advance and I wish you a special 2011 . Best Regards Danilo Fumagalli Desio (MB) Italy

Hi Bernard - I have all your books and constantly await new releases. As an avid historical fiction reader there is a void of chinese historical fiction. With many eras and fantastic heroes and epic battles - your thoughts? regards Rod

Hello... I will of course start out saying I love your works, though I'm sure you hear that every time you open an email. It's true, nonetheless, and I await your new books with baited breath. Speaking of which, "The Saxon Series" is my favorite of yours so far... However, that aside, I have a question for you. I am, as I'm sure you hear every day, an inspiring writer, hopefully an author one day, but I am fairly certain I not only lack the time but also the skill to produce a novel at this point. Many of my favorite authors, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and so on got their starts through short stories published in literary magazines, which not only gained them pay but also served as a means to obtain some publicity. But, this was generally in the 30s to the 60s, and, it appears to me, the literary magazines that allow new authors to gain a foothold are extinct. Would you happen to know if this is true? Are there any magazines or similar forums by which I can submit short stories that will circulate enough to give me something of a name, if they have merit of course. If so, do you have any suggestions as to what I should write? Not ideas mind you, but genre, style, etc? What would be most likely to attract a publisher's interest? Finally, if not, how would you suggest I go about establishing myself? As I say, I am uncertain whether or not I could successfully write a novel at the moment, as I'm still dealing with the later years of school and work besides, but I do have time for some short pieces, generally under 12000 words. Thank you for any help you can give... Jonathon

PS: (Do people still use PS?) do you think on the message submission form on your webpage you could add an audio method to the image verification? I'm blind and use a screen reader, and therefore couldn't see the image... It flummoxed me until I got a sighted person to help out... *grins*.

Jonathon Taylor

reading=studying=enjoying again your Grail quest books == simply superb !! minor correction for perfectionist == calix is not latin but greek= correct is - kalyx - please,do not be offended,i have the benefit of greek classical education. your work is marvellous !! wishes for happy 2011 -- poitiers battle ? george margaritis chemical engineer n.m.t.u.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I know that the LAST THING you need to hear from another devoted reader is a suggestion about another book, but I wonder if you might consider the ultimate prequel to the Sharpe series. It seems to me that Richard has quite a story to tell from his days in the orphanage, the rookery and with Maggie Joyce and your favourite Sargent (and villain) Obadiah Hakeswell as his recruiter. We know that Sharpe murdered the man who attempted to kill Maggie and that Sharpe ran to the Army as an escape... right into Hakeswell's clutches. Sounds like a winner to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your books (The Fort was #40 in my Bernard Cornwell collection!!!) so hope to have #41 to look forward to soon. (... and it goes without saying that I will buy whatever you release, so you can probably ignore my suggestion after all... but wouldn't a Sharpe novel be just the ticket right now?) Thank you for your time, your books and allowing all of us to enjoy your great talents. Sincerely, Paul Higgins. Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, You are, without a doubt, my favorite author. My most-beloved are the Saxon Stories, Grail Quest series and the Arthur books. My Son and I are avid board gamers and stumbled on a great game you have probably heard of called Britannia. The game covers a thousand year timeline from the Roman invasion to the Norman Conquest starring several of the real characters you brought to life in your novels. I especially enjoyed your latest venture The Fort. Prior to its release, I put it on reserve at two of my local libraries (thinking if one gets it in before the other, I can read it sooner!). When I received the first call, I was right in the middle of Jeff Shaara’s The Glorious Cause. What a great lead-in! My Son blew through your book in a couple of days while I finished up Shaara’s. The Fort was terrific!! I love reading about obscure, little known history. It was little known to me anyway. While I’m on the Revolutionary War, we have some little known history here where I live in East Tennessee. Nearby is a place called Sycamore Shoals where a fort was built in the mid-1770s. The local militia, known as the Overmountain Men, gathered here and marched across the mountains to join up with men from the Carolinas. They met and engaged the British Loyalists at Kings Mountain in 1780. Anyway, the point of all this is it would make an interesting novel and should you decide to write about it you are welcome to stay at my house during your research as long as we can play a game of Britannia while you are here. I get to be the Danes!

Finally, I love the Sharp novels made for TV. What do we need to do to have more of your novels put on the small screen? Sean Bean will be starring in the upcoming HBO series A Game of Thrones this spring based on the GRR Martin novels. The series should be a big hit (it’s been described as Frodo meets the Sopranos), and if so, the genre will be launched. Consequently, Derfel, Uhtred, and/or Thomas of Hookton could become bigger than life. Other cable networks will be watching closely such as Showtime, Starz, AMC, FX and so forth. You would make a lot of money and fans, like me, would be in heaven! Take care and keep working on the next Uhtred chapter. I’m dying to find out how he re-takes Bebbanburg. But please, not too quickly; maybe three or four novels from now. Sincerely, Michael King Johnson City, TN

I hope that you will write additional Starbucks novels and that they will include Shanks Evans. They are great stories, but my particular reason is that In 2002 I published the only history (so far) of Evans' Brigade. I was later informed of your inclusion of Shanks in your novels and read and enjoyed them all. Shanks was quite a character and was often wild and profane, but he had a few (probably only a few) redeeming aspects to his character. If my book (Wandering to Glory, USC Press, 2002) would be a useful reference in your writing additional Starbucks Chronicles, I would be glad to send you a copy.

DeWitt Stone

Just got done reading Gallows thief and I couldn't help how London in the 19th century bears quite a resemblance to modern cities particularly in the US and my home town of Los Angeles. I was wondering Have you ever been to LA before? I think it may prove inspiring for similar stories. At least we have welfare here. Drury lane and The wheatsheaf tavern sounds a lot like 6th and San Julian and the Weingart Cafe and Rider Sandman reminds me of an army veteran who plays 3on3 Basketball at Gladys park.

Kyle Prince

Listening to The Last Kingdom by Tom Sellwood. Am I supposed to be reminded to Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn? I found the King Edmund scene was as hilarious and satirical as anything that Mark Twain wrote on the subject.

Ben Rodriguez