Your Questions

Dear MR Cornwell, My name is Ian Parkhouse and I'm from North Devon. I want to start by saying that I am a massive fan of your Saxon stories, they have introduced me into a part of our history that I think is fascinating. I'm currently working in Wellington, Somerset and finally went to see the Isle of Athelney a few weeks ago, and I have to admit I had a lump in my throat. You can still see the iron aged ditch, the graves and where the abbey once stood. I could not believe how important that hump in a field was to the making of England. The question I want to ask you is about your next Uhtred book. I feel that Devon and its people's influence during the Viking raids have been slightly overlooked. In the Pale Horseman you placed the battle of Cynuit at Cannington Hill, Somerset instead of the many other possible sights in Devon such as Pilton, Appledore or Cantisbury Hill. A local author Nick Arnold place's the battle at Castle Hill near Beaford, Devon. I have attached the website: http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/news/Viking-battle-site-near-Beaford/article-333838-detail/article.html. As stated in the historical note in the Pale Horseman it was the men of Devon that won the victory, which Nick states as ranking in importance with the Battle of Britain. From what I've read about where the next book may be based it will be Devon, inparticularly North Devon.. Is there any truth in that? I'd like to think my ancestors witnessed Haestens attack on Devon as my family have been in Devon a very very long time. Thanks for your time, Ian

Dear Mr. Cornwell, will you be writing any books next set from English history?? Between king Arthur and Dick Sharpe is a big time interval :-) Thank You. With kind regards, John

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I hope you are well. A couple of quick questions for you, my friend and I were recently having a debate on writer’s block and how to deal with it. I told my friend the way I deal with it is to go out into the garden, have a cup of tea and a cigarette and then go back to it. If still nothing wishes to jump onto the page I leave it for the day and try again in the morning, but he said he forces it out and just keeps writing, whether it’s rubbish or not he keeps going and I was wondering if you could advise on what you do if/when you are struggling?

Also I’d like to know your comments on the following: I recently read an interview with an American author (his name escapes me at the moment) and he said that English history is possibly the most interesting history in the world, certainly from an author’s point of view. He went onto say that whenever there was/is a war or battle taking place you can bet your bottom dollar that England will be involved in it somewhere, that’s if they’re not embroiled in a scrap with one of their neighbouring countries or England’s natural enemy & The French! Do you agree? I do but then I’m biased (as, like yourself, I’m an Englishmen). Thanks for your time. Love and respect. Keep well and keep writing, Rob.

Hello, I've just gone through the questions and I don't think anyone has asked, so I will. I was curious about the tune "Robin Hood's Lament" which Sir John Cornwaille tells his archers to whistle as a recognition signal in Azincourt. I've tried to find the tune all over the net with no success. I was hoping you could point me in the right direction. Cheers. Martin Harvey

Can you please clarify if The Fort is also being published under the title: Captivate, Kill or Destroy? Many thanks.
Andrea Simonsen

Dear Mr. Cornwell, just have to say I am a huge fan of all your books and was wondering if you could finish the Starbuck chronicles instead of starting another series? Sam Gilbreth

I know you've said that eventually you'll get back to Starbuck but I have read almost everything else you've written and I've read the 4 Starbuck books so many times that I really want to know what happens to him and Truslow! It's been over 10 years since you wrote "The Bloody Ground" (far longer than the Civil War!) so please end the suspense! Anne Grant

Hello Mr.Cornwell, I must start this message with a thank you, for reinvigorating my thirst for knowledge and reading so thank you. It was interesting for me (as an Englishman) to read the starbuck chronicles and I must say I was absoloutley enthralled. I was hoping if there was going to be any more from mr Starbuck or are my hopes unfounded. Please let me know if you have time. Many thanks. Jake.....ps I'm only 19

Dear Mr Cornwell, Not a question about your books although I have read them all. I was watching Sharpe's War on tv other day and would like to ask as to where you got your hat. I'm off to sunny climes soon and what you were wearing is exactly what I'm after.

John Bone

Hello Mr Cornwell, When looking through questions that others have asked you I have noticed people regularly asking you what your favourite books that you have written are, to which you have answered the War Lord Chronicles. However I have wondered who has been the favourite character that you have created? For me it is one of three which I cannot decide and in no particular order Richard Sharpe, Derfel Cadarn and Uhtred of Bebbanburg, also I've considered Thomas of Hookton.

And a further question which historical person have you most enjoyed researching and writing about? Again I enjoyed reading about Wellington, Henry V in Azincourt and your take on Arthur. Would like to say thankyou for giving me and others many enjoyable reads and also introducing me to Simon Scarrow after seeing your comment "I could do without competition like this!" I still think that you come out on top however. Thankyou, David Bennett.

Hello Mr Cornwell, just a few points. Firstly there are hopelessly few books of yours that I haven't read yet and I managed to find the first two Starbuck books in the "cheap" section of the local department store. It felt like sacrilege to buy them there but I couldn't help myself. Read the first so far and loved it but wondered if it was a tough choice to have the main character in southern colours given the outcome of the war and knowing that the cause is always going to have a negative end?

And I'm having a writing argument and who better to ask but, the point is; that if there is a smell of, or like "shit" in the air, ie from a sewer or the slicing of guts in battle, then it is fair to actually use the word for realism? Thanks for your time.

Adrian

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have read your Sharpe series more times than I can remember, as well as starting on your other, and I was wondering, what with all the dipping in and out of order with the Sharpe series, if you had started with Sharpe's Tiger, and worked through in sequence, would the series have turned out much different, and how so? Very hypothetical question I know, but one which I'm greatly interested in! Thank you Chris G