Your Questions

It was interesting to note that one of your fans suggested you write a book about Robin Hood or William Wallace. Are you aware that certain historians believe that the legend of Robin Hood is based on the story of William Wallace. Wallace fought for the poor against the strong, often wore green, and had two loyal henchmen, one called John little and the other was either a priest or a monk. His first 'crime' was to kill an English sheriff. The Robin hood stories did not appear until after the death of Wallace. It is possible that an English versifier invented Hood in order to tell the tale to a wider audience for whom Wallace was a traitor and a rebel and wouldn't have like the story if it glorified Wallace.

Greg Steward

Hi Bernard, I just finished Burning Land,and Ii must say how much I enjoyed being back with Uhtred,please keep them coming.I just read Harry Sidebottom Warrior of Rome:King of Kings and in the appendix he pays homage to you and that in chapter one it contains a deliberate echo of the opening of Sharpe's Fortress, I was wondering if you have read this.I must say I do agree with what he says about your good self and would recomend both his novels if you have not already read them.

James Eves

Hi Mr. Cornwell! I hate to bother you but could you reccommend a couple of resources to research the reasons why gunpowder weapons were favored to blades and arrows when the powder weapons were slower to load, etc??? My daughter would greatly appreciate your input!!!
Denise Holliday

Hi Mr Cornwall. Further to my post a couple of days ago I see that quite a few people have made the same query in respect of Antonia Sharpe. Have you ever thought of 'farming' her out to another author? I was thing of a 'young adult' author in particular. I can't remember exactly when she was born but at the time of the Spanish Civil War 1820-1823 she would be in her early teens, just the right age for adventure and mayhem! There are some brilliant authors on Crime Through Time, although it specialises in historical mystery, but they are pretty much meticulous researchers and I am sure there are one or two that would do your creation proud. Please, please, one way or the other, expand on this character. sincerely Anne (Durban, South Africa)

Greetings Mr. Cornwell, I've just finished reading Sharpe's Enemy, and may I say how relieved I am that a certain someone has finally been dealt with for eternity. I don't want to spoil anything for another reader, so I'll just leave it at that. My question is about the origin of this character. I am assuming he specifically is fictional, but I wonder what factual stories you may have come across that support that such villains such as him existed in the British Army at the time.
Robert Alan Long

The Saxon series has been really enjoyable and can't wait for the 6th book to come out. Ares these going to be ongoing like the Sharpe series? If so can't wait.

Also would there be any chance of making a TV series about the Saxon series?

Finally, I read in the Q & A that you are in the process of writing a story about the American Revolution, when do you think that will be out? Keep up the writing great work.

G. Roberts

I enjoyed The Saxon Stories so much and can hardly wait to read The Burning Land. But when does it appear in Germany (in German language)?
Karin Schandow

I love your books. Fabulous reading. Have you considered, even in an idle daydreaming sort of way, writing any further installments to the Flashman papers? You would be the author that could do it.

Don Hines

Hi Bernard, I've been writing (well creating a world) for ten years and I've finally finished my first book story from it which is having its cover designed at this moment and is halfway through being published in the UK. I wonder if I can ask you a couple of questions? Basically in my first book I have tried to focus on the story and characters thus most of my 'world' ideas are hinted at or only put in place when required. This isn't a problem as I can write many books that when combined can cover the whole world ideas (I have to work full-time too though so it is a very lengthy process for me) anyway, do you mind sharing any technique to help me switch off from the fact that one book is being published and about to be judged for the first time, so that I can focus on the next book? I'm in that period of fear, excitement, worry and fulfillment depending on the day of the week and half of my mind is worrying that the next story should be out rapidly to cement myself as a writer and the other part of my mind thinks I should rest a while and wait for any readers to judge whether I deserve to fulfill my dream of being a full-time writer. The other question is when you first started writing did you have just one world in mind or many? I notice you have a vast array of different book periods written now and I'm worried that one world may limit my potential but time is always a problem for me. I started writing when I was 12 and I'm now 23, the Sharpe series was the first set of books I read so thank you for the inspiration your books conjured within me! I hope you don't mind my questions, the publisher was too keen to actually publish the book and in the blitz of the process I forgot I was human and I think the built up emotions are hitting me as the release date approaches. Thank you for your time, Tom

Dear Bernard In regards to your next book you mentioned that it was in Maine, is it this battle (with out wanting to give it it away too much and naming it)? I found this on a website: http://www.redcoat.me.uk/page15.htm.

And after recently re-reading Redcoat you have got Sam Gilpin and all the Light Infantry wearing tricorns and Grenadiers wearing Bearskins yet LI had long discarded tricorns as unsuitable for woodland fighting and used small caps while Grenadiers only wore the Bearskins for Guard Duty and Parades and the workaday Grenadier (and the rest of the redcoats in the British army) used unstitched floppy hats.

And have you ever seen the Patriot and wondered what you thought of it and there takes on Marion and Tarleton??

Finally ever thought of books on either the 1775 siege of Qubec and Carleton and Arnold or Guildford Courtouse a real slug fest of a battle?? Yours sincerely Geraint

P.S If you have not read it A strange Fatality The battle of Stoney Creek by James Elliot is quite good. And have you ever thought of even just one book on the war of 1812 it seems wrong to ignore it when its a big part of the Napoleonic wars. Geraint