Your Questions

Q

I just finished the Saxon Stories and I loved each one more. I didn't even want to start reading the next because I didn't want to finish the series. How many more do you plan on putting out and is there an end for Uhtred? Also I hope there is some sort of film put out depicting 9th century Britain that incorporates Uhtred. If you need any actors I know almost all their parts by heart.

Kurt

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I'm not sure how many books there will be for Uhtred - a least a few more! No films plans at the moment.

Q

Well. If you enjoy writing historical novels over your sailing thrillers, how about a historical sailing thriller, ala Patrick O'Brian, say about the Mary Rose, or the Spanish Armada from the Spanish point of view?

Lloyd L. Thoms Jr.

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I've written a couple - chiefly Sharpe's Trafalgar, and the real problem is that putting all your characters aboard a ship so limits their movement that it becomes almost impossible to plot the story. O'Brian did it, as did Forester and lots of others, and I admire them hugely, but I found it very frustrating!

Q

Dear Bernard, Thought I'd just drop you line to thank you for your excellent books, and particularly the Sharpe series. After spending years borrowing them at the various libraries near where I have lived, I finally got frustrated and have been buying them in batches from Amazon. The last batch will arrive shortly. For some reason, I find Sharpe terrifically readable, and re-readable--which makes owning the whole series even more satisfactory. I've always been a fan of Napoleonic history, and your books prompted my recent reading of Elizabeth Longford's book on Wellington, and another entitled Napoleon and Wellington. Both were very readable and enjoyable. Thanks again...your books have given me many hours of pleasure. I am the General Manager of a combined radio and television operation in the small city of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada (very sunny, very flat, lots of wheat, gas and oil, cattle and cowboys). If you have time to answer, I'd love to know if you have any plans to write about Sharpe's early years--childhood to recruitment. I know you've touched on these topics, but I want more (aren't fans annoying!) Have a great day... Dave Sherwood

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I don't have plan to write about Sharpe's childhood.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading your book 'Azincourt' and I'd just like to say that I have never enjoyed reading a book so much. I just hope that as with the 'Sharpe'(which I have also read) novels, this is turned into a film, or at least a 3 part mini series. It's about time we(the English) start celebrating our achievements against the overwhelming odds we have had to endure throughout the centuries. Do you think this film will ever happen??? I for one hope it does. Keep up the good work Mr Cornwell, and thank you. Regards Mark Parker

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I don't know, but keep your fingers crossed!

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, Love your books! I do hope you get to another Starbuck one of these days! Just wanted to ask where you got the inspiration for a character like Washington Faulconer. Do you base people like that on a someone or several people you've met in life or is he purely fictitious? Likewise someone like Delaney... Thanks - It's great you take the time to answer (you're no doubt busy!) James

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I never base characters on people I know - I don't know why, I just don't, but I've certainly met many men like Washington Faulconer, so I guess it's a composite picture?

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for many, many hours of entertainment and the impetus to further my own writing. You are a brilliant storyteller. I have one specific question I, as well as many other aspiring writers, would love to have you answer. Specifically, how do you personally filter through the volumes of research for the spicy bits to be included in your work? To illustrate my question, as it may be a bit vague, I will use my own example. I am working on a historical fiction piece set during World War II, in the Pacific theater. I have TONS of research. I find myself bogged down in the writing simply because of too much information being available for inclusion in the work. My goal is to accurately set a fast-paced, driven story so that the reader experiences the history of the period as well as the living nature of the story without drowning the storyline in minutiae. Any suggestions? How do you do it? Any and all enlightenment is appreciated, and I thank you in advance (as do all struggling historical fiction writers!). Sincerely, Bill Kapeles

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I wish I could tell you! In the end you're going to categorize the research into Stuff the Reader Must Know (which is obvious), and Details which Make the Period Come Alive, and those are the bits you choose because they fascinate you, and no one except you can choose them. What you must never do is mention stuff just because you learned it. What the reader doesn't see the reader doesn't miss, and there are few things worse than reading a paragraph that is crammed with historical facts and serves no purpose except to prove that the author did his/her research! I 'throw away' at least 50% of the research - in the sense it won't be explicit in the book - but it's never wasted because it has illuminated the period. So I can't answer you - it's your book, your curiosity, and good luck!

Q

Enjoyed "The Winter King".Disillusioned by"Enemy Of God". Always understood that Tristan was the son of the King of Loonois and that his mother was Blanchefleur , sister to King Mark of Cornwall - which makes King Mark his uncle and not his father . Tristan was offered the hand of the Princess Iseult for slaying a fierce dragon that had been ravaging Ireland but chose to take her back to Cornwall to be the bride of his uncle , whose champion he later became . Unfortunately , he fell in love with Iseult . No doubt you are familiar with the legend , so why have you chosen to ignore it or are you using artist's licence as it were ? I do enjoy your books generally however. Do keep writing as the spirit moves ! All best wishes . Robert .

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I'm sorry you were disillusioned. The Arthur stories have always been malleable, and they've changed enormously over the last fifteen hundred years . . . . many of the things we take as 'facts' were probably inventions by a story-teller, and anyone who tells the tales will change them again. Now, while it's true that Tristan is usually regarded as Mark's nephew, there is a strange inscription in Cornwall that records him as the son of Cunomorus who, in turn, is usually identified with Mark. We're talking about the darkest of the dark ages here, and we all grope, but there is the alternative tradition that Tristan was Mark's son - and I just used that!

Q

Hi again Bernard, just wondered - since you've said that you don't like to write about subjects that don't interest you, is that why you went off the Starbuck chronicles, or was it just that other story lines interested you more?

Also, as another Englishman that loves his history, do you think that the civil war would have been avoided if Lincoln hadn't been elected, or that secession was inevitable?

And finally, what do you think of Lee as a general and do you think the South ever had a chance of winning because of the vast difference in both men and resources, and if not, why the south thought they did?

Matthew Williams

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

It was all Richard Sharpe's fault - I was happily writing the Starbuck books when the Sharpe TV series began, and I was asked to supply a new Sharpe story - and I'm afraid I just got sucked back into Sharpe's world. But I would like to continue Nate's story too . . . .

I'm never confident dealing with the 'ifs' of history. I suspect there would have been war eventually.

Lee is one of the great generals of history, and he knew, as most of the south knew, that they had no chance of defeating the north outright . . . by which I mean an invasion of the northern states to force a surrender, but there was the realistic hope that they could make the cost of the war so burdensome to the north that the politicians would prefer a negotiated end to the conflict that would leave the south intact - and many northern politicians were arguing for such a settlement.

Q

It is good to see that you are still up to your antics. You have an impatient reader on your hands, good sir! When I saw that "Burning Land" is soon to come, I nearly pulled out my hair. 2010! What will I DO with that time?! Perhaps I will take up basketweaving until it comes to pass. That is a lie. I will keep up my own writing, and perhaps send you something when it becomes published and safe for handling. It is good, I think, to pass on work to one's peers. Even better if they are ruthless should someone fail utterly! In reading "Lords of the North" (and to a lesser extent "Sword Song"), I found that the battle details became a little hazy in comparison to the prior Saxon Tales. Is there a particular reason for this, or did it just pan out that way? Understand that it is in no way a complaint. If anything, it reinforces the feeling that the events are a recollection rather than straight storytelling. I have always found your books more intriguing than most for the simple fact that it doesn't quite seem like plot work. More a sequence of events, as one might expect to experience in a real life setting. The sense of surprise is constant. The extent of your research intrigues me. How is it that you come across resources which seem to be far more intricate and detailed than most in your field? I didn't mean this to become a praise fest, but alas. I hope the upcoming years will show us more of what lurks in that head of yours. -Torr

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

I wasn't aware of describing the battles any differently . . . . but I'm sure you're right . . . I'll be interested what you think of The Burning Land where at least one of the battles is a big set-piece of a major clash (though, as usual, we know very little of what happened at Farnham - yes, Farnham in Surrey, which seems a most unlikely place for a major battle, but it did happen!). I suspect I use a lot of imagination to fill in gaps in research, if that answers your second question! And thank you

Q

I have read each of your Saxon stories books probably a dozen times. They are my favorite books ever. I am fairly well educated (upperclass standing at a US top university, 3.9GPA). I was wondering if you conduct beta testing, because if so I would love a chance to read the Burning Land. I literally do not think I can wait until Jan 1, 2010. Obviously I expect the answer to be no, and either way would like to congratulate you on writing what I consider to be the greatest fiction of all time!

Brian Goldstein

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

Advanced copies are sent to those in the trade, so maybe you need to work in a bookshop?