Your Questions

Hi Mr C, I am eagerly awaiting Burning Land. Is it the last one in the Uhtred series? Like so many of the Saxon fans, I never want the series to end! Hope you're having a good day :) Ang

Mr. Cornwell, I only want to know if "The Burning Land" is the final book of the Saxon Story ? Or is there a plan to continue the series? Thank you for your great books. Greetings Tobi

Hi Bernard, Just wondering about the titles to your books. Do you come up with them or is it your editor/publisher?? Does your publisher view the title as a vital part of the package?? Thanks Bernard Willie

Bernard, How different do you think the overall plot of the Sharpe series would have been if you had started off writing the series in chronological order beginning with Sharpes escapades in Seringapatam? Do you think Sharpe would have ended living contentedly in Normandy with Lucille or do you think another fate would have befallen him?
John MacCallum

Dear Bernard, I have been a big fan for many years, the Sharpe books and especially the Starbuck chronicles. I am very interested in the American civil war, I know you get asked this a lot but will there be anymore Starbuck books. please let me know thank you for your time. Justin.

Dear Mr C. Let me just say, thank you so much for Starbuck. He and his companions kept me sane through many long weekends at my old boarding school, and (I'm sure you have guessed the question coming already) is there a definite time he will be coming back? Or has he been abandoned? It's a shame, of all your fantastic characters I like him the most. Thanks a lot, Patrick

I have to admit openly that I did not think I would enjoy your writing , and this is purely down to the Sharpe tv Series . ( I'm not the biggest Sean Bean fan )& preconceptions were drawn from the tv shows . however I was not aware of any of your other book series , A friend of mine convinced me to start reading the Saxon series & I thoroughly enjoyed them & can't wait for the next book in the story line to come out , this in turn has led me to the Arthur series which is masterful & evocative , I also enjoyed the grail quest , Though again in truth I felt the character of Thomas Hookton at the end was going a little stale . I still haven't got over my prejudice to Sharpe , though they always say that a film never does justice to the book.

Have you ever considered stories around the Crusades or Knights templars / Hospitalers / Teutons etc . having said all that I do heartily now recommend the Arthur & Saxon series to a goodly number of friends , & can honestly say that I am won round to your style & prose , ps :- I will one day start the Sharpe series .

Paul

Hi Bernard, I'm currently finishing off the last of the grail series and loving it. I'll be sorry to say goodbye to Thomas! I have a question for you, if you do not mind answering it. Amongst your many great attributes as a writer is your ability to handle dialogue. It seems to be your ability to interweave the critical dialogue with just the right mix of extraneous dialogue i.e. banter etc and at the same time interweaving descriptive actions of the characters which are consistent with the scene and the dialogue. I am on the second and in many places the third draft of a novel and I am finding my dialogue somewhat flat and unadorned. Mine is more of the type "We will be invaded on Saturday", he said. "Make ready the garrison" the king replied etc etc. My dialogue makes very clear what is happening but it lacks the depth or ring of authenticity you manage to convey. Would you have any quick tips you could impart to add a bit of depth and flourish to my dialogue?? I think its about imagining one's self in the scene and figuring out how I'd act and what I'd do etc but if you could give a pointer or two that would be just great. Thanks again Bernard Regards Willie

Hi Bernard! Just wanted to say that I am a huge fan of yours and have pretty much all of your books. My question to you is about the Rings of Derfel and Ceinwyn in Excalibur. Is there an image of these rings that you can point me to or send me? I ask because I am getting married this year and have always dreamed of getting these rings made for myself and my future wife to be wed with.

Clint C

Hi, Well... where to begin. Ok, I'll start with your books. I have read as many of the Sharpe books as I can get hold of, have read the first of the Arthur books (I am saving up to get hold of the others), and am currently up-to-date with the Saxon stories. I really enjoy your work - I have just finished reading the Saxon series (so far) for the fourth or fifth time, and I am still enjoying them as much as I did when I first read them. I started reading your books at around 12 years old, beginning (I think...) with one of the Sharpe books my parents borrowed from our local library, and have been trying to get hold of as many as I can ever since. Now for a couple of questions to do with the Saxon books: - In book 3, Gisela mentions that she and Uhtred will have 2 sons, and one of them will break Uhtred's heart while the other will make him proud. Will this part of his later family life feature in any of the upcoming books? - In the first two books, Alfred's eldest daughter Athelflaed is mentioned a lot, along with a barrage of hints that she may (and probably will) be very closely linked with Uhtred once she has grown up. Will she become more closely linked with him than she is at the end of book 4? That's all I have question wise. Other than that, all I can say is that your work is great, and has influenced my own writing style tremendously. Thanks for reading all that! - Chris

Have you ever thought about Richard Sharpe meeting up with Horatio Hornblower?( I know you would need to get permission to write about another person's chractor) or travelling to America? I love your stories...keep up the good work
Thomas Rivers