Your Questions

Q

I am a large fan of your work and particularly enjoyed the Warlord Chronicles and the Saxon Stories. I have two questions to ask. Firstly, when can we be expecting another Saxon book? I finished Sword Song and am eager to find out how the outcome will effect Uhtred in the next book? Secondly, if Derfel and Uhtred were to have a fight who would most probably win? (That is when Derfel was in his prime and had use of both hands.) I'm torn who I would support and would like to know what your thoughts are on this. Regards. Duncan.

Submitted March 17, 2009

A

The next Saxon story will be available in the UK in October of this year; January 2010 for the US.

Oh, I just don't know - don't even think about it. What's your idea?

Q

I'm an Italian fan of your books and I'm very fond of Saxon Stories and Uhtred's adventures. Please could you tell me if there will be an Italian edition of "Sword Song" (Longanesi editor) ? Bests regards

Roberto

Submitted March 17, 2009

A

Sword Song should be available in Italian translation in May of this year.

Q

hello, my name is Riccardo and I'm from Italy. I love the Arthur Books and I have a question, how die Derfel? thanks and sorry for the errors

Submitted March 17, 2009

A

I don't know ... I suppose Derfel died, Hywelbane in hand, but I'm happy to leave alternate endings to your imagination.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. My name is Utku. I am from Turkey, Ankara. I am a big fan of you . I read The Grail Quest series. Especially the first book was great. Why don't you make them film series? It would be great. If you make, I promise I would go and see them. (Forgive me my English is not perfect) Best Regards, Utku Kuyucu

Submitted March 17, 2009

A

Thank you! I'd be happy to see the books made into films, but I'm not a filmmaker, so it's up to someone else to do it.

Q

I have been looking for a good book or series about the "Wars of the Roses" any suggestions and any chance you may write on this interesting time in English history?
Mike Shrum

Submitted March 17, 2009

A

I'm not planning anything on the Wars of the Roses and I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions either. Can someone else help?

Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell How long were each of your drafts? For example: 1st draft might be 150 page 2nd draft might be 200 pages

Charlie Spoors

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

There isn't a rule . . . . . I usually write maybe 20% of the book, then start again, get to 40% and start again, and so on, and I'm constantly revising, so there aren't really distinct drafts. I do know that when I at last get the whole book done for the first time, that the subsequent rewrite will add 15% more words . . . . .

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. Two of the characters in the Saxon Tales, Uhtred and Svein, bear Sutton Hoo-style helmets with elaborate face plates, Uhtred of a wolf and Svein's of a wild boar. I'm trying to visualize what they would have looked like. Do you see their face plates closely contoured to the wearer's face like the Sutton Hoo? Or would they have been extended out to simulate the animal's snout, rather like a pig-face bascinet of the Hundred Year's War? I realize that their is no way of knowing short of digging up another helmet of this style, so I need you to speculate a little. Also, would the face plate have a locking mechanism to hold it up in case you want to speak without the face plate in the way and don't want to take the helmet off? This should be determinable by the remains of the Sutton Hoo. Thanks, Alan Kempner

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

I don't think they used the 'pig-snout' helmets - and any helmet with face plates was probably a luxury item. I suspect that most cheek-plates were fixed - a hinged one is possible, but would need some latching mechanism. I doubt they were too closely contoured, simply because of the difficulty of wearing such an item, but of course there were superb craftsmen and I am sure that some really elaborate helmets were made - sadly they haven't survived. We only have the Sutton Hoo example because it was grave-goods.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell: At the library today I picked up a copy of Agincourt and read just a few pages. You can imagine the pleasant surprise of seeing a character bearing my surname--this is a first in my 40 years, and a great treat. I flipped to your afterword and flipped through it quickly (didn't want to spoil the book, though) and then came here to see if you had posted anything about this name choice. Could you enlighten me on your motivation for this character's name--based on any historical research, or just a random choice? Thanks.

Eddie Slayton

I wondered if the character Lord Slayton is historically based.Being a Slayton,I have spent time in the UK on geneaological research and have not found him.
Virgina Slayton

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

I don't have that research with me at the moment - I'm fairly sure, though, that the name came from the muster roll of the army that fought Agincourt. We have most of the names - archers as well as men-at-arms - and I drew almost all the characters' names from those long long lists.

Q

Hi, Mr. Cornwell! As a big fan of your books, particularly Sharpe's maybe because part of the action takes place in my country, I would like to ask you if you have any plans of "bringing" Sharpe back to Portugal with the 95th, in 1808 when Napoleon's 1st Invasion occurred. Thanks and keep up the good work!

Pedro Morgado - Portugal

Submitted March 13, 2009

A

It just might happen in a short-story, but I've made a rule not to go backwards again with Sharpe! But I do think a short story about the initial fighting in Portugal is a good idea!

Q

Okay, I noticed someone asked you if you had ever considered Robin Hood... You said yes, I assume you decided against it, however I'm shocked. I am a Robin Hood fan, and one of my favorites was Monty Python and the search for the Holy Grail... Robin was a coward, and it gave so many alternate thoughts about characters... If I am correct that you will not be writing a book about Robin Hood may I ask, "Why not?"

Dustin Bean

Submitted March 11, 2009

A

Maybe I will . . . not yet though. And I'd need to do an immense amount of research in an attempt to discover what truth (if any) lies at the heart of his stories. It's a possibility . . . .