Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard,I have been a big fan for many years now but I'm not a fan of hardbacks as I like to loll around when reading and find them a tad heavy. Can you say when Azincourt will be in paperback?

Also I've recently reread the Warlord books and find that you state Britons called a child born in November a child of Imbolc. To my knowledge Imbolc began February 1st whilst November 1st was the start of Samhain. kind regards Nick.

A

The paperback generally follows the hardback by one year.

Did I? I honestly can't remember. If I did, sorry.


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just finished The Sword Song. I know that Uhtred will be back. Can you tell me when? Tulio Cavalcanti de Albuquerque

I have read the Saxon stories with great interest and enjoyment surely "Sword Song" can not be the last in the series, can you please tell me whether or not there is more to come and if so when? This is a fantastic series and would hate "sword Song" to be the last. Many thanks in advance. Martin Pearson

Dear Bernard Cornwell, or whomever is reading this (as I know that a busy writer must not have time to screen through fan mail). I am from Brazil, so let me start by apologising for any mistakes in my writing. I am fascinated with your style of writing and I have been purchasing your books whenever I see them here, which is not so often. Last book fair I bought the four books from the Saxon stories and after reading the forth book I just had to search for a fifth one. My question is this, will there be a fifth book (couldn't find any mention to there being one), or has the story really ended? Thanks for the attention. Thalitta Vital

A

I've recently started the next book of the Saxon series. Hope to see it published in the UK in October 2009 (and maybe January 2010 in the US?).


Q

I was hoping a new 'Lords of the North' sequel would be published this year. I hope you have not finished with the series as I am looking forward to seeing Lord Uhtred regaining Bamburgh from his treacherous uncle. Please add to this fine series. In the meantime I look forward to reading 'Azincourt'. John Hillson

I just finished reading Sword Song. I must say I'm very impressed. It was just a coincidence that I bought the whole "Saxon Stories"-series while I was staying in Bangkok this summer. I was looking for some non-fiction books and the book store had a 3 for 2 offer so I found 1 non-fiction and I saw "The Last Kingdom" and "Lord of The North" and bought them. Then after checking wikipedia I saw that I actually didn't have all the books, so I checked several book stores and found the remaining books, and as you know I'm finished reading. The first 3 books was read in 2 weeks, but after getting back to Norway it took some time due to work and "normal day". I would say I like the historical background and I've read Ken Follett's "The Pillars of The Earth" and "World Without End" and those books are as well as yours very interesting and well written. I hope you continue your "Saxon Stories"-series and I hope a new book will come soon. As you probably have seen I'm very interested in the Viking age and the middle ages. I was wondering if you might have other similar books to recommend. Best regards Hakon Naper

A

Thank you! The Saxon stories series will continue. For reading recommendations please be sure to take a look at the 'Reading Club' pages of this website.


Q

Hello Cornwell, I am a big Brazilian fan of your work and as yet not been released all their books in Portuguese (Brazilian), I am just reading the excerpts and summaries in English or Portuguese (Portugal). Because I have all books in Portuguese. I love the series of Sharpe, I was very excited about the series of Grail Quest, and I have a question: - The character Tomas of Hookton (Grail) is relative of Nicholas Hook (Azincourt)? Thanks Luis PS: Sorry for my "robotic" English.

A

He isn't. I took the name from the muster roll of the archers who really were at Agincourt and it just happened to be the name I liked best and, by coincidence, shared the Hook with Hookton


Q

Mr. Cornwell: Thank you for the hours of pleasure that your books have provided. I have introduced you to the fire station, and am thus spreading my addiction. I would agree with you; the Arthur books are probably my favorite series. The simple integrity and strength of Derfel are a great creation. I have only one problem. Is there any chance of getting him out of that monastery before he dies? It breaks my heart every time that I read it. Paul Sowers

Dear Bernard - obviously Saxon Chronicles all 4 are brilliant and can't wait for the next one. However, having just finished the third and final book of the warlord chronicles, I feel lost for words. For me Derfel is the ultimate character representing honour and bravery. I don't think anyone (real or fictional) has ever been so honourable. Let them make a film trilogy, would be fantastic - Lord of the Rings is nowhere near as good. I know you said Arthur has been laid to rest, but surely there are enough years unaccounted for in Derfel's life as he continues to struggle for law and justice in 6th Century Britain, for you to write one more book. Galahad, Ceinwyn, Gwydre, Morwena, Percival, Nimue, could all surely feature - please write at least one more and make a lot of fans extremely happy. Darius

A

Sorry, I have no plans to add anything more to the Warlord Chronicles, but I am glad to know you've enjoyed the books!


Q

Hi Bernard, I'm just wondering if the Warlord Books were ever made into films/tv series which actor would you choose (if you could choose anyone at all) to play Derfel? Cheers for the excellent books, looking forward to Azincourt and seeing you at your talk in Durham! Nick

A

I have no idea! I'd be horrible at casting. Who do you think?


Q

Dear Bernard, I'd love you to write more Sharpe books, they're just great.
Did you chose using Sean Bean as Sharpe? Great choice if you did chose. Thanks for your time. Jack

A

Thanks Jack! Glad to know you like the Sharpe books. No, I had no say in the casting - nor did I want any! (not my area of expertise!). But I agree with you - Sean was a great choice!


Q

Hi, Mister Cornwell I have read nearly every you have read. I like the Sharpe stories and the Starbuck stories. In the book Rebel you introduce a character named Patrick Lassan. He is a french officer, but he tells Starbuck in Copperhead I think that his father was an officer in the British rifles. My question is, is Sharpe Patrick's father? I eagerly await the next book in the Starbuck chronicles.
Michael Curran

A

Well spotted! Yes, he is. You can read about it the short story 'Sharpe's Ransom', found in the short story book Sharpe's Christmas.


Q

Greetings from cold Canada! First off, let me start by saying how much I enjoy your books. Over the last couple of years your books have given me something to do both when the rain is coming down as well as when the sun is shining! So I thank you for introducing me to worlds gone by and for making the imagination run wild. Just a quick question about your upcoming book "Azincourt" and its release date. If you could answer, it would be highly appreciated. I live in Canada and get 99% of my books through www.chapters.ca. On the website it says that Azincourt will be hitting stores in Canada around October 20th. Is this release date accurate?? I'm just wondering as the book will be released in the United States nearly up to 3 months later! Sincerely, Jamie

A

It is accurate Jamie. HarperCollins Canada follows the same publishing schedule as the UK - not the publishing schedule of the US. Hope you will enjoy the book!


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Sometime back I ask you if you had a particular historical time frame for your next series after the Saxon Stories. You mentioned that you wanted to keep that information private as was your practice. Totally understandable. I see from your website you have written a new book "Agincourt". Would this means your next series might be from the 1415 time frame of history or is this a single book?

Also do you have any plans to write any Sharpe books to fill in the gap of 1815-1821 between "Waterloo & Sharpe's Devil?

Finally, still planning on keeping Lord "Pumps" around in your next Sharpe's book as you mentioned that he was still an interesting character and you didn't want Sharpe to "retire" him as yet? As always, thank you for wonderful series of historical novels and such interesting characters as well as enlightening history lessons. Jeff Juri

A

It's possible there might be more than one book, but I don't know yet.

There will be more Sharpe books, so again, it's possible.

I like Pumphrey so I think he'll appear again.