Your Questions

Have you ever thought of setting a story about the war between Britain and America set in the same time as your Sharpe stories. You could have main characters one from each side to illustrate the different opinions. After all Sharpe was nearly sent to the Americas in one of your stories. When he was sent back to find the missing conscripts.
Roddy Carter

Hi Bernard, Some time ago I contacted you for your advice on my ambition to write a novel about Banastre Tarleton. You said simply 'just write him' and you were right! Once you get into the swing of it, it fair pours out of you, though I do find some days it's better than others, do you find this? I try to write a chapter at a time and not always in the correct order, its just my way, but one failing I have perhaps, is that I keep going back over my work and making changes, do you think sometimes you can over-egg the pudding? At what point do you just say no that's enough? Also I'm curious do you think the world is ready for Tarleton as a literary character? bearing in mind he has such a terrible reputation One I heartily aim to repair in my writing as most of it is unfair I feel. Neil Pearce

Dear Mr Cornwell At the end of Sword Song you said the story would continue. Any idea when next book out? My only criticism of Sword Song was that it ended too soon - I always want them to go on and on!! Best wishes.
Sheila Stobbs

Finished Sword Song and from your ending notes there appears another one or two coming. great . love that series (and all the others) When are they coming????

Charles Sammis

I have just finished the Starbuck series(hoping there's more) but I was just wondering if Starbucks friend Patrick Lassan is based on Sharpe's son? h His background seems very the same. Thank you

Peter Llewellyn

Oh God-like being that writes...OK a bit excessive, but an attention grabber! Will you be doing one of your book reading tours of UK to promote Azincourt, please? And will that include Wales, please? I have enjoyed the one's that I have attended in the past and as an SAS member, I love it when you talk about damaging those Frenchies! Kindest regards Bev

Dear Mr. Cornwell, thank you for giving us the opportunity to correspond with you. I find the Sharpe books and films very engaging, often I find myself thinking of the decisions Sharpe made, for example, would I have let the French troops keep their muskets as they left the surrendered fort in 'Siege' ? I love it when a book prompts these thoughts as I feel engaged in a story rather than just reading words on a page. I was interested to read your response to Scott on the 11th April that you weren't sure anyone else could write Sharpe and why should they receive money for doing so ? Yet you mentioned earlier that Sharpe's Peril and Justice are not based on any of your books ? Weren't they written by another author for money ? Do these productions have your 'blessing' ? Would you like to see Sharpe live forever in new films like James Bond does ? Or perhaps his death will be written one day ?

I'd also like to recommend a strange book I chanced upon if I may - William R. Forstchen's "The Napoleon Wager" Its a sci-fi tale where Time Travellers given Napoleon a second chance to win at Waterloo ! Is sci-fi a genre that interests you as either a reader or writer ? Best Wishes, Daniel

Dear Mr. Cornwell when you are writing a novel do you correct all your spelling errors at the time of writing or later, do you write in the morning afternoon or evening? Greg

Dear Mr Cornwell - I am a newly converted Sharpe fan (my dad and brother introduced me to them only this year). I have already read them from Sharpe's Rifles to Sharpe's Devil, and watched the TV series, too. Wonderful, wonderful reads, and fantastic TV adaptations! (Sean Bean is perfect!) I have 3 questions: why was Lucille killed off in the TV series (Sharpe's Challenge)?

Also, is it ever likely Sharpe's Devil would go to TV? Since it so beautifully finishes off the series, and ties to the earlier Napoleonic action, it would be great to see. (It also got me interested in the naval battles.)

Finally, do we ever get to find out what happens to Jane? While I love the action of Sharpe, the romantic in me would like Jane (and Lucille) to get her just desserts...Thanks for some great books! Melinda PS I'm thrilled I've still got to go back and read from the beginning...

First of, I love your Grail Quest and Saxon Stories series of books Mr. Cornwell. I have read the Saxon stories twice now, starting on the Grail Quest again, and am picking up the Arthur Books to read. What I was wondering is if you could point me in the direction of books that are similar historical fiction to your Grail Quest and Saxon Stories? I love this timeframe and good historical fiction in a similar writing style as yours is difficult to find. Plus, I need stuff to hold me over till '09 when you release the next Uhtred tale and I have someone smuggle a copy from The Old Empire over to the States for me. :) Thanks, Ben

hi I'm from Italy, is there a possibility of a new book of the series of Arthur?

Alessandro