Your Questions

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. I am a huge fan, and was wondering if you going to do a reading in the TORONTO , Canada area this year? best...Richard

Submitted March 26, 2008

A

Well nothing's currently on the calendar for Toronto so I don't think so. But check the Diary page every now and again as all appearances will be posted there.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I Hope you are well sir. Mr Cornwell...It bugs me that there is not enough 'black-powder' novels out there; well, I can't find many anyway. There seems to be a lot of naval novels out there though. My area of interest though is infantry in the time of black-powder...this steams from me being a black-powder target shooter. I love your Sharpe novels, I think they truly are some of the best, If not the best out there (My favourite being Havoc, when Sharpe meets that company of Portuguese soldiers; or Rifles, the bit I like is when the 95th are held up in the farm house, surrounded by dragoons) . I have not started the Starbuck one's yet. It seems stupid but as I know nothing about the American Civil war (apart from the guns that were used :-))I would like to know a bit about the war before I start them. In previous years I have found a few authors who write about the army throughout the BP era. The Crimean Fancy Jack novels, the new Spanish Succession Jack Steele books plus a few others. Some were wonderful, some felt like reading a 2x4. In my opinion, we need more of these historical army novels. Books that follow soldiers and there adventures. The next question will probably be on par with asking a footballer if he's planning on buying a flash car, he will, but what one, and when is another matter but...are you perhaps planning (or could you kindly ponder) a novel/series on books set in The Crimean War? I just think it's a very interesting time, that could be covered wonderfully by your talent. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that thinks so. Thank-you sir for your time Andrew

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

The Crimean War just doesn't hold much appeal for me, sorry!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I wanted to say that I love all your books. The Arthur Books are the best books that I have ever read. I've heard that they are your favorites as well. May I ask why?
Julie

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

Simply because they were so enjoyable to write.

Q

Mr. Cornwell: Thank you for the wonderful Grail Quest series! I thoroughly enjoy the history of the 100 years war, especially the beginning under Edward III. Imagine my joy when a friend recommended your books - read cover to cover in a matter of days. This after my father introduced me to the Sharpe series (on DVD); the books are lining up. Also, the pronunciation guide for the Arthur Trilogy is VERY helpful. Ah, the query: is there any film/television series in the works for the Grail Quest series? Again, thank you for the many hours of enjoyment! Alexander Bond

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

No, nothing in the works at the moment. Glad to know you enjoy my books!

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, first of all let me tell you that I´m a big fan of your work, second, since I started reading the Saxon tales I became really interested in the Nordic invasion to England, so I´m going to England in the summer and I was wondering which places (castles, ruins, museums, etc) could you recommend me to visit that are related to these period? Thank you very much. Jaime Sepúlveda

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

There's honestly not a lot to see! I know of only one Danish encampment that still remains (and unexcavated too), but it's on private land and would be very difficult to see. You could visit Wareham, in Dorset, where the Saxon walls remain - the only Saxon fortifications to survive unscathed. Other than that I'd recommend Winchester, Alfred's capital. The street layout (and property lines!) are those laid out by Alfred himself, but almost nothing remains from the Saxon period, the town you see is mostly mediaeval - but there is a fascinating museum there, and the Cathedral is well worth a visit (the bones of the Saxon kings (though not Alfred's) are in stone boxes high on the choir walls. If you go north then you must see the Jorvik Museum in York, the best recreation of a Danish settlement (underground!), and if you do get that far then keep going north and treat yourself to a visit to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) and see the ruins of the abbey that the Danes sacked and, of course, visit Bamburgh Castle just to the south - Uhtred's Bebbanburg!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell when researching a novel what source do you use,also how many words do you write a day to complete a novel and how long does a novel take from research to completion? Greg

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

Research never really stops; I'm continually researching - if not for the book I'm currently writing, then for the one I'll write next, or that I'll write a year or two from now. I suppose I do dedicated research for two or three months before starting a series - though I'll have been reading the period for years - and I keep doing the research as I go along. For sources I try to always visit the places I write about - and I read as much as I can while doing the research. How many words a day? Depends on the day! I always write something, and I suppose the absolute minimum is 1500 and the maximum is somewhere in the 5000 area . . . I really don't know, because I don't count the words each day . . . I just add them up when a chapter is finished. But remember the old advice - a page a day and you've written a book in a year! How long to complete? Maybe six months.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Is any publishing house going to or thought of releasing all of your Sharpe's series as a boxed set such has been done with the Aubrey/Maturnin series by Obrien?
Charles Gardner

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

Maybe...but not until the series is complete - and it ain't yet!

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, I'm brazilian and your books changed the way I see the life, the present and the past, thank you. I love your sensibility about the ancient conduct of the gods. I'd like to know how many books more I would expected about the Saxon Stories? Debora Casanova

Strangely I was not led to reading your works by Sharpe, either in book or televisual form. I was lent The Winter King by a friend a few years ago and so it all began. To get to the point I have just read Sword Song and wondered if you even know how many books there will be in the series? Keep up the great writing every book is a source of pure entertainment. Malcolm Eden

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

I'm not sure how many books there will be in the Saxon series - I suspect at least six, maybe more!

Q

Just one question, why are the US book covers so garish and the UK much more subtle?
Diane James

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

There's a deep division of taste between US and UK publishers over covers, and I can only assume that each knows its own market and designs accordingly! But I do know they invest long hours in trying to get it right! I confess that, being British, I generally prefer the UK covers . . . and sometimes (rarely) they use the same cover. In truth cover-design is a mystery to me!

Q

I had read "Stonehenge" and when I saw "Lords of the North" in the library, took it home. Have now read "The Last Kingdom", "The Pale Horseman" and rereading "Lords" (to be read in order). Love them. Brought up on gore and guts pirate stories and westerns, this is perfect because I'm Norwegian on father's side and Fresian on mother's and have a Danish middle name (Margarethe). Please write more about the Fresians. In 1611 our family was the second to settle on the Island of Neuwerk in the German Sea (now called North Sea) after the military allowed settlement; Johan Hopcke was a river pilot who guided the incoming ships down the Elbe to Hamburg. I have no proof but suspect he was affiliated with the Hanseatic League. In 1717 on Christmas night, our house was lost to the Flucht-Wasser (storm flood) that engulfed Denmark, Germany and Holland. This is history and available on several sites so please feel free to use it if you can. The NY Public Library has some wonderful old maps, although I'm sure Boston must as well. I've ordered "Sharpe's Christmas" and the short stories since Barnes & Noble across the street didn't have them. When will Saxon Tale #5 be ready? Anna Foss

Submitted March 24, 2008

A

The Frisian Islands have fascinated me ever since I first read Riddle of the Sands (and what a great book that is!). I was lucky enough to visit, but that was so many years ago that the memories are somewhat blurred. I'd love to go back! And yes, I think Frisia (especially with its close linguistic roots to England) should feature more! Thank you.

Don't expect the next book of the Saxon stories until 2009.