Your Questions

Q

I am a big fan of your writings. Perhaps a little less fan of the Sharpes' Series. I have read practically all of your books and enjoy writings concerning history especially the times of which you write. I have a question for you: Are you familiar with an author named Jack Whyte ? I am just finishing 'The Eagles Brood'. I find his writing very similar to yours, so much so I have come to believe them to be one in the same. Or else he is writing from your notes. His characters are the same, names are the same, facts are the same, timing is the same or as I said he is you with a different name. A bit different style but not enough difference that one would notice. Please reply concerning the similarities. Wayne Bergeron

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

I've met Jack, and a very very nice man he is too, but he is not me!

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, Just to say how much I enjoy ALL your books. I see you will be in Bath in December, will you be coming to Southampton also? Keep writing. Sean Head

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

No, not this trip.

Q

Hi. Firstly saying that your Saxon stories inspire me greatly - even more than the Sharpe books (which I thought impossible). I am really interested in that period of history and your books allow me to become engrossed in a great tale set in my favourite age. I have two questions: how do you go about starting your research for a book? Obviously historical accuracy is quite important for you so research is very necessary, so how do you know where to start, and where to go from there, particularly for the stories set in older days like the Saxons, Arthur, Stonehenge etc. In the books you mention that Uhtred is (or was) your ancestor. How did you manage to research (its that word again!) your ancestry down that far? I would obviously love to do this for my family, but I know that it is virtually impossible, so can you please tell me how you found out? Many thanks, Rhys

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

I found out about my family history when I found my family, which only happened five years ago, and it turned out that one member is a keen genealogist and had drawn up a family tree going back to Ida the Flamebearer - and before him to Woden.

Research? 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. I try to always visit the places I write about - and I read as much as I can while doing the research. I go from the broad to the particular. I start with broad, general histories and slowly work through more and more specialised works.

Q

I've thoroughly enjoyed your books, particularly the Warlord trilogy, and the Saxon novels. Out of interest, why do you think the longbow went out of fashion in England? In battle, thanks to the longbow, the English seem to have been pretty well invincible for most of the Hundred Years War; even when the French regained territory, they rarely managed to beat the English in a pitched battle. Up till about 1880, there was no projectile weapon that could fire as fast, as far, and as accurately, as the longbow. Handguns were incredibly primitive, in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth centuries, so why did they replace what was plainly the more effective weapon? Sean Fear

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

The longbow is an extremely difficult weapon to master and, though it had existed since at least 2000 BC, the evidence suggests that very very few men ever mastered it until, suddenly and strangely, it became wildly popular in England and Wales in the 14th and 15th centuries. Remember that to draw a war bow required a pull in excess of 120 lbs (modern competition bows don't go above 40), so it required immense strength, which implied many years of training. You also drew it to the ear, which broke the relationship of eye and target, so again, it needed years of training. It took at least ten years hard training to make an archer! Laws were passed making archery practice compulsory (and even banning soccer because it was distracting youths from archery), but it did no good. The practice of archery languished and the number of bowmen shrank and shrank.

Q

Dear Bernard, With the recent publications of your Viking novels and the upcoming book on Agincourt it's been quite awhile since you have written a musket novel. I was wondering if after that the next book could be a musket novel and due to your own liking of Mark Urban's Fusiliers I was wondered if it had tempted you to write anymore about the American Revolution from the British perspective? While Redcoat was fun towards the end any Brit who was against the Americans was a evil psychopath while they were suddenly upstanding and true could be a bit jarring. btw would Gilpin have actually fought against his old mates or settled down on a farm????

And on another note in regards to the Viking novels will Uhtred go back up north to give Guthred when he fights off a Scottish invasion (Put down to St-Cuthberts intervention)?? I look forward to the Agincourt novel. Yours sincerely Tony

P.S You have probably already read them but if not I can recommend George Mcdonald Frasers new book Reavers (Which I suppose does lead to the question of whether you have ever considered the Border wars yourself as a topic) and Guy Dempseys new book on Albuera both worth a read.

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

Such a book will come . . . . not sure when . . . but it will!

Uhtred will work his way north through the rest of the series and will definitely end up in the north, but whether he fights Guthred? I don't know.

yes to both books! I shall probably avoid writing a book on the Reavers . . . . but again, never say never

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell. Firstly, I am a huge fan of your books and am currently working through the Sharpe series - fantastic! I am an aspiring writer and am studying for my BA in Creative Writing. I am therefore very interested in knowing about your writing techniques, do you write for a set time everyday? Do you need to be in a certain place, or can you write anywhere? And, when writing your novels do you plan thoroughly or do you let the characters lead you? Luke Telfer

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

Regular hours - everyday - in my office. I have a very broad idea of where I want the book to go, then just let the characters sort it out amongst themselves. I'm not saying this is the right way to do it - some writers plot very carefully, and their books are great, but others, like me, leave it to instinct.

Q

Hi Bernard, have you ever considered writing a novel (or series) set during the English Civil War? Love him or loathe him, Cromwell was a fascinating character and the period seems absolutely ripe for a historical novel - your thoughts? Dave Lee

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

Civil War? It's a possibility, but I'd have to spend a few years researching it so don't know when...

Q

Hooked on Sharpe, any chance of squeezing one more adventure for Sharpe? Andrew

Submitted November 19, 2007

A

There will be more Sharpe - but not this year. However, there is a new publication available from the Sharpe Appreciation Society called Sharpe's Story. Click on the short story link to find more detail on this booklet.

Q

Your Sharpe series continues to delight me. As I'm an aspiring author/storyteller I would be interested in how you go about writing a Sharpe novel or any from your other series. Do you consult history books first? Is there a particular month or season you start the first draft? Do you have 'weekends' or write every day?

Also, do you think in the future you would write a novel centered around Austerlitz, like Redcoat as a stand alone? Keith Bignell

Submitted November 7, 2007

A

You do research first! Bit essential that. As for the rest? You start when you're ready, you work regular hours, I will work at weekends, but that depends on what else is going on in my life . . . . regular hours are important! It's a job!

I doubt it, but never say never . . . .

Q

In your book "Sword Song" at the end of the Historical Notes you make a comment "Yet dreams, as the more fortunate of my characters discover, can come true and so Uhtred and his story will continue." Are there going to be more books concerning Uhtred? Roger Johnson

Submitted November 7, 2007

A

Yes! There will be more.