Dear sir: “It was blood and shit and guts spilled in the mud” (282). Dire stuff! I have just finished reading The Lords of the North. Sadly, I couldn’t read it slowly and now I’m without anything interesting to read. I am never without a book in my hands, but it is your warrior fiction that I most love reading. The first time I read your work was when I was sick for two months and decided to read one of your Sharpe books. I ended up reading the entire series during my time off. I was even more hooked when your Arthurian series came out (the best Arthurian series I’ve yet to read). I am a lawyer who has, unfortunately, been on disabilty for the last two years due to global chronic pain. I read fiction and non-fiction continually as more of a meditative practice than a diversion. Looking inward helps me to ignore or rise above the pain. Your warrior fiction allows me not only this meditative function, but it also allows me to fantasize about being a warrior like Uhtred or Derfel. When I feel pain while reading your fiction, I can pretend that I’m an old warrior (38) who feels the wounds from past battles. You will undoubtedly feel compelled to write fiction without spears and swords, but I hope that you will keep the warrior stuff coming for a long time. It is simply a part of your craft that you do exceedingly well. I expect no response, I only wanted to thank you for your work. Sincerely, MK