Questions you have asked, and answers...

Answers to questions you've asked about The Pillars of the Earth, film versions of my novels, sequels (or not), autographing books and bookplates, appearances in your country, sex in my novels, pronouncing my surname, my favourite authors, advice for aspiring writers, replacing defective copies, and more…

What is your next novel about, and when will it be published?
I am working on a trilogy called 'The Century' which will tell the story of the twentieth century as lived by linked families. The first book, Fall of Giants – which follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women – was published on 28 September 2010 in hardcover. The paperback edition should be published in 2011. The second book, due to be published in 2012, will feature the children of the characters in Fall of Giants as they live through the Depression and the Second World War. The third book, due out in 2014, will be about the next generation during the Cold War.

I've read The Pillars of the Earth, and wonder if there really is a Kingsbridge Cathederal?
The historical background in 'Pillars' is authentic but Kingsbridge and its people are fictional. The cathedral was partly inspired by both Wells and Salisbury cathedrals. Kingsbridge is located roughly where the present-day town of Marlborough in Wiltshire is. Read more about 'Kingsbridge'.

The Pillars of the Earth is quite different to your other novels. What inspired you to write it?
When I started writing I found I had no vocabulary for describing buildings. I read a couple of books on architecture and developed an interest in cathedrals. I would go to a town, like Lincoln or Winchester, check into a hotel and spend a couple of days looking around the cathedral and learning about it. Before too long, it occurred to me to channel this enthusiasm into a novel…

Is there a reading or discussion guide for The Pillars of the Earth?
Yes, there is one for students and reading groups. You can find it here.

Is there a chart or tree showing the principal characters?
Yes, there is a comprehensive chart showing the characters in both The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, and an interactive 'tree' showing the principal characters in The Pillars of the Earth.

What is the best nonfiction book about the building of the medieval cathedrals?
My favourite is The Gothic Enterprise by Robert A. Scott, because Scott understands not just the technology of medieval building but the workings of the society that created the cathedrals. The Gothic Enterprise is published by the University of California Press.

Has The Pillars of the Earth been made as a movie or TV series?
Yes. It was filmed as a television miniseries by Munich-based Tandem Productions and acclaimed director/producer Ridley Scott as an eight-hour mini-series. It premiered in the United States and Canada on 23 July 2010. Please see the Filmography page for more information.

Will The Pillars of the Earth mini-series be available on DVD?
The DVD was released in North America and the United Kingdom at the end of November 2010. The dates for release on DVD in other countries have not been finalised. When the dates are known, they will be published on the 'News' page.

Will there be another 'Kingsbridge' novel – a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End?
Yes, I am planning another Kingsbridge novel. It will not be about building a cathedral, but it will be about the town. However, I will only start this once I have finished the next two books in my 'Century' trilogy. This should be around 2014.

Are you planning to write sequels to any of your other books?
There are no current plans for a sequel to any of my books.

Are any of your other novels going to be filmed?
Tandem Productions has the rights to World Without End, and filming begins in June 2011. The German production company Network Movie acquired the rights to A Dangerous Fortune and Whiteout jointly with Munich-based Constantin Film and ZDF Enterprises for ZDF, a German national television network. Whiteout has been filmed and screened in Germany. Both will be produced in English as international co-productions.

Would you autograph a copy of one of your books, or a bookplate, for me?
I regret that I can no longer sign a book, bookplate or autograph posted to me, as the number of requests for this had grown to more than I can manage.

>> a note on forgeries

Where can I get a copy of one of your books in languages other than English?
Try the on-line bookstores, and please see the 'Links to Publishers' page, which provides links to many of my publishers around the world. If you do not find a publisher in your country or language, please contact me, and I'll try and get more information to you. Not all of my books have been translated, however.

When will you next be in my country?
I will post details of future public appearances, book-signing sessions and media interviews on the ' Personal Appearances' page of my website.

I have a very good idea for a novel, or have written one. Can I send it to you?
I get a lot of requests such as this, but I’m afraid that I don’t have time to fulfil them all; so I made a rule, a long time ago, that I only do it for members of my family. You would be surprised how many members of my family try writing!

Do you accept suggestions for future storylines?
I prefer to dream up my own ideas for my books, thanks.

Are Eye of the Needle and Storm Island the same novel?
Yes, the original title of 'Eye of the Needle' was 'Storm Island' in England.

Can you send me a précis or an overview of one of your books for my school assignment?
I'm afraid not. If one of my books has been set as a school assignment, then you are meant to read it, and of course, I think you should!

Why do you, as an English author, use so many American terms?
My use of British and American terms varies according to the book. When the characters and setting are predominantly British, I use British terms and British slang. However, in the few books I have written with American characters and settings, it seems odd to use ‘Britishisms’. I’m not sure how much this matters, though: almost everyone understands both.

Is the sexual content of your books suitable for young teenagers?
Yes. Both 'Eye of the Needle' and 'The Pillars of the Earth' are often recommended to fourteen-year-olds by their schools. In my stories, having sex is usually a moral decision with consequences for people and families. For example, in 'Eye of the Needle', Lucy Rose is a passionate woman in a cold marriage, and she decides, rashly, to have a love affair with a stranger. The ethics of this decision, and its effects on her family, are part of the ongoing drama. She is not presented as a wicked woman – in fact she is the hero of the novel – but, on the other hand, the story is definitely no advertisement for casual sex! Moral questions often do not have simple answers. The sooner young people come to grips with this fact, the sooner they will be ready for the joys and responsibilities of sexual love.

How do you pronounce your surname?
My surname rhymes with 'wallet'.

Who are your favourite authors?
Living – Stephen King, Richard North Patterson and Lee Child. Dead – Jane Austen.

Which author inspired you when you were a child?
Enid Blyton (1897 – 1968), prolific author of the 'Five Find-outers' mystery series, and the 'Famous Five' and 'Secret Seven' adventure series. She was probably the most successful British children's writer of the twentieth century.

Where do you get your ideas for your books from?
Most of my ideas come from history, newspapers and non-fiction books.

What advice would you give to would-be writers?
Check my ' Masterclass' page for advice to would-be writers.

Is there a collection of your early works, notes and papers?
Yes. Much of the material relating to my work is held in a collection at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, United States. These include outlines, first drafts, notes and correspondence, original manuscripts and copies of early books now out of print.

Can you replace incomplete print copies, CDs, ebooks or downloads?
Unfortunately, I cannot replace copies of my novels that have missing or duplicate pages, poor binding or other manufacturing defects, and the same applies to defective audio, e-book and other download editions. The publisher of that particular edition will replace the defective copy, and you can usually do this merely by returning it to the place where you bought it, or contacting the appropriate customer support. If the retailer cannot help, contact the publisher directly. You'll find links to many publishers worldwide on the Publishers' page.

How many books have you sold worldwide?
To the best of my reckoning it must now be about 116 million.