A Happy Flag Day to all! (I don’t seem to have any notable flag scenes in BEES, but one is at least mentioned here…)
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“My name is Roger MacKenzie. I’m a Presbyterian minister, and I’ve brought a letter to General Lincoln from General James Fraser, late of General Washington’s Monmouth command.”
Sergeant Bradford’s brows rose out of sight beneath his hat.
“General Fraser,” he said. “Monmouth? That the fellow that abandoned his troops to tend his wife?”
This was said with a derisive tone, and Roger felt the words like a blow to the stomach. Was this how Jamie’s admittedly dramatic resignation of his commission was commonly perceived in the Continental Army? If so, his own present mission might be a little more delicate than he’d expected.
“General Fraser is my father-in-law, sir,” Roger said, in a neutral voice. “An honorable man—and a very brave soldier.”
The look of scorn didn’t quite leave the man’s face, but it moderated into a short nod, and the man turned away, jerking his chin in an indication that Roger might follow, if he felt so inclined.
General Lincoln’s tent was a large but well-worn green canvas, with a flagstaff outside from which the red and white stripes of the Grand Union flag fluttered in the wind off the sea.
Sergeant Bradford muttered something to the guard at the entrance, and left Roger with a curt nod.
“The Reverend MacKenzie, is it?” the guard said, looking him up and down with an air of skepticism. “And a letter from General James Fraser, have I got that right?”
Christ. Did Jamie know of the talk about him? Roger remembered the moment’s hesitation when Jamie had handed him the letter. Perhaps he did, then.
“I am, it is, and you do,” Roger said firmly. “Is General Lincoln able to receive me?”
[Excerpt from GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE, Copyright © 2021 by Diana Gabaldon.]
Visit my official BEES webpage for links to more than ninety excerpts from my new novel, listed by temporary titles in order of their release.
Image of the flag day poster from 1917 is from Wikipedia. Caption: 140th U.S. Flag Day poster. 1777-1917. The birthday of the stars and stripes is June 14th, 1917. ’Tis the Star Spangled Banner, oh, long may it wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! (Library of Congress)
And many thanks to Vikki Brush for the lovely bee photo! (Posted with permission.)
Please do not copy and paste the text in whole or in part from this excerpt and post or print it elsewhere, since it is copyrighted material. Ditto for all of my other excerpts, aka “Daily Lines.”
Thanks!
-Diana
This excerpt was also posted on my official Facebook page on Monday, June 14, 2021.
My wife and I love your novels. The outlander series is awesome. It’s great to hear that another one is coming out.
I can see that you’ve done a lot of research.
Thank you,
Arvle
I’m so excited!!! With each new book I reread from the beginning and so it is time. Yes I preordered as soon as Barnes and Noble announced “Go Tell….”
I am so glad to know that I am not the only one that re-reads all the books when a new one is set to be released!!!! I wonder how many of us are out there?
I have been reading your books since outlander first appeared in the literary guilde. I have reread entire series so many times. I also addicted my husband to them. Thank you for so many years of enjoyment. The one thing I fear about death is that I die before I get to finish the series. Lol. You said once years ago you planned to write a series about Jamie’s parent Brian and ellen. Wondering if that is still on the table? It would be wonderful to get back to the doings of the clans in Scotland.
As stated on Diana’s webpages, a prequel about Jamie’s parents is a project on the back burner after Book Ten of the OUTLANDER series, along with a possible book about Master Raymond.
Cheers,
Loretta
Diana’s Webmistress
Jamie’s hair looks like my grandmother’s wig when she puts it on backwards. Any chance that the new season will give poor Sam H a new wig? That mess on his head is more than distracting. Sorry, but truth is sometimes difficult.
In book 10, or maybe it’s in 9, and only you know;
Anyway, I would like to see more segments or even a short novella from Franks perspective.
A nice how he found the truth of his wife story, connected to the dots and such from found documents. Maybe even about his experience in the funny buggers?
Just a request. No demands. But I think a few of us would quite enjoy samples from the other side of the story.
Thanks for reading and a possible response.
All the best,
Michellerose Cusack.
Are you planning on writing a book about Frank Randall’s story? I think he is so misunderstood. I would also love to know what he knew and when. What he knew, thought and felt.
Thanks
RamonaKay Hyrne