Comments on: Language, Language….(Part I)

By: The Lie of the “Romance” | Wolfe Tales

The Lie of the “Romance” | Wolfe Tales — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 19:36:19 +0000

[…] Neither are any sex-scenes included for the sake of gratuitous titillation (any titillating that happens is purely fortuitous, I assure you), nor are any of them just about sex. They have structural and emotional reasons for being where they are, and the book would not be the same story, nor have the same complexity, without them.” Language, Language….(Part I) […]

By: Elle Mars

Elle Mars — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 02:56:45 +0000

I was riding my unicorn earlier today and he and I were discussing time travel and decided that we’d go looking for some f-ing big rocks and travel back in time to a period in time when women allegedly didn’t enjoy sex but had a lot of it. We are also going to rescue on the babies from the fairies.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 02:07:22 +0000

Thanks for the education DG. I am rekilting An Echo in the Bone and Googled “fig-licker” which promptly brought up this page. I rarely need a dictionary when I read book. On the rare occasion that I do need one my Kindle usually provides an excellent source. Of course EXCEPT when it’s a Gabaldon novel. I really wish I had both a Gaelic to English dictionary and an Old English dictionary available when I read Outlander novels. The sex scenes and the expletives are not an issue. The Gaelic and Old English translations are though. I believe a fig-licker is indeed what I first guessed it must be.

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 23:14:13 +0000

Dear Karen–

No, I’m the writer of the books, but not the scriptwriter–there are four of them (five, if you count Ron D. Moore, and I do [g]), and they take turns being on set when each writer’s script is being filmed. I’ve been on set twice, and may come back occasionally to visit. When I’m there, I get to see what’s being filmed and sit in on things like script readings and production meetings (fascinating), but what I’m largely there to do is promotional work for Starz or Sony–doing interviews and videos on set, sometimes with Ron or with cast members.

–Diana

By: Karen Schaeffer

Karen Schaeffer — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 20:41:55 +0000

Diana,

I was recently reading your blog about being included as an actor for one of the OUTLANDER episodes. I was wondering as the writer if you’re regularly on set and what role you take on while you’re there?

Have a beautiful day,
Karen

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 16:47:03 +0000

Dear bookish–

I don’t call this series a romance because it isn’t. I like well-written romance novels, read them frequently, and in fact, there is a list of novels I personally recommend (“The Methadone List”) available on this website, that includes a number of my favorite romance authors, as well as those who write in other genres. But _because_ I’m very familiar with what a romance novel _is_, I can tell you with considerable authority [g] that that isn’t what I write. If romance is what you like, there are many excellent authors who do that. You’re quite welcome to enjoy or dislike any elements of my books according to your own fancy–but it seems a trifle querulous (not to say contrary) to insist that I’m writing something that I’m not–_and_ that I’m not writing it in the way you prefer. [g] I hope you find something else that you’ll enjoy among the Methadone selections, though.

Best,

–Diana

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:17:32 +0000

Dear Dave–

Ahhh…well, thank you for the advice, Dave. I’m tempted to inquire just what you consider “offensive context,” just out of curiosity. [g] However, the bottom line here is that I don’t actually write books with any notion either of pleasing a specific set of readers or of attracting more of them. I write the books I feel called upon to write, and the stories take the shape they seem to require. Life _does_ include offensive context, I’m afraid, and I don’t think that sanitizing a story in order to attract people who don’t want to feel uncomfortable is a moral thing to do. As a writer, I’m honest, or I’m nothing.

Best wishes,

–Diana

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 20:01:13 +0000

While there may be security in the trees you might move back and see the forest. Consider the gold mine of additional consumers. Dropping some of the more offensive context in you books may not sacrifice any of you current followers. Nevertheless, the derivative consequences of broader readership could be exploited to heighten your visibility.

By: Megan Brush

Megan Brush — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 00:14:53 +0000

Correction, I was 13!

By: Megan Brush

Megan Brush — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 00:12:22 +0000

I first read Outlander when I was 14-years-old. I would bring it to my (catholic) school, read it during lunchtime, recess, and any time the teacher wasn’t looking.
To this day, I will never forget the look a teacher’s assistant gave me when she saw me reading it. “You should NOT be reading THAT book. You’re way too young!” The rather stern lecture went on for a few minutes about decency, my inability to understand what I was reading, and muddying the minds of children. It left me red-faced and fuming.
I rushed home that day to explain what happened over supper to my parents. Both of whom shrugged and simply said, “Why should it matter? As long as you are reading, we’re happy.”
I will now forever be grateful my parents were so encouraging because without it, I would never have fallen in love with the series!