Glad you’ve been enjoying both books and show! While a TV show can’t ever capture _all_ the details and scope of a big book, it can certainly add a wonderful complementary visual aspect!

Best,

–Diana

History is not necessarily what happened; it’s what people chose to write down. [g] Can you state with complete confidence that it’s impossible than anyone ever sent Galloway cattle to the American Colonies in the late 1700′s? Granted, it wasn’t common, and you don’t see reports of such shipping on commercial manifests prior to the mid-1800′s–but the breed existed in the 1700′s, ships existed in the 1700′s–and the American Colonies certainly existed in the 1700′s. [g] Ergo, it was physically possible. If some mad entrepreneur decided to risk it…who’s to say he didn’t? Certainly every action ever undertaken by anyone wasn’t written down; at best, history is a small sprinkling of (often) randomly collected records, never a complete and faithful picture of the past.

Best,

–Diana

With reference to Drums of Autumn.

You mentioned that Galloway Cattle were being loaded onto the ship. (I learned a little bit about the white belted Galloway being a rare breed on a farm in California, so it struck a note with me.) Today while looking up a local farm, a breed of cown was mentioned so I figured I would look it up so that I can tell the difference between the standard brown and white cow and the black and white cow, etc. for my grandchildren. I then looked up the Galloway.
It mentions that the Galloway originated in Scotland in the 1700s but it was not exported to Canada until the mid 1800s and the US in the later 1800s.
So I question the correctness of Galloway cattle being loaded onto a ship headed for the colonies in the 3rd quarter of the 1700s.

Thank you for your books. They have been so much fun and I spend a lot of time looking up history.

Jean

Thank you very much! (You might want to read the new (as in, ALL new, and UNABRIDGED [g]) German translation by Barbara Schnell. It’s tons better than the first translation of the first three books–and DRAGONFLY has just been released in the new translation; Barbara is working on VOYAGER now.)

Best,
–Diana

Thank you for many hours of reading pleasure, for writing what is in your heart and for sharing a beautiful love story. I have read the books many times and truly feel it is the best work and most inspiring work I have ever read. I am waiting patiently for your latest book. You have shared so much to so many people and you and these books must be an inspiration to everyone who reads and watches your work. The impact of helping the Scottish people and bringing history to a new generation is a gift that will last forever.

I do hope Caitriona and Sam get married soon. They have so much to offer each other, in life and in the series. What a shame to waste a day apart. They are both so caring and thoughtful in life and in the series. I do not know for what they are waiting. You, your family, Ron, his wife, Merrell, Tobias and all of the cast and crew have given a great gift to society.

Enjoy your family and inspire your children to write. I wish the best for you and your family, good health and happiness for a truly good year. Thank you.

Doris Reed