Well. Thirty-eight years ago, on March 6th, 1988, I began writing a novel, in order to learn how to write a novel. It worked. And here we all are…
The universe (and God) move in Mysterious Ways <g>. For the curious,the origin story can be found here (and will open in a new tab or window):
https://dianagabaldon.com/2014/03/26-years-ago-today/
In the intervening twelve years, a Whole Lot of Other Stuff happened, including the births of two grandsons and the release of a TV show based on the books. Thanks for coming with me on this journey!
So in celebration, here’s a snippet from A BLESSING FOR A WARRIOR GOING OUT:
EXCERPT from A BLESSING FOR A WARRIOR GOING OUT – Copyright © 2026 Diana Gabaldon
Rather to William’s surprise, Fraser appeared for departure clad in a faded kilt with a ragged hem, this worn with a hunting shirt shadowed with ancient blood-stains, and a belt from which depended an assortment of weaponry and a small goatskin bag whose purpose was a mystery. Tartan stockings on his feet, and a cartridge box hung from a strap over his shoulder completed the ensemble.
“Camouflage,” Fraser said with a shrug, answering William’s look.
“What?”
“Oh.” Fraser was evidently taken aback for a moment, and his face reflected an extraordinarily rapid series of uninterpretable thoughts. “It’s, ah… from the French, I think. Camouflet, ye ken that one?
“I don’t, no. What does it mean?”
“Aye, well—camouflet is a whiff of smoke that ye blow in someone’s face. Camouflage just means ye want folk not to notice what ye are or ask what ye’re up to.”
“And…that is camouflage, is it?” William asked skeptically, gesturing at Fraser’s kilt. “You look like a bandit.”
Fraser smiled.
“Aye. And what would ye do, if ye met a bandit on the road? Stop and ask him his business?”
“I take your point.”
As he spoke the words, he had a sudden odd qualm and a coldness down his jaw.
Fraser’s smile changed to a look of mild concern.
“What is it, lad, are ye taken queer?”
“I—no,” William said abruptly. “I’m fine. And what, may I ask, am I meant to be, if you’re a bandit? Your accomplice?”
“If necessary,” Fraser said, “but I suppose ye could be my prisoner, in case of need. There’s a bit o’ rope in my saddlebags.”
“Jesus,” William muttered, and Fraser laughed. The man was in bloody high spirits, for someone snatched away from hearth and home to go off on what anyone might legitimately call a crackbrained venture.
Mother Claire appeared at this point, with several packages in her arms, and Frances behind her, similarly burdened.
“Food for the day,” Mother Claire said, handing her husband a cloth bag that smelled pleasantly of cheese, cold meat, fresh journey-cake and dried fruit. “Food for tomorrow,” and she handed William a similar bag. “And after that, you’re on your own for nourishment.”
“What’s this?” William asked, as she handed him a cloth-wrapped bundle that didn’t smell of food.
“Bandages,” she replied succinctly. “And medicines. They’re labeled Indigestion, Constipation, Diarrhea, and Brandy. For shock and disinfections,” she added.
“Ah. I’m sure those will be helpful,” he said, gingerly stuffing the medical items in his haversack.
“I really hope not,” she said, giving him a bleak look. “But I’ve known your father far too long to have illusions.”
“What about drink?” Fraser interrupted, with what even William could see was mock innocence.
“Just here,” Frances said, with modest triumph, and handed over two similar bags, these clinking and sloshing as they moved. She met William’s eye with a tranquil face—no trace of what had happened in the stable half an hour before.
The qualm fluttered through him once again, but this time he knew what it was. Jane. Standing just behind his shoulder.
“I take your point,” he’d said to her, once.
“Well, that’s a novelty,” she’d replied. “It’s usually the other way round.”
“Goodbye, Frances,” he said abruptly, and turned to mount his horse, consciously not looking as Fraser took farewell of his wife.
[end section]
Click to visit my Book Ten webpage for information on this book, and to read more excerpts from it.
The artwork for the original hardcover edition of OUTLANDER is shown in the top image, first published in 1991.
Note: The illustration is a Russel-Morgan Print of a Tramp smoking cigar with cane over arm. Date 1899 [supplied by Wikimedia Commons].
A previous version of this BLESSING excerpt was posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, with the temporary title of “Camouflage.”
This excerpt was also posted on my official Facebook page on Friday, March 6, 2026.
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Dear Ms. Gabaldon,
I’ve just finished watching “Singapore.” I’ve found the Outlander series almost as riveting as your books. I’m an avid reader and rarely read books more than once. An exception has been your books.
I am sad that your last Outlander book hasn’t “come out” prior to the last season of the tv series. Unfortunately that’s what happened with Game of Thrones- I think to a person, fans of Martin’s work would have loved to know what his final book ending would have been-not the series writers version.
That being said, I hope you wrote the final episodes of the Outlander series because no matter how true to your words the series writers have been, it’s not you.
Thank you for letting me peek into the incredible life journeys of Claire, Jamie, Lord John, Bree, Roger,young Ian, Fergus, William and well, just everyone.
God Bless,
Kathy
Kathleen Mathewson
Marathon, FL
Thank you for continuing the long road to the end of the story. I have waited a very long time for the ending. I like so many of your fans have patiently and impatiently waited for each and every book. I have read every single book 10 times hoping that if I kept reading them over and over then you would be writing the next book and published by the time I got to the next book. It has been very difficult waiting even though I am patient it has been a long wait.I hope that finishing this last outlander book will be an ok ending for you. Like me I am sure you have other things in your life and it’s difficult to come to the ending of this story of Jamie and Claire it has been a very beautiful story and I will be sad almost but it has been a very beautifully written story and I love the history in it I am a big history buff. But thank you and I can’t wait for it to come out so I can read the story of Claire and Jamie again. Thank you. Sincerely Elizabeth Ponds
Dear Diana Gabaldon,
I actually started with the second novel I found in a used bookstore in 1994, not realizing about the first.
I soon found the first novel Outlander and have been an avid fan since!! I shared my love of the series with my sister Pattie and we have been reading and rereading the novels since!!!! Thank goodness for Kindle because it is a lot easier to bring my phone everywhere, I used to bring my books with me everywhere I went before Kindle. I feel like part of the Fraser family when reading the novels, close knit family ties interwoven with so many!! Thank you sooooo much for starting a novel in 1988 (my 8th grade Graduation) {g}, you have touched so many people with your words.
I love your Imagination,
Kellie Dunn
A HUGE FAN OF OUTLANDER! BEST SHOW EVER!
A COOL SYNCHRONISTIC connection is 38 years ago, on March 6th, 1988 was/is my birthday and I was on train from Paris to Italy – and I never forgot waking up to an all white snowy vision of nature and just how magical it all felt.
I’m looking forward to reading last chapter of Outlander.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
CHEERS,
LAURA
I was am very disappointed that Swiftest Of Lizards has to be saved by his white family ; as a Native American woman , it’s very triggering because of our history of Native children being taken from our tribes. I suggest you do some research about the trauma us Natives have suffered over this. Swiftest Of Lizards isn’t being saved , he is being disconnected from his culture. As I said , I’m very disappointed in you .
Lisa Spirit Heart
Pennsylvania
I was first introduced to Outlander by watching it on Starz. I was so enthralled by the show that I had to give the book a go, after the first chapter I was hooked!!! I have reread books one thru nine multiple times in anticipation of the next. Your writing has kept me up far into the early hours on many occasions and I’m looking forward to many more.
You have a fan for life!
Sincerely,
Marie Correia
Lower Lake, CA.
I am wondering, how many versions of your Outlander Series have you written. ?
So far with the aid of my 2 libraries, one in my hometown and one online, plus the audiobook version i have purchased. Each is very different. No wonder the Starz version is so messed up.
No wonder it confuses people.
I have really enjoyed the first series of books from my local library, but I wanted to re-read and also listen while I am sewing to your books again. While some “lines” appear the same, the scenes are drastically changed in all 3 versions I have read/heard.
My only thinking on this is that you wrote more than one version for each area of the world. And translations can be tricky. But the one that is so obvious is the Father Bain Character, plus leaving Murtague out of the picture after his introduction to Claire with Jack Randle.
And I think I wish you hadn’t given your permission/free will to the Staz writters cart blanch to change your books. I was and am saddened, that I am not even watching Season 8. In fact I quit watching TV at all over 8 months ago. Realizing I wasn’t going to see all 10 books protraite
d , on Starz. Besides, why pay for something that doesn’t follow through with the whole project.
I am very disappointed in the whole situation.
The TV rewrite/revamp lost most of my interest after season 5, too many changes.
And hearing on Google that they are taking Fergus out, is a shame. I wanted to see the rest of his story, and his chance to be a Count, like is birth father, but a better man. Which you have protracted so far as a better man. There are so many characters to follow , I would love to know more.
Dear Ms. Gabaldon:
I have just finished your 9th Outlander book (after having gone back to reread Book #8). I have so enjoyed this series and will be so sorry for this saga to end. Thank you for writing such a wonderful story and sending me on a journey to the past and adventure.
Lol, I told a friend of mine once that when I passed away, I wanted to be cremated. To start the flames, I wanted to use all of the Outlander series, including the John series. That way I could bring them with me into eternity.
Thank you again
Yours
Kerry Becker
Querida Diana,
Sinto que nunca irei ler um universo construído como o seu, a mágica que você fez foi enorme na minha vida, lhe escrevo na esperança de fazer com que entenda o quão importante você é na vida de milhões de pessoas. Sinto que somos amigas a muito tempo, mesmo eu estando aqui no Nordeste do Brasil. Com toda a minha sinceridade eu lhe envio bençãos e paz de espírito em seu coração, por gentileza recorde de solicitar com urgência assim que terminar seu décimo livro, um box para nós brasileiros, a cada ano que passa está cada vez mais difícil ter acesso aos seus livros, eu mesma ainda não consegui comprar pois sempre estão em falta! Ansiamos por esse desfecho em lindos exemplares!
E se não for pedir muito…venha nós visitar em Fortaleza, CE Brasil, para nos dar autógrafos e receber nosso carinho.
Te amamos muito, abraços.
Translation from Google:
Dear Diana,
I feel as though I will never read another universe as beautifully constructed as yours; the magic you have woven has had a profound impact on my life. I am writing to you in the hope that you will understand just how important you are in the lives of millions of people. I feel as though we have been friends for a long time—even with me being all the way here in the Northeast of Brazil. With all sincerity, I send you blessings and wish you peace of mind. Please, remember to make an urgent request—as soon as you finish your tenth book—for a boxed set specifically for us Brazilians; with each passing year, it becomes increasingly difficult to get access to your books. I haven’t even been able to buy them myself yet, as they are constantly out of stock! We are eagerly awaiting this conclusion in beautiful editions!
And if it isn’t asking too much… please come visit us in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, to sign autographs and receive our affection.
We love you very much. Warm hugs.