.jpg)
Well, the art department chose a different background color than the one I’d suggested–but they did a wonderful job with the caltrop! And over all, I think it’s quite striking, and in keeping with the rest of the series.
Whattayathink?
Follow Diana Online
There are several ways to connect with me online. Besides adding new blogs and information to these webpages, I regularly post entries and communicate with readers on my official Facebook and Twitter pages. For videos, visit my YouTube page. An RSS feed is available for web page updates. (Clickable icons are below.)
E-Newsletter
Would you like to receive periodic Outlandish Updates by e-mail, such as information about new Outlander and Lord John releases? Visit the sign-up page to start receiving free e-newsletters distributed by Random House (U.S.) More information…
TheLitForum.com
You may also join me in multiple current discussions about my books and short fiction on TheLitForum.com You’ll need to create your account (with a user name and password) to join in; just follow the instructions on the website. One you have your login created, click here to go to my Diana Gabaldon Forum directly. TheLitForum.com is a descendant of the discontinued Compuserve Lit Forum, which I’ve been a part of since the late 1980s (before Outlander was published).
Recent Blog Posts
- “Did he speak?” 07:00 AM May 1 2024
- EASTER EGG! “A Battle’s Not A War” 02:22 PM Apr 2 2024
- The Vigil of Easter 11:40 AM Mar 30 2024
- “Ticks and Things…” 04:01 AM Mar 29 2024
- Two Excerpts to Celebrate March 6th 02:56 AM Mar 8 2024
- Asteroid 28890 Gabaldon 10:53 AM Feb 20 2024
Recent Comments
- Margaret Johnson on "Did he speak?"
- Loretta on "Did he speak?"
- Loretta on "Did he speak?"
- Beata on "Did he speak?"
- Margaret Deacon on "Did he speak?"
Dear Iago–
It’s a point. I’m more inclined to think people will look at it and say, “What?!?” Which is the first step to getting someone to pick up the book.
See, we’re dealing with a) people who already know the series and would–quite possibly [g]–buy the book if it was wrapped in brown paper, and b) people who _don’t_ know it. Anything you can do to make that second group take a second look is a Good Thing.
So here we have a dramatic-looking book, a vaguely Celtic element, and a wickedly pointy Thing. Say what? And that’s good.
Exactly!
OK, forget I said chicken foot – I actually DO see a peace sign now, and all the other symbolic variations. It’s actually quite brilliant, clearly people take from it what they want to see – it can represent any number of things.
You’re awesome Diana – thank you!
I’m excited! Looks great and I can’t wait until it is in my hands!
Dear Diana:
No mincing words — this is one hot, kick-@$$ cover. Walking into a bookstore and seeing this in a display, I would find myself mesmerized and incapable of passing it by. Kudos to the Art Department.
Midge
Dear Nathalie–
Well, the only part of this I could take credit for is for saying I wanted a caltrop on the cover. [g] The dramatic execution and subtlety of the design is all due to the talents of the Random House Art Department.
Diana – I just meant you’re awesome all-around
But yes, the Random House Art Department is awesome too, they always do a fantastic job!
LOVE it! I’ve gotten quite a few friends hooked on this series and they are all FINALLY understanding my unending passion for your writing! Some of them are on Outlander, one is just starting Drums of Autumn, and another has only about 150 pages of A Breath of Snow and Ashes left. They all see now why I’m DYING for Echo to come out! Thank you for EVERYTHING! This is a GREAT cover!
Really like it! Can’t wait to read it!
I agree with Lambchop…covers are nice, but what matters to me is what’s in between them!! For some reason, the title is usually the one to catch my eye, then the author’s name (although I always give new authors a chance of course), and after that, the synopsis in the back.
Well, I really can’t wait ’til ECHO is released. I began the Outlander series a couple of months ago…I’m near the end of Drums of Autumn now. Outlander has definitely surpassed even my Harry Potter obsession (and that’s saying a lot)
More people really should read about Jamie and Claire!! They’re so real…I don’t know how you came up with them. Were they based on people in your life (sorry if this has been asked a billion times)? Also, in terms of characters and character development, what would be your advice to an aspiring writer?
Dear SG–
Yes, it has, and no, they aren’t. [smile]
Advice:
1. Read
2. Write
3. Don’t Stop!
(Sorry to be so brief–I’m just rushing out to an appointment.)
I must say, it is understated and stunning! It6 does draw you in. That caltrop, though I don’t know what it was used for, seems like it wasn’t much fun if you were on the receiving end. I’m going to have to google it.
I have read your books, as they have come out over the years, since I was 17. So this series has been in the background of my entire adult life. I absolutely love them! Although, I’m afraid that Jamie sets the bar a bit high for all of manhood *snicker*. I am so in love with your books, I run an online group about them, our active goal to recruit new readers and introduce them to the joys of Outlander.
Thank you so much for providing me with substantial, intelligently written books that could reintroduce me to my love of reading! And with a strong and outspoken heroin to look up to and aspire to. Your books have shaped me in many ways. Thank you!
The black is nice! That caltrop thing with it’s tetrahedron shape reminds me of molecular models in organic chemistry.
Can’t wait to get my hands on Echo.
Carol
I didn’t realize that they have unearthed caltrops at Jamestown…
WOW, now that i read that last comment it occurs to me that ive been reading those books since i was 18 (i ripped through outlander in 3 days)
thats my whole adult life too(im 31 now)…whoa(my mind is blown).
Nightsmusic:
The one on display in the visitor’s center at Jamestown, VA, is supposedly the ONLY caltrop ever found in North America. Or so I was told when I visited there in September of last year. It really is in remarkably good condition for an artifact that’s 400 years old.
Karen
Karen, all I saw was the picture which is featured in the New Discoveries at Jamestown which you can download from Gutenberg.org. And yes, if the picture is even close, it almost looks new!
Amazing – and thank you for bringing us more of this wonderful series. I am going back through the entire series chapter by chapter – very slowly – so that I can catch everything that I am sure to have missed my first time through.
We are also forming a book club to discuss! I cannot wait – thanks again for giving us something to look forward too. Especially during what everyone says will be a difficult year!
I love it! Very striking cover; emits tension. The colors seem
to be black and gold which are
the colors of the Super Bowl winners of last week and my team, it seems apropo, although I’m sure not intentional. Thank you, DG, for
sharing!
Very nice cover art, as always
Looking forward for the German version; is Barbara Schnell again translating “simultaneously”, so the German version will be available as soon as the English one? Reading “The fiery cross” in English gave my dictionnary a really hard time, as I remembered today when reading about the caltrop: 
I never heard “caltrop” before, and as I asked Leo.org to translate it into German, it said “Krähenfuß” – in the true sense of the meaning “crow foot”, and for a moment I wondered if Young Ian gets a new pet in ECHO (poor Rollo).
Then the German word is often used to describe little wrinkles around the eyes, too – so the next moment I tried to imagine how Claire would feel with such massive wrinkles in her face as shown on the cover.
Then I gave up and googled the German word to find out that the “Krähenfuß” is also a very old weapon used for defense, and I decided that this must be the right translation. For Claires and Rollos sake *g*.
Thank you for posting the cover, and thank you for making me learn something new again today *g*
Kind regards from Germany