Dear Readers–
Well, AN ECHO IN THE BONE debuts on the New York Times list next week at #2! (My publisher sent me a large bottle of single-malt Scotch in congratulation–and, I suspect, in apology for having released Dan Brown’s book a week before ECHO [g].)
HUGE thanks to all of you, and I’m thrilled that y’all seem to be enjoying the book!
A word about the ending…I did say, did I not, “Nobody’s going to hit the end of _this_ book, and think it’s the last one?” [g] Indeed it is not. There will certainly be a Book Eight–and no, I have no idea when that one will be out. At the moment, I’m home on a (very brief) furlough from book-touring; back on the road Monday, and won’t be home for good until Thanksgiving, which is the soonest I could reasonably resume anything like a productive writing routine–as well as a prequel volume about Jamie’s parents, a Volume II of the OUTLANDISH COMPANION, and heaven knows what-all else. But the story is definitely not over!
I read the book very slowly because I was so afraid it would be the last one. Thanks for a great story that I can read over and over and over again. I know you need a rest, but I cannot help looking forward to book 8!
I have been a fan for years and really enjoyed this book, however the cliffhangers at the end left me…
Oh thank goodness! I just finished reading this book (loved it, of course!), and I was thinking, the series ends here?! There's so many loose ends to tie up!
So I'm really glad to hear there's going to be more, though I can't stand thinking how long it'll be before I can read them!
Well anyway, thank you so much for all your great work, hope to see heaps more awesome stories from you in the future!
The outlander series is absolutely awesome and has provided many wonderful hours of escape and I thank you!
I am a nurse and native to the mountains of North Carolina and can so identify with Clair. Its cool to read of towns that I know and have been to.
I missed you when you came to Boone this summer to the Highland Games, but if you ever get back this way, I will be there, with all 8 of my books hopefully for your signature.
Thanks Diana, you are awesome!
for my part I'm reading a borrowed copy but most definitely will be buying one for myself as soon as I can find some time to go to the nearest English book store.
tiny little nitpick though: in one of the Brianna/Roger chapters you mention lots of Eastern European languages being heard. I don't think you would in 1980 – The Wall didn't come down until 1989 and the Soviet Union only collapsed in 1991. There were of course people from those regions who had fled during or right after WW II but by 1980 you would be talking about the second or third generation immigrants so I kind of doubt they would be speaking in the language of their parents or grandparents in a land where they would feel safe and want to stay forever (as opposed to the situation now when they just want to stay for a few years, earn as much money as possible and then go back).
But anyways, excellent to see a reference to my own country (Estonia)
And the book itself is WONDERFUL!!!!
Echo not one of your best. I was very disappointed in the book. I hope the next one will be as good as the previous ones. We need the sex the love and the devotion of your first books. Not this crap.
My Scottish "mither-in-law" introduced me to Outlander not long after it was published. With each release of a new sequal, we would chat and speculate and talk back and forth all during our readings. I had the privilege of traveling with her many times to the Highlands to visit her home. We always went to Culloden for its haunting beauty, but while there would visit Jaime's clan marker – for our goofy adoration of him. And ALWAYS, we hoped to catch a glimpse of him somewhere in our scouring of lochs and glens.
I lost my Mither and friend this year to cancer. I waited for Echo in the Bone alone but I chatted anyway with her throughout my consumption of each word. THANK YOU for creating these characters. In such a simple way I was able to feel close to her again.
Enjoy your break, and your family. Then write on! We appreciate each word.
I have not finished the book yet because I am trying to read it slowly to make it last longer. I am really enjoying it! Good to know it is not the last.
Made your enchiladas last night. They are my family's favorite recipe!
I love this whole series. I just got to the end of echo and I was thinking I must have missed something somewhere because I had questions. I was also sad as I read it thinking it was the last and now I'm delighted that more is coming and hopefully all those unasked questions will be answered or not.
I have read all seven of the books in the Outlander series (twice). This one appears to have been completed in a hurry to meet a publishing deadline – plot lines were left dangling and some of the subplots not completely developed unlike previous episodes. Still, in all, an entertaining read – I love the characters – they are all very human, and I look forward to installment eight!
I enjoyed the book as I have enjoyed all the others, but did you have to leave such a cliff hanger? I am worried about Roger getting back to Brianna, and Jem. I can't wait to read more. Thank you. The books are fantastic I will feel I have lost some friends when they end. I wasn't expecting some of the things that happened. Thank you.
Jenn
Diana,
Thank you for such a gratifying experience. Not one of us could guess where any of the characters we love so much would end up, despite all the speculation. Certainly taking us where we didn't expect to be.
I am looking forward to reading your next installment, and being kept on the edge of my page again.
Thanks, also, for coming to Calgary. It was a great thrill to see you speak, have a photo taken and an autograph. I can only say you must have amazing stamina to smile, sign and travel so much!
Ok,LOVED ECHO – but to everyone complaining about the cliff hangers and how little Clair expressed her grief, etc,etc.-I believe this book is just a roadmap to the next,hence the cover picture(all the various points coming to an epicenter)I think we are being shown what brings everyone to ground zero.As far as Claire and her grief- a writer can only eviscarate a character once- you don't want it to be a matter of "oh,here we go again". When Jamie dies for real- Claire will be there and you will get all the pain and agony you can handle, plus some. At least that's what I see happening! Thanks again Diana!!!
Thank you! What a great book. It always amazes me that you have the ability to take a difficult scenario(like a character dealing with death) and have the character come to some enlightening epiphany that seems so real and clear – as if you yourself have figured out those emotions on your own. Sometimes I feel like i've been laying on the therapists couch when you get done unraveling the emotions which in turn unravel my own. Bravo! Excellent Book!
Diana,
You are an excellent writer! I have been a follower of the the outlander series from the beginning.
I'm sorry to say that I found "Echo" to be somewhat of a "snoozer". It jumped around too much, John Gray needs less time on your pages in these books, William is a twit, and Ian with a quaker? Not at all what I imagined after all these YEARS! I didnt feel the love between Clair and Jamie like the other books.
I will continue reading them because I love your books and I guess not every one of them can be perfect. You are only human!
Drink that bottle, get some rest, and I hope I dont have to wait another $ years before I see my friends again.
Diana,
I am having so much fun reading Echo! I only have a couple hundred pages left and it's been a ball. I love the new format of this book; it makes it fast paced and exciting, even though it doesn't feel "rushed" at all.
I have read the Lord John books, so it's hard for me to imagine it from a different perspective, but do you think any of the readers have found it confusing when you make a reference to a person who we know well from that series of books if they haven't read them? I was just curious to know if you've had any questions about that. I can't remember if you mention other "Lord John" characters in the previous books or not.
Looking forward to all future installments in these series. Thanks for all the entertainment!
Hi Diana! Congratulations on your 'Best-Selling' status! You deserve it, as you're one of the most intelligent writers I have read. Soon you'll finish your exhausting book-signing schedule and have a bit of down time…and then, of course, begin writing the next one, right???
Thank you so much for coming to Black Bond Books in South Surrey (just up the road from my home!) and signing our books and chatting with us…and even smiling graciously while I took endless(!) photos. It was wonderful to meet and talk with you in such an intimate setting. Thanks, and happy writing!
Zahia
Oh, and I also wanted to comment about this latest book. I was left dumbfounded at the turn of events at the end (with the multiple cliff-hangers) but after giving it (a little) thought, I realized that in each of your books you leave us with something significant happening right at the end that we have to wait to have explained. That's the making of a good series, right? Granted there were MORE 'significant happenings' at the end of this one, but it just makes us anticipate the next one a lot.
Also, the fact that so much time was spent on other charaters just makes sense. A relationship (such as Jamie and Claire's) usually starts off with just two people, but, as in life, others enter into the picture…like children, grandchildren, good friends, etc. It's what makes all our own life stories so full and complex. I get the feeling that a lot of what happened in this book is setting the stage for more to come, and I look forward to it with GREAT anticipation! Thanks for keeping us so entertained!
Zahia
I loved the book and love the series, but waiting for the next one is going to kill me. I told my husband that by the time the whole thing is finished, I'm going to be as old as Jamie and Claire (I'm 30 now).
Looking forward to whatever comes next– you're a fabulous writer.
Wow, that is all I can say!
copies to everyone I knew (who also became hooked). I awaited An Echo in the Bone with bated breath.
First, I must start by saying I started reading the Outlander series well after the 6th book was written. Luckily for me, because within pages I was hooked. They became My favorite books of all time (and I am a most avid reader) and I couldn't wait to pick up the next and continue to live in the most exiqusite world of Claire and Jamie. I gave my much loved and well used
I just finished it and I don't know what to say….except I feel cheated in so many ways. The book seemed a far cry from the rest of the series. It was disjointed, and did not leave me with a "cliffhanger" feeling, it left me with a sense of such deep confusion that all I can say is (excuse the teen verbage) WTF! I was under the assumption that this would be the last book so obviously that clouded my judgement a bit. Now, knowing there will be an 8th (and of course I will wait on pins and needles for it) I have a better feeling, but still… What kind of choppy story did you throw our way.
You are so talented and such an amazing writer with an imagination that is unequaled. How could this come from you? I hate to say how cheated I feel but that is my first reaction. It was so choppy feeling… like watching an epic movie that got shut off in the middle!
Such disappointment.
I can only hope that the next book makes up for the very strange and incomplete feeling this one left me.
Much love Diana and I do apologize for the (un meant)yet most likely disrespectful remarks, I just had to share my feelings at what I had so eagerly awaited and now feel remarkably… dissapointed.
Here's to the next which I hope brings some closure. Not necessarily to the story, but to the feeling that these amazing books are not going down that path that some sagas take, which makes you wish they had ended some books earlier.. on a good note!