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!
Just finished "An Echo in the Bone"…
It was nothing like i expected…
But, nether is life.
I will go now and catch up on all of my missed sleep, do you think it is possible? LOL!
Can not wait to read the next one, meanwhile, i will just reread this one and all the other books before that, and Lord John and all the various other writings… Sara's last book of the Bonners is coming out in January 2010…
I will continue with my sketches of how my mind's eye thinks the Frasers look like and perhaps in a year…
Perhaps not, i will have several decent sculpts and drawings to share…
Thank you Diana, for another great read.
Most Sincerely,
Wow, I am completely taken aback at some of the comments that I'm reading.
I have made a pretty good effort at writing a children's picture book but I would never presume to know how to write such a sweeping historical epic and that is exactly what the Outlander series is. The amount of knowledge, research and heart that has gone into these books just astounds me.
Even if I had noticed a couple of the things that others have I could never bring myself to write them in such a judging and self-important manner.
I blew right through my signed copy of Echo and loved every minute of it. I have loved ALL of your books and cannot wait for the next installment. You are hands down the smartest, most talented and heart-filled writer I have had the fortune to get to "know".
ps…you are very lucky I live in CA or I would probably be an author stalker =)
When I finished the last page of Echo, all I could say is "What? What? How could she leave us hanging?" I'm calmed down now and will eagerly await your next writing venture, which ever one it is. In the meantime I'm turning into a history buff – what a complete surprise. These books should be required reading in every high school (except that all the parents would complain about the sex….)
just finished echo – and now i'm tapping my foot waiting for book 8… ;o)
thanks for your amazing work! enjoy your single malt and cuddle your doggies for me -
all the best,
svenja
Fantastic- thank you for the wonderful gift of this book- I have had a terrible year with family death and a husband with 2 brain tumours, all the while, looking after 2 littlies under 2 y.o. This was a great way to get back into life again, revisiting old friends and feeling all sorts of feelings again. You are an incredible writer- look forward to #8!
Caylie
Just finished Echo. Of course I read it too fast and will start re-reading the series for the 8th glorious time. I actually wept for Ian Murray Sr. That one was hard. Can't wait for the next one. So much anticipation! Enjoy your break. I can't even imagine the time and effort you must put into these books. The research alone must be consuming and then the beautiful story lines. I love every word.
Dear Maureen–
British food had virtually nothing in common with American food in the 1970's and '80's, I agree. [g] However–remember that Brianna _is_ an American, and she _can_ cook. While in the 18th century, she muses to Roger about the possibilities of making pizza _there_. I'm pretty sure she made the pizza the children are eating.
Dear tillieblitz–
I'm so sorry to hear about your illness. I'm glad that the books could offer you some distraction, and I hope they'll go on doing so. I'll keep you in my prayers.
–Diana
Dear Bill–
Er, no. It wasn't completed in a hurry to meet a publishing deadline–I'd never let a book that wasn't ready go to press–and storylines were not "left dangling."
I.e., I purposely structured the ending to achieve the effect that it has: as I told my editor (while explaining why I'd rewritten/rearranged the final section several times), "It has to detonate like a string of firecrackers."
And I do believe there's a considerable difference between a deliberate cliffhanger (or three of them [g]) and a plotline "left dangling," as though the author had carelessly not noticed that this storyline hadn't ended. [cough]
Dear Cesdra–
I'm delighted that you enjoyed the book! Rather amused at your analysis of it, though: it has about four times the number of main characters and storylines (with concomitant point of view changes) than…well, than _any_ of the other books.
Dear Joanna–
[[It was nothing like i expected...]]
I'm very pleased to hear that. [g] I really don't like to do the same things that I've already done, so each new book _is_ [or at least is meant to be] quite different from the others.
Readers naturally have expectations–and most popular writers really _do_ do the same things in each book [nothing wrong with this at all]–so it's not surprising that folk are often taken aback when a new book comes out. It happens every time, in fact. [g] People get used to it quickly, though, and then go back and re-read and the book takes its place as part of the overall series.
Hi, Kelsey!
Thanks for the good comments! As for the judging and self-important ones [g]–well, anybody who buys a book (or goes to the trouble to check it out of the library) is certainly entitled to his or her opinion. It may or may not be an reasonable or particularly enlightened opinion, but what the heck–every reader brings his or her own background, prejudices, and expectations to the act of writing a book.
In fact, this sort of thing happens _every_ time I release a new book, with an outraged (but luckily small) group of readers chorusing, "I'm SO disappointed…" [that I didn't have more Jamie and Claire, that I had too much Jamie and Claire, that they wanted more sex, that I have too much sex, that I didn't do X, that I did do Y, etc., etc., etc.]
A lot of people would be happy if I just rewrote OUTLANDER once a year or so. Too bad for them. [g]
The thing is–most popular writers who do series do in fact write fairly similar books within that series, in terms of style, theme, etc. I don't, because I'm just not interested in doing the same things I've done before. I _am_ still interested in these people and their lives and times–but they're _different_ people in each book; they have to be reimagined, with regard to their personality, experiences, and present circumstances.
And I like to play with literary technique, and do stuff I haven't tried before. This sometimes bothers people, and they have a right to be bothered.
Now, personally, I don't think I'd go up to an author whose work I liked and tell them bluntly that their latest work didn't suit _me_, and why hadn't they consulted my particular list of likes and dislikes before engaging on this work of fiction, because plainly they _should_ have done that, and how dare they go do something I didn't have in mind…but you know, tastes differ. [g]
Dear Caylie–
Goodness–I'm so sorry to hear that you've been having such a rough time. I hope life will smooth out a little for you now. In the meantime, I'm very humbly grateful if my books can offer you a little respite now and then.
Thank you, Diana, for giving us more insight into how and why you write the way you write. I know almost nothing about what it takes to write a book, and I can't even imagine how much "blood, sweat and tears" you must expend when you write such an incredibly detailed and interesting story that has kept many, many people hooked. That says a lot about your prowess as a writer. And to boot, you've patiently and graciously explained a few of your reasons for switching it up a bit.
Thanks, and enjoy your book-signing break! Zahia
Hi Diana,
I am a fan from Europe.The Netherlands to be exact. After I read The outlander I got hooked!! I loved it so much, that I read the rest in 2 weeks.Every day after school.(Am a junior) Book 7 was very very interesting to read, It had something different, although I don't know how I will wait till the next one.THE ENDING!!!, I had seriously 10 mins. of scilence of panic with the last page before my eyes lol. Ofc I am a fan, that is very naive, And would like to see Jamie alive at the end of the next novel. Or well, hope he won;t die alone, without claire….(yeah am that naive) They are ofc My favourite couple of all, but I do hope there will be a book 9. Perhaps a book10?..Oh why stop at all? lolThank you, Diana, for writing this beautiful stories that make all the fans look different at things. I love them very Much, And hope you will continue with the novels. (Please do…snif) Maybe even give us a happy ending if book 8 is the last? I think after the ending of book 7 , we all want to have a happy ending if book 8 is the last one.
Thank you , again!
And come soon to europe, there are so many fans here
Alina.
Even though it has been a month since I finished Echo, I am still mourning Ian (the elder). I cried as I read that part. I cried for Murtagh as well, when that scene happened a few books back. My family thinks I'm daft when I react that way to books or TV, but hey – now my step-father-in-law is failing and my mother-in-law is feeling a little lost since they've put him in a home and she has her days to herself now. I imagine Jenny feels the same. My mind is still reeling from all the plot twists near the end – if Jem ends up in rock, I'll be more than a bit peeved! Interesting the ability did not dilute through the generations on Roger's side though…with Jem it seems more concentrated.
And for the folks with the LJ and Claire issues – go back and read that part again – there's a reason for the marriage beyond loss.
Okay, enough said – grand as usual – and now the wait begins again…sigh…
Well, I liked it very much. I agree that it left me wanting much more and the wait will kill me, but, that's life.
I wasn't disappointed at all – I kind of expected that things would be strange – they have been from the first page.
I'm delighted at the turn of events for Ian. I'm worried for Jemmy and the bit about Claire and Lord John — not so surprising. They loved Jamie the most — natural in a way that they should come together in grief. Can't wait to see what happens.
Keep writing so we can find out what's in store for all of them. I keep thinking that this, after all, your story.
Thanks.
Kathy
I just finished the novel Sunday night and I LOVED it!!! (Review is here http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2009/10/echo-in-bone-by-diana-gabaldon.html)
I'm confused on all of the "haters" that are commenting on this blog posting. It seems in poor taste to me to comment negatively to the author if you didn't like the book. It is the author's book, and she is allowed to write it as she sees fit.
If she just wrote it the way everyone wants her too, Jamie and Claire would have lived happily ever after in Outlander and there would have been no series. Conflict is needed for plot.
The cliffhangers caused me to pull out hair as well, but they give me a lot to think about until the next novel!!
BTW – I am a Water Resources Engineer and I LOVE that Brianna is an engineer in the novel. Engineers are rarely mentioned in fiction, and truthfully, I can't remember ever reading about a woman engineer before. I know she was an engineer previously in the series, but I loved reading about her working and the trials and tribulations of being a woman in the work place.
I love many things about the novels, but I love all of the science detail with Brianna and Claire's experiments. Very intriguing.
Diana, I hardly ever comment on blogs, let alone write fan mail, but I purposely sought out your blod to tell you how much I enjoyed ECHO. Apart from Outlander, this book is my favorite in the series.
Forgive my gushing, but I read many novels, and it is rare that a book touches my heart. The scenes about Ian's illness and passing were some that will stay with me for a long time. My father passed away last year and I was reminded of the little conversations I had with him while I was reading about how Ian took time with each of his children during his last days.
And, the ending! It will stay with me, haunting me, until the next book comes out. Enjoy some time off with your family! You deserve it!