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!
Thank for you coming to Minnesota for the book signing. It was truly a dream for me to see and hear you one day. Hoping you are recovered. What must be in a whirlwind during this season of your life. I'm slowly reading through Echo. I'm forcing myself not to read it too fast (which is quite difficult). I want to savor every chapter as I know it will end soon and from the sounds of it I will be longing for the next. :)I always do.
Safe travels.
Thanks for a wonderful read. The only thing disappointing is the comments some of the other readers leave here and on discussion sites. It's your story you tell it. Someone said, " Be who you are and say what you feel. Those who matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter." Looking forward to the next book. Thanks again.
The thanks are all to you for writing this incredible series of books. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you in person and have my book signed. You deserve a break and I hope you enjoy it.
Diana – this book is quite a ride! I have about 100 pages left and wasn't sure I would get to sleep last night! I absolutely love how you weave the lives of the characters together throughout the books and am looking forward already to book 8 (knowing at this point that some things will definitely not be tied up in the last 100 pages!). THANK YOU!
I cannot wait until my mother and mother-in-law finish reading it, because I just HAVE to talk about it. The last third of the book was just a wonderful whirlwind and I need to talk about it! But everyone reads so much slower than I do.
I cannot wait to see you this evening and thank you in person. You are amazing.
I really enjoyed this new instalment – in fact more than I did the last two books. I'm not blind to its problems, but it was great entertainment and THANK YOU for giving Lord John so much screen time as it were. I love reading about him – in fact he's outgrowing Claire and Jamie as my favourite character. I can't wait for new books and stories about him and enjoyed having his life interlace with Claire and Jamie's even more. I hope very much you won't reduce his role in #8 after the rather vocal unfavourable reaction by some of your readers – there are at least as many of us who do love him!
Congratulations on the #2 spot!! And it was LOVELY to meet you in Roseville, MN last week. I wouldn't let my husband go to sleep when I got home – I kept blathering on about all the funny and interesting things you said
How exciting, congratulations! It was wonderful to finally meet you when you dropped by Chicagoland; I know touring can be hectic and exhausting but you were incredibly gracious and warm. I too, will stretch my enjoyment of EITB out as long as possible…to try and make the wait for the next one seem easier. I can't wait to listen to this on audio!
Hope the rest of your touring is enjoyable!
You are so welcome. Strangely, I have 2 books. One for my birthday and one I bought so I could get it signed when I see you in Mountain View this week. I'm excited!
Loved the book… though the ending… yeah that was a bit frustrating and I contemplated the time between now and the next one. How will we all survive, I ask.
Anyways, thank you so much for even giving us such a glorious world in which to immerse ourselves.
Okay…let me try again without the typos! Congrats Diana! You have brought so much joy to those who have read your books. Thank you for your dedication to this story and for feeding my Fraser obsession! I can imagine only one man I would consider leaving my husband for and fortunately for my husband (I hope he thinks so) that man is fictional AND in the wrong century! Have wonderful travels and enjoy your short but well-deserved break.
Well, I missed the warning that this book would be many huge cliffhangers! So I must say, I was quite frustrated/angry upon finishing! One thing I have loved about all of your previous books, was that although they are all obviously part of a series, they could each stand alone if the reader so chose. But as any reader of your books knows, you could never read just one! Even my husband was hooked after listening to Outlander (book on cd).
That being said, the entire book was wonderfully written and insanely addictive-just like the rest of them! (I've read the entire series 4 times; Outlander 6 times.)
One last thing. . .the love scenes in this book seemed a little like afterthoughts. They'd have a great opening line or two, then skip right over to the next scene. You are by far the most thorough and smart writers of love scenes. Bring them back please!!!
But thanks again for a beautiful story!
Thank you for getting me to take a little time for myself again, but then who could resist Jamie Fraser. I am in the middle of Fiery Cross having begun the series in June and am looking forward to what's to come. I have to say I loved the relationship begun by LJ and Brianna in Drums. As mush as I love all the books so far, Drums took it to a whole new level.Each installment before,carefully placed layers building a rich story to savor reading after reading. I know I will love these books again and again…and passing the word on as well. After all your hardwork, you deserve a vacation…what about Hawaii…you could sign a few books as well…they also have a Scottish Festival in April every year, just a thought! Congrats on Echo, safe travels!
Well, I promised myself I'd read Echo slowly but once it hit my Kindle I couldn't put it down. Finished a few days ago and can't stop thinking about it. I'm so excited for the next book, even though it's not even written yet. *sigh* Thanks DG for a wonderful ride – the characters feel like family!
Diana….!!!!…..
Have just finished the book.
AWESOME!!
Husband kept saying what are you reading that you can't put down? Jamie & Claire was all I could say… Kids keep telling me they were hungry… feed yourselves….It was our anniversary yesterday but I had to read Jamie and Claire…. Can't wait for the next one..
Thanks for my trip to the movies without leaving home.
Dear Diana,
First of all
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
…and it goes without saying that you should have been number one and Dan Brown should have been… well, wherever *g*
Now that is out of the way, let me analyse your schedule:
"At the moment, I'm home on a (very brief) furlough" …ok, break deserved, diary entry can stay….
"from book-touring; back on the road Monday,"…scrap those tours. Let them eat their programs and meet you when all is finished…
" – and won't be home for good until Thanksgiving,"…seeing as on the revised schedule you'll have written the first paragraphs now, you'll enjoy the turkey so much more…
" which is the soonest I could reasonably resume anything like a productive writing routine–"…well, we've sorted that with the revised routine…
"as well as a prequel volume about Jamie's parents, a Volume II of the OUTLANDISH COMPANION, and heaven knows what-all else."…hmmm, Diana, you need to talk to these publishers of yours. Urgently. I am all for having all those books – eventually, but AFTER I know just how Lord John explains himself to Jamie, how William and Auntie Jenny get on, how Bree and Roger save their family, how America wins the… oh, guess we know the answer to that one… still how Claire undoubtedly single-handedly pulled the strings in the background to make it happen………. and the three million other questions you left us with. Priorities, girl!!!
"But the story is definitely not over"… phew, thank God for that.
Well, having thus sorted your schedule, I'll clear my diary next Christmas. Should be plenty of time
On a slightly more serious note though and as it gets commented on quite a lot… Lord John's relationship with the Frasers is a favourite aspect of the books for me and I thought it was a wicked piece of writing to have Jamie presumed dead and LJ marrying Claire to save her. That they now have, as John puts it "carnal knowledge" of each other is not really that surprising. They have always had great respect as well as a liking for each other as long as Jamie wasn't part of the picture and many a partnership is formed when people look towards friends for comfort after loosing a loved one. Of course, most do not then have to deal with a resurrection, lol. To my mind, this does not compromise the integrity or decency of either John or Claire and I would be most surprised if Jamie, the champion of 'duty' was to hold it against John for having done his in saving Claire. And as they were married… still, can't wait to read that particular dialogue!
For me, the tone was set on page two, when I laughed out loud about the desperate attempt of parents to gloss over the embarrassment caused by junior quoting the family and carried on all the way until right at the end, Jenny finishes off the icing on the cake with her comment about Jamie, William and some well known family traits. God help them all, indeed! (Should have been the last line of the book)
Thank you for the writing.
Anette
Maybe a few well placed excerpts on your Home Page, will temporarily satisfy the angry mob already asking for more *g*
I don't want to read other posts for fear of learning something I don't want to know about the end of the book. I am in the 600s and can feel the storylines getting ready to wrap themselves up for this book – which worries me because I am not sure where you will be leaving me.
I was thrilled that the book came out on my birthday and informed my hubby that if the book was not waiting for me, "there would be a reckoning" (to borrow one of Terry Pratchitt's lines from Wee Free Men).
So – I am loving it (I think this may supplant Voyager as my favorite) and keep gasping as I read – reporting to my husband that "shocking things keep happening!" But I am almost tempted to stop where I am so I don't have to get to the end of the book.
Somehow I think that won't actually work.
Thank you and keep up the good work!
I loved it!!! I laughed, I cried, I gasped for breath, I lost track of the cliffhangers–once more, you fulfilled all my wishes for this book and then surpassed them!
As I said in my review on Amazon, if you want to take us through the French Revolution with Michael and Jared and Fergus, I am there with bells on!
Thank you for not "dumbing down" the history and the detail. Words cannot express how wonderful it is to read romance that is not a "bodice-ripper" combined with time-travel that is not "scientific" and that contains accurate history (not just the textbook, sanitized version we are taught in school).
I could praise you forever, but my last comment will be simply that I appreciate this being a true saga–Blessings to you for tying the disparate family members together. Whether readers like it or not, Lord John and Jamie will be linked until one of them dies–and I am loving every minute of it. The same goes for Young Ian and William–when the series finally comes to an end (as good things always must, whether we want or not), I know I will not be left saying "whatever happened to So-And-So?" and this fan will be eternally grateful for all the details.
Bravo! Huzzah! Merci beaucoup for the wonderful saga. Can we have at least three more?
I have Echo downloaded to my Kindle for my trip to Scotland next week! Can't wait and Thank you so much for writing this fabulous series of books. I ride my bike everyday, and for the last month I had downloaded the last book (on my IPOD) so I could catch up before I read the new one!!
Cheryl
Delray Beach, FL
Sigh… I just finished reading Echo. It was wonderful, but I hate that it's over. Unlike some people, I was actually quite thrilled that the ending wasn't complete. I want another book, but it's going to be hard to wait three more years to find out what will happen to Jemmy, Roger, Jamie and Lord John. (Oh! That pains me!)
You know… they say the world is going to end in 2012. :o) While I don't believe that, it couldn't hurt for you to speed up the process a little bit, just in case.