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!
Thanks a load Diana! I will now spend the rest of the next two years playing out every possible scenario in this saga until you put us out of our misery. lol. I did find it a wee bit awkward coming to terms with the fact that Claire had jumped into bed with LJ, it was a little bit hard to swallow considering all the previous interaction between the tgwo, and the apparent lack of "I want die without Jamie" stuff. I mean wouldn;t she have just gone back to Brianna? It would of been one of the first things I;d of thought of, you know… avoid the hangmans noose…find solace in my daughter, my only link to my dead husband and all?…avoid marrying the gay guy who wanted my husband…mmmm, well real life does throw some wide passes. I;ll read it again to settle my mind to the image of Claire having sex with LJ, not once out of grief but twice! What The! These are truly amazing, addictive books. Love em, and cheers for writing them. You have a God given gift.
Diana:
The only thing more exciting than picking up the new book is getting a chance to meet you in person for your autograph in the book… so excited to find out that you are coming to Halifax next week… as I only just (delightfully) discovered that you were coming here (when I read some blog comments here) I was practically hyperventilating when I called my sister up about your book signing… the real beauty of your visit to me is that I can bring my sister Karen along too… she introduced me to your books and she has just relocated her family to Nova Scotia – oh, life is pretty good!!!!!
Loved, loved, loved Echo! Thank you for this wonderful story you have given us, they are as much a part of my life as my own family. *g*
Thank you for such an amazing read. I loved it and hated to put it down. Oh and the ending is just nail biting…everything has to be resolved, I am glad that I will have a newborn to make it through the next three years. I also have your wonderful books to reread and paint the entire picture in vivid brush strokes.
On a side not my husband and I just found out that we are having an baby girl, and we were talking about names and he said, you know I like Brianna. I smiled and agreed no way is he going to know why I like that name too, he might change his mind.
Can't wait to read the next in the series they are certainly amazing. Congrats to you!!!
I was turned on to your books a little over a week ago. I'm almost done w/#4. I told myself to slow down since a 6 month long winter is looming ahead. Great writing!
Enjoy your break!!! Congrats on hitting #2! whoo hoo!
I can't wait to get my hands on Echo. I'm having my family ship it to me here in Scotland because I can't wait until January knowing that all my friends are reading it back home! And I just… can't wait that long anyway.
I still think you should do a tour here… sometime sooner than June. And then I know at least 5 people who will have one more reason to hate me.
I mean, being in Scotland is neat to most everyone I know, and terribly tragic and unfair to all my friends and relatives that read your novels. It's… quite honestly one of the most amusing things… ever. Actually seeing you -IN SCOTLAND- would be the cherry on top of a most delicious cake.
Enjoy your "break" now that Echo is up and running on its own capable legs. Always looking forward to more!
You are absolutely a beautiful person inside and out! You seem very quiet in person but you may have just been in the "zone" signing books. Thank you for your writing and as others have said you deserve a break! I cant wait for book 8 either (as I finished echo in the bone 4 days after it was out.) But I can wait if it means you get some time with your hubby. I could not imagine touring for 2 months away from home..
good luck and thank you again
sarah
Congrats on another amazing book and Thank-you!!!As usual I couldn't put it down and was so sad when it ended.I love learning about the history and the way you make your readers fall in love with all of your characters. You are truly unique please never stop writing!! Can't wait for whatever comes next!!!:D
*sob* it's over. i tried to read slow but i just couldn't! especially at the end. i loved the end…enough things were settled that i can live…but enough cliffhangers, that it's just barely that i'll live. thanks so much for such a great ride.
Diana, you've again spun an amazing tale in the saga of Jamie and Claire. Like the rest of the readers, I was pretty shocked about the marriage to Lord John…but enjoyed VERY much the gradual gathering of all of the different parties who had all met while traveling around the fledgling states in America.
I'm sad that I finished the book in only a few days, but at least now I'll be able to get to sleep instead of staying up most of the night reading! Enjoy your brief respite, and know that we are all eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I finished Echo and admit I kept looking for more. I looked at my husband and said "Well, guess I'll read the author's notes now". Once again you have moved me to laughter and tears with Jamie's and Claire's story. I live in mountains near the N.C. border and often find myself imagining that Jamie, Claire et al are living their lives not too far from where I am. you are ONE damn fine writer!
You're killin' me! I finished ECHO last night and talk about cliffhangers…I don't how I'm going to wait years…but as always I will be buying whatever you write, so do hurry and publish something!
What a fun story! Not only do I live in NC, and know most of the places that are featured (for intance, I was visiting Okracoke while reading this book) but I also lived in Scotland as a kid. I did have to call my mom and sister (also reading the book) and complain that you had the kids full of pizza in Scotland in 1980. I was there in 1980, and we found ONE place in Edinburgh that sold "American style pizza" and it was really just some bread with a slice of tomato, some melted cheese with corn and ham on top. DEFINITELY not something that Jem and Mandy would have been wolfing down so delightedly (it made my sister throw up, in fact)!
We have all been reading your books religiously since "Outlander" came out and want to thank you for such a lovely group of people to fall in love with!
(No more Scottish pizza! I couldn't even get pepperoni pizza in England in the late eighties!)
I am soooo relieved that it's not the end. This series has been a boon companion ever since I picked up the first one. Every year I have to re-read them all. Great story lines wonderful, believable characters. Thanks again, I'll look forward to the next installmen!
Looks like I need a proof reader!! Here's the "t"!
This is in answer to Rolie (Oct 6) – Lord John asked Claire to marry him to protect her. Claire didn't get over her grief, but she realized that Lord John was grieving, too, so went to him to help him. That's the way I see it, and as Diana mentioned in one post (was it to you?) the answers are in the book.
Diana – I love the series, and my thought at the end was, "Well, what's happening with Jem and Rob Cameron? I hope she's writing another book!" Then I found out that you are!
Enjoy your break, and your Scotch, and then get writing, lady! I love this series, and you put so much research into your books, it's incredible. No wonder it takes so long for you to finish one!
WOW! Can't wait for the prequel. Enjoy the tour and I hope you can squeeze in a good nap when its all over.
OMG… Okay. I have to say that the next three years or so are going to be torture. I won't reveal anything for those that aren't finished with the book but… Diana!! Your killin' me! Now that I am done with it I am left with an empty feeling!! So many questions.. I suppose I will have to read the series over and over again until the next one comes out. You are a small tad evil.. did on purpose didn't ya?
SPOILER
Just wanted to add an addendum to my last comment because I didn't wanna give anything away but it is absolutely EATING at me… I am going bonkers that Jamie and Claire aren't together at the end. It just doesn't seem right!!! Diana, my heart is torn out! The other cliffhangers don't bother me. I suppose I wanted it to end with them snuggled up in the bed together with him running his hands through her hand her her tracing the outline of his scars with her fingers… THAT was the ending right?? I'll just tell myself that till the next one comes out so I don't die from waiting for them to be together again.. *G*