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!
Echo is glorious and it is we who should be saying thank you, Diana, for allowing us to share these characters with you. Thank you for writing without limits and for staying true to your vision of the world you've created and its cast of unforgettable players. I wait with unbridled angst to see where our beloved Jamie, Claire, Roger, Bree, Young Ian, Lord John, William, Jenny and company will take us next. Where ever it is, or whatever may happen, it will be an incredible journey, I'm sure.
Slainte
With an unexpected snow day already, I have managed to finish your latest epic in record time! My hubby said, when he brought the book home as a surprise (vbcg), that it should take me 41 days to finish. Well, it took exactly 8 days! And I don't have a "support group" to talk to about the book because none of my other Outlander friends have finished it! This is really quite frustrating!
Thank you for a great read. I've been reading your wonderfilled books since 1992, seventeen years! I was fifty-three then and now am seventy.
Time flies when your having fun doesn't it. Please God let me stay long enough to finish the story.
Jeaneen
oops that should be 27 years…I was always so good at reading, not so much math. Jeaneen
I'm definitely a fan of the Outlander series, but this book wasn't quite up to the standards I've come to expect. Too many story lines, too many cliffhangers.
The only way I would have picked up this book, had I known it was so disjointed, would have been when the next one is about to be released.
I'm frustrated and more than a little dizzy trying to keep it all straight.
Please, please, have the next chapter of this story out sooner rather than later.
I have a suggestion about writing a series. When you title them let us know what book it is. I would be more likely to read all of your books if they were numbered. To many times I get a book only to find it is the 3r in that series. Knowing it is a part of a series allows us to start at the beginning.
http://www.studiosandi.com
I have a suggestion about writing a series. When you title them let us know what book it is. I would be more likely to read all of your books if they were numbered. To many times I get a book only to find it is the 3r in that series. Knowing it is a part of a series allows us to start at the beginning.www.studiosandi.com
Well, I must say that this is the first time I've been such a fan of an author that I've gone as far as to hunt you down on the internet. You've killed me with the ending of Echo. For 2 days now, I just keep saying to myself, "Aye? Why?"
I'm a little fearful that the world will end (what if the Mayans were right and we're all done in 2012?) and I won't get to read book 8.
I've been an avid reader for 30 years – I've never come across characters that truly live in my imagination as yours do. Thank you! On a funny note – my husband may be developing a Scottish accent from reading your books. He's been reading them straight through and is midway through book 7.
Horrors! I have just finished Echo and am now in mourning! I'm also caught up with the Lord John novels. Nothing to read. I'm afraid that this series has ruined me for any other novels that involve Scottish men! Any 12step programs out there for fast readers? Diana, congrats for the #2 ranking. I will wait patiently for whatever you publish next.
I thought you might enjoy reading about what resulted from the free copy of "Outlander" that included a preview sample from "An Echo in the Bone"
Here is my Blog review:
http://whiterhinoreport.blogspot.com/2009/10/discovering-writing-of-diana-gabaldon.html
I am now a Gabaldon fan for life!
Thank You! and Congratulations I finished Echo after midnight this morning because I needed to spend today on Thanksgiving preparations(I'm Canadian) and I just had to see what would happen with Claire,Jamie and friends.I purchased my copy the day after it was released here and have been immersed since. In preparation I reread the series including the Lord John books and it really enhanced my enjoyment of Echo. Thanks again and enjoy your little break in traveling as I await your next efforts with great anticipation….you have a gift!
I thoroughly enjoy the "Outlander" series and I just started reading "Echo". I have a question, how did Jem end up in the future with Bree and Roger when he didn't go with them? Everytime there's a reference to him being with his parents, I say, that's not right, he's supposed to be with Claire and Jamie. I certainly hope this is cleared up shortly? or was it an error? Thanks
Cheryl,
What you makes you think Jem didn't go too? There was a scene in ABOSAA where he was offered the option of staying with Claire and Jamie, but he didn't take it; he definitely went with Roger, following Brianna and Mandy. (I'd give you page references, but my edition is possibly different from yours, so there's no real point.)
Jen in Oz
Oh, just meant to say – THANK YOU!
I finished reading Echo last night, and my husband has now started on it. I hope the world doesn't end in 2012, or we won't get to see the end of the story.
I am fascinated by the thought that maybe there's some blood relationship between Fergus and Claire; and by the stories to be told of Roger's parents.
And what exactly did Rob Cameron want? Clever Jem to figure out where he is, too. How old is he supposed to be by now?
And… and… and… so many questions!
Love the series, love this book!
Jen in Oz
I've finished reading Echo and loved the continuing saga. In reading some of the comments, left hanging, the only thing I was left with was where are Roger and his 6th great grand father? Jem is riding the rail train and will get out of the tunnel, teh same way Brianna did, and be found by someone and thus fiol Rod's attempt at the gold. And Jamie, he might just kill Lord John after he finds out the why. I do wish it hadn't ended so like a Saturday afternoon theater series that left the hero hanging by his finger nails from the cliff. I too eagerly await Book 8. Nevere the less, Congratulations Diana on another "keeper".
The waiting for the next book will be brutal. I must thank my friend for passing "Outlander" to me and creating an obsession… I don't believe I have ever read through a series so… determined and now I've read them all and have to wait? Brutal punishment! As in the former comment… Evil! Delighting in the torture of others… certainly! Aaron Alan McLean
Diana, I am in the middle of reading "An echo" and was surprised to see the name of Arthur S. Clair. I live in St. Clairsville, Ohio, which is named for him. My son lives in Greensburg, Pa where he is buried (Arthur not my son). Thank you for making it so real. We see the price these early Americans paid for our freedom. Linda
DIANA
First congratultion on your NYT list spot .
Diana you is a wonderderful writer
Please keep writting your lovely books.
I leave in Brasil and i just begun the second book in the serie Oulanders, I devored both.
I love Jamie and Claire. ..uau!!!!what a romance…
Please Diana never stoped yours books….it feel's me like a Nicest film there I never see before.
Excuse me my poor english, but i need to say some words to you.
Diane: Love the series. But I'm not too happy with Echo. It was just too mixed-up. With what was going on with Bree & Roger and their family (wierd). Jamie dead and Clair not mourning but marrying LJ why? Clair wouldn't do that.The whole business in Scotland with Jenny getting mad at Clair for not curing Ian. Hopefully it doesn't take you another 3 yrs. to write the rest of this story.Thanks for the entertainment.
I just finished _Echo_ and all I can say is, "Wow." At first I wasn't all that happy with so much of the book not being from Claire's POV, but then I found myself enjoying William and LJ. When it was finished I completely understood why you wove all their stories together. What a complex writing style you have! I can't begin to imagine how you keep it all straight!
I believe that the next three years will teach me much about having patience!