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!
Great talk tonight in Toronto! Thanks very much for braving the cold. Here's my blog post on the subject:
http://digg.com/u1ELR4
Can't wait to read the new book. My mom's just finishing my copy, so I'll get it on the weekend.
All the best!
I'm definitely a BIG FAN of the Outlander Series espically Jamie & Claire, but this book wasn't up to the standards I've come to expect. Too many story lines, too many cliffhangers.
I question some of the editing! In the part of the book where Jamie, Ian, and Claire each run into William at different times they act like they haven't seen him since he was 12 years old up on Fraser Ridge. At the end of The Fiery Cross Bree, Roger, and their children all met with William before they go back to the 20th century. Jamie and Lord John watch this meeting take place from a window above in LJ office. Lord John asking Jamie if Bree will tell William she is his sister. Before this meeting Claire, Bree, Roger, Jem, and Amanda see William in the town where Stephen Bonnet is put to death. Although Jamie wants to stay unseen by William, the rest of them have a nice conversation. Also at the end of FC Bree, Roger, and the kids were all settled at Lallybroch. They had been back for 2 years. Why did Echo back up & start with them still with Jamie and Claire on the Ridge?
I don't think Jamie and Claire can have this on going great love for the ages and have her continue to have sex with so many different men. After all Jamie does have a lot of pride as a Highlander! This sex with Lord John less than a month after she thinks Jamies is dead is toooo much.
I hope the next book is more true to the characters, edited better, and not as dizzying the way it jumps all over the place.
Please, please, have the next book in this Outlander Series out sooner rather than later.
I have been sharing my love of all the Outlander novels with my friends. I went in to your website to copy and paste all of the titles for a friend (lazy me didnt want to type) and I saw that book #7 is out! I am off to the bookstore tomorrow!! Maybe even tonight!
I have been seriously thinking of starting back at book 1 and reading them all again…
I am very sad that I finished the book last night. It's always hard to shake the feeling of loss that befalls me whenever I turn the last page. I enjoyed this one very much, more so than the last two ones. The reduction of storylines and character and less p.o.v. shift made the reading-experience much more enjoyable.
There were a couple of times in the book when I just couldn't put it down but especially the ending sequence kept me up until midnight. I can't wait to know how the Grey-Jamie-Claire triangle will work out and I am very excited that Jenny came to America. However, I was hardbroken over Ian's death.
I laughed, I cried (sometimes within one sentence), I hoped and I feared! Great book! Can't wait for the next.
Congrats Diana!! That is awesome news….although you deserve #1. I loved ECHO – found it so moving and beautiful and heart-wrenching and exciting and just…wow. I'm at a loss for words. My husband loves the books too and can't wait to read ECHO. He kept telling me to be quiet while reading the book because apparently my cries of outrage, squeals of surprise, laughter and tears were giving too much away. ha ha. What can I say, that's what your books do! I feel as if I'm right there.
I can hardly stand to wait for the next one…..(Or two? Please???!)but I know it will be worth the wait. In the mean time, I'm thrilled to hear there will be a Volume II to the Outlandish Companion and one about Jamie's parents.
PS – I was at the book signing in Seattle and was incredible to hear you speak and have you sign my book. Thank you for coming our way!
Well I, for one, am mighty pleased to hear that there will be a book 8, possibly more. When I reached the end of Echo I harumped, how could she possibly leave Jem in a pitch black tunnel, Brianna with that slimey guy, Roger and his how many? times great-grandfather at the stones, and Jamie not knowing why Sir John has slept with Claire? (My sister had told me that #7 would be the last one.)
Now I know, and will wait for however long you need until I can pick up the story again. Enjoy your time off! I am proud to be among the millions of readers that you delight. And I see that I'm not along among the numbers who read the series from first to last, again. And again.
To Tillieblitz,
I'm very sorry for your suffering and I want to send you good thoughts, wishes, and prayers. What you have been going through moved me to tears, but your courage and grace give me hope. I will hope that God gives you more time in this life with your wonderful husband and three children. I, too, hope that Diana takes less time to finish the next book(s), but purely for selfish reasons.
Big hugs!
Hi Diana! I've just finished Echo, and loved it (as expected!). I do find, however, the major downside of loving a rich & detailed series is that those rich & detailed stories take a ton of time to write well…and which I then inhale in 2 days, leaving me hanging for the subsequent ton of time until the next one. And with That Ending as it was, all I can say is:
Please look both ways before you cross the street.
Thanks for another great ride, and I'll be counting off the next few years (wah!!) until Book 8.
Thank you for crafting yet another amazing adventure! I was born near Valley Forge, and have lived in the Philly area my whole life, so I had to chuckle at your description of Philadelphia; so true! Also, I'm wondering if you actually spent some time in the 'Great Dismal' to describe it so eloquently. I felt like I was right there with William and Ian.
Congratulations and keep 'em coming!
Thank you so much for coming to Edmonton and signing my copy of An Echo in the Bone. You are very gracious and always so wonderful to meet. Thank you again! And love the boo so much.
Thanks, Diana for giving Lord John such a prominent role in this new book. He is one of my favorite characters!
SPOILER
By the way, has anyone ever wondered about the fact that Jamie -came- to LJ's house _looking for his wife_. Perhaps he already knows what has happened to her and that is why he goes there to find her. And perhaps that is why he is only asking why in such a calm voice. He already knows what has happened. In fact, he says to LJ -thank you for saving my wife-(not exact words).
Although Outlander and Voyager remain my favorite books in the Jamie and Claire series, this one really caught on fire at the end and is now my third favorite. Although, I was dumbfounded at the end and remembered how I felt at the end of Dragonfly in Amber when the end of the book revealed that Jamie didn't die at Culloden. Diana, how can you do this to us again {Sigh..as I wait for the next book with everyone else.)
I have to confess that I have had a hard time warming up to Bree especially and was glad not to have so much of her in this book. I love the LJ character and waited the entire time for William to discover his father was Jamie. I -didn't- think it would be in the last three pages. Shame on you Diana [g].
I do think that this book is much more interesting that the last two, but that as a stand-alone, it is not as strong. I don't think I would have enjoyed it so much if I hadn't already read all the other books (multiple times).
Thanks again Diana. Great Job. What about the LJ book The Scottish Prisoner? Publish something more soon!
I love this book! Others are generously saying you deserve a break, but selfish woman that I am–I deserve to read the rest of the story as soon as possible. So I will be praying that your life runs smoother than silk and you have peace, harmony, and lots of time to write along with a compulsion to do so.
This come ahead of Lord John books, don't you think? After all, it tells the story of Lord John's personal life so it should get top priority.
Once again, you are a genius of a storyteller. Just when I think there is nowhere to take this story that will be fresh, surprising (not that I don't love it anyway, when it is comfortable and familiar) you find new ways to make it fascinating and twisty and new.
I could LIVE in these books, you have created such amazingly real, faceted characters. I am always so grateful that the books are long…but sadly, never long enough! I milked this one (which was a 50th birthday gift from my husband) as long as I could.
I cannot wait for the next one, is all I can say. THANK YOU!
Up to the sailing to Scotland part and still am not really enjoying the book. I keep trying to put my finger on why. Its like SOMEONE else wrote this book, NOT Diana!(PLS don't take offence!)I read what Diana wrote about changing it up, etc. But this book is not in the same "tone" as the others. It feels "off". Its not like asking you to do the "same thing over & over". Its asking to CONTINUE in the same "feeling". These characters have become so real to us and that is because of the way you crafted them. Its like they are people I don't know anymore!The whole feeling of it is so different than the former 6. (And if these other people have been keeping up w/the info,how did they not know a long time ago, that there probably was going to be 8 books?)
Anyway-the thrill is gone between Jamie & Claire. He just LEFT HER ALONE with the fighting on that ship? The old Jamie would not have done that. The way she talks to people and the way Jamie is thinking and writting in his letters-all rings so false somehow!
I say its STRANGE!
Sorry, just how I see it so far. :~(
The biggest disappointment in this book is that the Jamie-Claire relationship has been diluted. Why?! What happened to the strong love that made her come back to him after 20 years, risking the stones again? Where are the sex scenes that are rampant in the first 6 books?
Also, there is far too much Lord John. I know he is your favourite character, but he is a minor character (although an important minor character) and it's smart that you have utilized him to deal with the politics, but it distracts from the Jamie-Claire story, and after all, he does have his own series. I will admit it was good to hear from William, but it's happening just a little too much. From what I've heard of the ending (only up to page 300 and something) you tie it off nicely with Jamie/Claire/LJ/William, but leave the story somehow half finished?? Almost as though you hit the publishing deadline before you finished and sent it off just like it is.
Finally, what exactly is the significance of Brianna and Roger? Are they going to come back, or actually play an important part other than read lots of letters? And…
[SPOILER]
Do we find out what happened to Roger's father? (If it's explained in this book, my apologies, because I'm not finished yet.)
I'm looking forward to Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner!
Thanks Diana once again for an amazing series.
All I can say to the last two post-ers is, KEEP READING!
Hello from Germany,
I have to say I was a little disappointed. For me there was too much of Lord John – he has his own series – and takes away from your writing time anyway…:-((
And then the CLIFFHANGER!!! How many years do we have to wait for the next book with Jamie and Claire?
I am starting to get grey hair, I hope I am not totally grey before this happens:-)))
Congrats Diana! I enjoyed the book tremendously (except for the fact that I have to wait to find out what happens next). It feels like the day AFTER Christmas.
I loved this line:
"I hadn't time to ask her what he was a-doing, before he a-did it." Total LOL!
Thanks for making us laugh, cry, and shout OMG!
WOW!! Just finished the book and LOVED it! Great job of tying so many separate and interweaving story lines together. Each of your characters could have their own novel they are so strong and captivating, which is why I'm so devoted. Enjoy your own story and I will anxiously await your next book.