I have, as you might suppose, been getting a certain amount of agitated mail following publication of ECHO, [g] all centering on one question: HOW long is it until the next book will be out?!? (This accompanied by various pleas of increasing age or senility on the part of some readers. It’s not that I’m not sympathetic, and I _am_ flattered–but the fact that you think you might not live long enough to read the next book really can’t make me write any faster. Look, just exercise and take your vitamins; you’ll be fine.) As to the question…
It wouldn’t do much good to speculate; I’m always wrong. The books are invariably longer and more complex than I think they’ll be, and _always_ take longer to finish than I think they will. Sufficiently so, that anyone who’s had the misfortune to work production on one of the OUTLANDER books emerges from the experience with several new white hairs and trembling visibly in every limb.
General observation is that in terms of actual research/writing/etc., it takes me _about_ two to two-and-a-half years to write one of the big novels of the main series. That’s baseline. However…
A) The books get increasingly popular. While this is, generally speaking, A Good Thing, it has side-effects. There’s a HUGE demand on my time, in terms both of physical travel and in-person appearances, and the smaller drag created by endless email, propositions, invitations, cover quote pleas, and now–with the upsurge of online venues available–the demand to create TONS more subsidiary material for blogs, online chats, interviews, phone apps (don’t even ask about that one; the publisher just suggested it and I have _no_ idea), enhanced e-books, viral animated videos, etc. I lose at least two/three months a year, if not more, to this kind of stuff (much more, in years when a new book is out and several different countries want me to come and tour. So far this year, I’ve done Scotland, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia–for a total of two and a half months _just on the road_–and will be doing the UK in January, Germany in March, and some miscellaneous Scottish stuff [g] in August. Three European trips in one year? It has its fun aspects, but man, it eats up your work time.
B) I don’t work on one project exclusively, for the most part. I never have. Being able to switch mental tracks keeps me from ever having writer’s block, and it’s good for the separate projects, insofar as pushing one off the front burner while I deal with something else lets the first one simmer peacefully on the subconscious’s lower heat–so the result has _lots_ more flavor and subtlety than it would if I cooked it at a furious boil and splashed it scalding into people’s bowls (cf. James Patterson, if you want to know what _that_ looks like).
So (for instance), while the pub date for ECHO was four years after that for ABOSA, it doesn’t mean that I spent four years tapping away on ECHO without cease or respite. I also wrote (and published) two other books in that time (LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, which was a complete novel, and LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS, a collection of novellas), wrote the complete script for THE EXILE (the first “Outlandish” graphic novel), did work on a contemporary crime novel (about half-done at present), worked on THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, Volume II (rudimentary stuff, but still work), consulted on a film script, and poked around in the research material, coming up with bits and pieces of other, future books (like the first Master Raymond) that I haven’t started working on in any focused way, but that are waiting on the sideboard for their turn.
So I have no idea when Book Eight’ll be up. Not for at least two and a half years (the publisher does need _some_ lead time to actually print the book), but that’s _all_ I could tell you for sure.
Now, I _can_ say what I plan to be working on during 2010 (putting aside all the roaming around the world stuff, promotion for the graphic novel, and Eldest Daughter’s upcoming wedding): I’ll be feeling my way into Book Eight, working in a serious way on LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER, ditto the OC II (because I’d like to have that one done before the end of the year), and seeing if I can pull together the contemporary crime novel (which is about half-done, and I think I know where the other half _is_, more or less).
You will get a couple of things in 2010, though: 1) THE EXILE. This is the much-talked-about graphic novel, due out September 28!, 2) a new Lord John novella, “The Custom of the Army” (due in March from Tor books, in an anthology titled WARRIORS), and (probably) 3) “A Leaf on the Wind,” a short story in a Penguin anthology titled STAR-CROSSED LOVERS. This one tells the story of what really happened to Roger’s father, for those with a particular interest either in MacKenzie family history and/or time-travel. [g]
So you will get something to read, and fairly soon. As for Jem…don’t worry about him; he’s a pretty resourceful little guy.
Speaking of that, though–which is the storyline _you_ most want to see addressed Right Up Front in Book Eight?
What about Fergus?!? Not one person is wondering about his potentially life-changing parentage…Comte de St Germain's son…Dear Lord! And what did Lizzie name this new baby girl? I know we will find out about all the major characters, but I certainly don't want to wait until pg 493 to get the goings on back on the Ridge:)
Nollaig Chridhell h-uile a duine!!!
or Merry Christmas to those Sassanachs:P
<3Diana Carver
You're so sweet to ask our opinions. I actually am willing to stew even about dramatic plot points, but I've been curious for some time about Jaime's dreams of the future. I would love to see that explored more… I wonder from time to time about the apparition (ghost?) of the Scot at the beginning of Outlander looking in Claire's window in Inverness, I'd love to know more about that.
At any rate, I echo the folks who say, take your time. I would much rather read a book from a happy writer.
Merry Christmas!
Amy
With the amount of content and research (I hold a degree in history, so I know what it's like!) you put into every book, I'm amazed you even churn them out as quick as you do. I'm a much bigger fan of content vs. speed, so you take all the time you need, girl! I'm sure the results will be worthwhile!
I have already told my son that he has to stand by my grave side and read the end-of-the-story to me should that be necessary. I can't choose where I want you to start #8 because I want to know it all within the first 3 pages. Oh well, I guess I can wait because I have too. Merry Christmas and a Happy, peaceful New Year to you and yours.
In Sara Donati's series 'Lake in The cloud' – they talk of Ian and Clare- The White Witch. I've always wondered if the books would mesh, and how close you were with Sara Donati to know all those years ago wwhere yuor characters were heading.
I want to see William and Jamie get to know each other better, and to see where the whole Fergus storyline breaks out!
H
I'm interested in all of it, but I _most_ I want to hear more of what Lord John and Jamie say to each other. Or how Jenny and Claire react to each other.
Secondarily, where (or when, I guess) Roger is, and what Bree does to recover Jem.
Open with Roger and Buck! We know where Jem is and Bree, but Roger's…where? That was totally unfinished business.
I pretty much expect Jamie to be angry for a bit, but I'm not 'suspensed out' on what will happen with Jamie and Lord John. I could wait for centuries before having to read more Lord John in Jamie and Claire's story.
Roger!
Of course, I must know how the situation with Jamie, Claire and Lord John will resolve itself. I'm also dying to see what happens with Roger, Buck and Jem! Having said all that though, I was most consumed with Young Ian's story in Echo, and want much, much more of his story.
Having discovered the first book, Outlander, on Oct. 6 2009, I read all 7 in under 2 months as ebooks on my Blackberry in order to take them EVERYWHERE. Each are simply wonderful, collectivly they are completely wonderful, and I am overwhelmed with the most sincere appreciation for your writting them with the detail of character and history as you have… thank-you. I'll wait for you as long as it takes ;o) and will read everything else you release untill the eighth. I can't tell you what a meaningful exspence it was/is reading about NC in general from the Fraiser's point of view. But it was AMAZING for me reading this series in the Fall while living on a beautiful country ridge (5 miles from the Battleground site) looking out my large back windows over huge woods between the Big and Little Alamance River…we have even found a 1700's bullet from here. It felt like you were looking out through my own eyes and it was amazingly acurate in sight, smell and touch. IT made me almost want to sleep in the ruff. But reading your work, I did not have to to know exactly what that felt like…what a pleasure!
Best Wishes for your daughter!
What you accomplish continues to amaze me. The thought of what one life can encompass is a pleasant weight in my collection of perspectives on that.
Hard to choose, as each storyline seems so "immediately needing action", but I choose William. The last scene with him was very satisfying to me, as I just knew that part of his personality had to show up sometime.
I have often wondered how much influence that comments from your readers have on pieces of what you write. I know from your acknowledgements that you have included "bits", such as that scene involving the worm in that servant's eye, but I was wondering more about storylines, such as if a comment sparks a train of thought to lead you to having a character maybe go to France, for example.
And what of Fergus? What with all said about Jamie, Claire, Lord John, William, Roger, Brianna, & Jemmy, I woke up this morning (having finished Echo yesterday) wondering about the revelations and hints regarding his ancestry.
I'm confident that Claire and Jamie will be alright and so will Brianna, but I need to know what happens to Jem first thing.
Definatley Roger and Buck. I know Jamie and Claire will be ok. They can't NOT be.
Roger! He's in the most peril, and for the least reason. Does he connect w/ Jamie/Claire again?
Do William and Jamie/John ever reconcile? I know Claire/Jamie will be all right, they've gone through so much together already
Jamie and Claire — they are the heart and soul of this saga.
BUT — don't let your fans or your publisher push you into working faster than is right. Take your time, let the voices speak true, and everyone will just deal with the wait.
I'll just be patiently waiting for what you'll be coming up with. But…you might want to update your blog though. WARRIORS is coming out on March 16, 2010. It's already on pre-order on Amazon.com.
PS I am so very, very sorry that I could not reply on the "slash"y thread over in the community. I suffered a mild stroke and I had to be hospitalized for a number of days.
I would LOVE to see Jamie and Claire's reunion right after they find out that Jamie is alive. Please, please!
I'm a big fan from Brazil! Have read the entire series but have to ship the books from US, since in Oct. 2009 we just had Fiery Cross published in portuguese.
What happens to Roger, Brianna and Jemmy…. How could you leave us hanging like that?
I so thoroughly enjoy all of your characters, and would happy with any of the ones you chose to open the next book with. I have to tell you that I have a really soft spot for the two little girls we were introduced to on the journey in Carolina. I think it would be a blast if Jem ended up with them after they ran away from their apprenticeship in the brothel.Hopefully they don't fulfill their threat to Ian.