Well, now–here’s a question to keep you entertained while I’m gearing up to visit the UK: What sorts of things might you like to see in THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, Volume II?
I’ll be working on this book during 2010 (yes, yes, along with Book Eight, and a few other things, no doubt), but am just beginning to form up an idea of the potential contents. There will of course be
Detailed synopses of
THE FIERY CROSS
A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES
AN ECHO IN THE BONE
and
LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER
LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE
LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS
“Cast of Characters” listings for all the aforementioned books. These lists note which books each character appears in, and give a thumbnail description of each character (for those readers who have trouble remembering who’s who).
A Comprehensive, Alphabetized and Phonetic Glossary of All the Gaelic in All the Books (so far). [g]
Interesting Features on Writing in General (chunk writing vs. outlines, how to organize scenes so you can find them again, the Fine Art of Backing Up, etc.) and Writing These Books in Particular (the “shape” of each book, internal structure, and interconnections)
Reader’s Guides (book-club discussion questions and commentary)
Features on Costume and Cookery of the 18th Century
A Truly Massive (but well-organized!) Bibliography, of allllll the References used in writing the more recent Books.
Many Inspiring and Beautiful Photographs of the Scottish Highlands (and perhaps a few less inspiring ones of the author) taken by Barbara Schnell, the German translator for the books.
A Selection of the most Piquant, Poignant, Offensive, and/or Hilarious (whether deliberately or inadvertently) Letters received–and the Author’s Unexpurgated Responses to Same.
Controversy: Commentary and discussion on the more controversial scenes, themes, or incidents in the various books.
So….what else? All suggestions welcome!
I'm with the folks that want maps. I know that not all the places really exist but I really like detailed maps. Maybe fictional places can be shown in a different color.
I'm probably the minority here but I would say focus on the last book, publish that and then write the Companion after the series is complete.
Yes, to MAPS, a family tree and something on medical practices/treatments of the time.
I like maps and family trees too, preferably on the inside covers, so you know right where to turn to look something up and they last longer.
Of course I like the little drawings of jewelery, but you knew that.
I like maps and family trees too, preferably on the inside covers, so you know right where to turn to look something up and they last longer.
Of course I like the little drawings of jewelery, but you knew that.
Definately sketches of the outfits/costumes you've described. And I'll add my vote to maps and family trees–particularly the one that was in the Reverend's office!
This is my Christmas wish list…
I think displaying copies of the papers and items from the 18th century that Brianna, Roger, Frank, and Rev. Wakefield compiled would be neat.
Also, images of the plants and roots Claire foraged, as well as images or artist's renderings of the Ridge and Lallybroch.
And maybe pages from the books Claire and Jamie had printed for their grandchildren.
Hope I'm not asking for the world on a platter.
Dear SteveandAlina–
Well, I sympathize with your desire to have the next book sooner, believe me. BUT…
a) I don't know whether the next book (Book Eight) _is_ the last book. It might be, it might not be. I won't know that 'til I get close to finishing it.
b) It takes me between two and two-and-a-half years to write one of the big main books of the series. (I know there's a bigger gap than that between them; that's largely because I keep having to go zoom round the world so people can look at me and have me sign their books.)
c) I'm sure this will come as a shock to you , but I've _always_ written multiple projects simultaneously; that's the way my mind works, and I get a LOT more work done by being able to switch from one to another than I would if I just sat and stared at the wall until another bit of Book X surfaced. I.e., writing other things (particularly non-fiction, which the COMPANION is) doesn't slow down my production of the book you want–in fact, it probably makes things flow faster.
and finally–
d) There are a lot of people who want a COMPANION to cover the next books of the series _now_. If they think they're confused about the details of earlier plots or don't remember a particular character now, how much worse will it be in three, four, five, six years from now?
e)If I wait until the series–including _possibly_ two further novels, a prequel novel, and whatever Lord John books or other inclusions there may be (sorry, guys, _I_ get to say what belongs in this series, because I'm the only one who sees all the connections. And [cough] it's my name on the front, aye?)–the resulting COMPANION would be Way Too Big to contain anything other than the synopses and cast of characters. If I do a second volume now and a third when the series _is_ complete, we have room to include all kinds of other interesting stuff–which is why I'm asking y'all what you'd like to see, capisce?
All of the suggestions so far are all good ones. Thank you for asking for the input. Period maps would be awesome.
Yes, I think these are all excellent suggestions–thanks very much!
I do have an excellent family tree, courtesy of a very talented German fan–in fact, those of you who have ECHO in German got this, I think, as a special poster inside the dust-jacket (it's Big and Ornate [g]–very beautiful!). I'll see whether we might be able to do something similar with the COMPANION II in English.
I'll keep an eye out for decent maps as I do the research for Book Eight, too.
Probably very expensive – but I have loved the previews of Hoang Nguyen's artwork for the 'Outlander' graphic novel. I think it would be cool if there were visual representations of characters to go with the small bios. I'd love to see what Ian, Rachel, Jem, Arch Bug etc. look like (in your mind, at least)
please don't forget to include the "detailed synopsis" of the graphic novel (whose name, I'm afraid totally escapes me right now) in your Companion II!
Your books were mentioned today on http://www.dance.net under highland dancing. I commented that I'd always wished to see Brianna talking about doing ballet as a kid (didn't all little American girls take ballet classes in the 60s?) and nobody knowing what she's talking about, because ballet wasn't invented until the mid 1700s or so.
Jen in Oz
The family tree in the German version is great. Thanks for that.
Maps would be really great.
I'll add my vote for some of the items mentioned already: maps and family tree. Also, I'd like the Glossary to include the modern day name for 18th century illnesses. For example, today what do we call the illness referred to as morbid sore throat?
I would love to see drawings of the clothes, maybe particular ensembles the characters have worn to big events… also their everyday clothes… it would help with the visualization, for me at least, LOL… I always seem to trip up (in my mind) when trying to "see" the wardrobe…
Hi Diana,
I agree, if it's possible, I would love to have some maps – even of the sea voyages. Would it be possible to include Jari's calendar also? Mixed in with Karen H's list of dates, something like that?
And perhaps some more recipes and receipts of Claire's herbal concotions and shampoos – and How to Make Paper a la Bree!
I would also love maps, and maybe some discussion of your research and the history of the time (I loved that about the last Companion). I also like the idea of a list of curious facts.
The other thing that fascinates me and could go with the clothes and cookery is just some discussion of other crafts/homemade things of the time, kind of a snapshot of every day life, you know? Stuff like the spinning/weaving/dyeing/sewing process, butchering animals, woodworking, etc. Is that too broad?
This may be a bit of whimsy to some, but I this it would be fun to see a letter written in "Jamie's hand", if that makes sense. Perhaps one of the letters to LJG or to the MacKenzies in "present" Lallybroch. I've seen this done before in books. You do such a fabulous job describing his scrawl that I think I know what it looks like, but would love to see it In Real Life.
*faints with delights*
Maps, 18th century medicines/illnesses/treatments, pictural diagrams of the costumes/outfits, family trees, or whatever you want to put in it.
I'd love to see 'outakes' – scenes that you cut because the characters wouldn't cooperate, or because there wasn't space in the book, etc.