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!
you had my heart with cookery. the only other thing i could think of would be any focus on knitting. you mention it once in a while, and some focus on what they knit, who was knitting, and their sources of wool/yarn would be fascinating (and wouldn't take a lot of room. i couldeven do the research, lol!)
I am hoping that the companion will come out at the same time i purchase an ereader.
I would love to be able to click on links where I can see illustrations of the fashions of the times, foods, maps, photos of the areas now, etc
I have just finished "Echo" and found my arm muscles got a good work out lifting the book and I finally had to succumb and purchase a pair of +1 glasses from the chemist to read the small print. (I could empathise with Claire on this matter). It was also difficult to read on the beach here in Australia due to its size, lol!
So, I would love an ereader of some type to adjust the print size, avoid the weight issue and hopefully discover extra features linked in to the books.
Thanks again for years of great reading Diana.
Illustrations would be wonderful!!! I often think while reading your books, I would love to see a picture of this
Diana — Thanks so much for your response to my Henri-Christian question! Talk about instant gratification.
I did notice the mention in Claire's letter of "mouth-breathing", which made me think right away of my dad and my brother, and William before his surgery.
I'm on my second read-through now of AEITB (a Christmas present from my Granma, whom I had you sign the first Companion for when you were in Kelowna BC years ago) and I'm looking forward to the graphic novel and second Companion book!
Sorry I've made this comment when talking about the nostril post – but I'll say it again as others have here. Family Trees for all the main families in the story. Claire and Fergus's family lines are surely going to be hot in the next book and what about that Rob Cameron he must go straight back to cunning ol Hector I reckon??? Very juicy. Also some maps would be good if your not familiar with America, like myself it would be good, Scotland and Helwater as well for that mater.
Oh yeah costume – stays are what they wore before bras right and other little bibs and bobs you mention . . yes pictures of what they are would be good. More things keep coming to mind like that tie on pocket arrangement and a rail and does a shift of today resemble a shift of the late 1700's?? I can't wait for the picture book . . .see now I feel I am pressuring you . . I know all in good time.
I took a picture of the family tree. Maybe you can't read the names on the upper left side but it's quite difficult to take a picture of the whole tree as one.
Well,I can only post the link here.
http://s12.directupload.net/file/u/22028/tlwunr2f_jpg.htm
A TIMELINE for Jamie Fraser's life! There are so many details to keep straight, it would be helpful to have dates for reference.
Diana,
Aside from your wonderful writing, one of the reasons you are my favorite author is because you open up questions like this to your readers. You make yourself very accessible, and it makes us readers feel very special. Thank you for that.
I love most of the ideas other commenters have listed, especially maps with travel paths noted, drawings or photos of the real and fictional places described in the book and drawings of both typical period clothes and artifacts and specific ones that have been described in detail.
In the last Companion I loved the list of errata, especially your explanations and commentary. I'd like to see that for the books that have been published since then. (I work in Quality Assurance – I'd be more than happy to help suss out potential errata for the list!)
Also, a timeline that helps us understand how time in all the stories overlaps – in particular the Lord John stories, but also the ongoing continuum between 2 different centuries.
One additional thought, though not for the Companion II: several commenters suggested printing Claire's and Jamie's books, various letters and an herbal guide. It reminded me of J.K. Rowling's special printings of 2 of the textbooks she had mentioned in the Harry Potter series, which were produced to benefit a charity. If you were so inclined, a small printing that pretends to actually be, say, Jamie's Grandfather's Stories (sorry if I got that wrong!) would likely sell enough to do a lot of good for some worthy organization – and all your readers would be completely thrilled to own it!
Thanks for considering these recommendations from me and all your other readers.
- Nicole Z
Can't comment (or even read the whole post!) since I'm still on The Fiery Cross and also reading The Outlandish Companion. Just wanted to say THANK YOU for even asking fans what they'd like to see. That is completely above and beyond… and is verra much appreciated.
Carol – myoutlanderpurgatory.com
Oh my, yes! I love Adderbury's idea of "Jamie's day"!
I'm entirely with Christiane: maps, family trees, floorplans, herbals, recipes, etc., yes, but, please, no pictures of characters. One of the pleasures of reading, especially such a long series as Outlander, is that one develops very definite mental images of the characters. (The surroundings also, but that's not as critical.)
I have a very clear mental impression of what Claire (et al.) looks like…and, sorry, Diana, it's not quite like what's been previewed for the upcoming graphic novel. (Oh, I'll read it, of course, but I don't want the pictures messing up my brain. When I reread Harry Potter, it's a struggle not to "see" Daniel Radcliffe.)
If I can think of anything for OC2 that hasn't yet been mentioned, I'll post again.
more detailed maps and more Scottish recipes!
If a complete list of all the Timetravelers that have been revealed in the series were to be included in the Companion II guide, that would be fantastic. Including their time travel history, such as their time and place of origin, resultant time travel destination, traveling "point of entry" and method used (ie, accidental, intentional..etc), number of times traveled, items of interest they can pass through with, and resulting injuries from time travel attempts. Also a list on the known dangers of timetraveling as has been listed in the series and experienced or witnessed by the characters.
Probably most of this information was already being written and compiled by Roger MacKenzie in his writing "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers".
It would be nice to see a similar guide in Companion II.
I am a huge fan! and have loved your books since a young girl! When I am not reading them, I am listening to them on my ipod! I would love a timeline for reference. Also, I would love to see a listing of birthdates or at least birth years. I am constantly trying to figure out how old everyone is a certain points in the books. Thank you for all of your hard work and for updating your blog so frequently!
An INDEX, please!
Perhaps a compilation of any religious research you've conducted re: Catholicism, Presbyterianism & Lutheranism of the 1700s?
YES! thank you Vanvouver Voyeur! reading the series over again and was struck by that question anew. Why and how did Frank see Jamie's ghost (?), if in fact it was Jamie?!
Yes please to an index! The first Companion is a wonderful book but so frustrating when you're trying to find something in it as it doesn't have an index.
I'd also love a detailed Errata list and detailed timelines that give the ages of the characters alongside the years. Sometimes it's hard to remember that Claire is in her sixties!
Another yes please to maps. As many as possible [g].
And if I'm being really greedy I'd also love colour pictures of the military uniforms and clan tartans [g].
Hi Diana!
I am new to your blog, having just found your website after 10+ years of reading the Outlander series. I fell in love with Jaime in the first book, and then it just progressed as the series did. Thank you for writing such a phenomenal series! I just love the series and I eagerly await a new book once the last one is done.
I recently got into listening to audiobooks. I think I have been listening to them for about 1-1/2 years now. I have the hardback editions of the 1st six novels in the series, and that is how I got so deeply involved in the series at first. I thought audiobooks were silly for a LONG time! Then I started doing medical transcription, and I found that by the end of the day spent transcribing the doctor's dictations, the last thing I wanted to do was to pick up and hold a 1,000+ pages book. They tend to be HEAVY! Hence I got involved in audiobooks for several of my favorite authors.
I have just purchased the unabridged versions of the first 3 in the series, plus the last Echo in the Bone. Drums in Autumn will be next, but I am writing to you to see if there is anything that you can do with your publisher to see about getting the unabridged versions of The Fiery Cross and A Breath in Snow and Ashes out in unabridged, digital format. I agree with your "abridged book" assessment in one of your blog posts wholeheartedly, and I won't buy an abridged version of any book period. The only versions that are available on Audible.com for these 2 books are the abridged versions, and even though they are each about 15 hours long, the unabridged versions are some 43 to 50+ hours long, which says to me that a HUGE part of the books are being cut out, which really would take away from the story.
Anyway, I wrote to Audible about getting those 2 books in unabridged format, and they told me that Recorded Books did not hold the digital rights to either book, and that they only people that could approve Audible selling the books would be either the publisher or the author herself. Well, that would be you..
So, I am writing to you today in hopes that you can somehow work a miracle or two and get the digital rights to the 2 books mentioned so that your fans on Audible can purchase the full versions of ALL of the Outlander series. It makes no sense to me quite honestly why books 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 would be available in unabridged but not books 5 and 6.
I would greatly appreciate any help that you could provide. I have the hardbacks of each of these, but I really want the audio versions of them. Would you please help your fans out? Thanks so much for reading this. I hope to see the 2 books available very soon!
I hope you have a very safe trip abroad and that you get to meet more fans than ever. I have even thought about looking up some of my home state's history since NC is where Jaime and Claire wound up. I find that quite interesting..:)
Take care,
Linda in NC