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!
Spooky… just a few hours ago I wrote an e-mail to Diana about the unavailable audio downloads and next thing I see is someone else posting about it on here… spooky…
Well, it is totally off topic, but I just had to add my voice to Linda's plea. If there is anything you can do, Diana, many of us would be thrilled to bits
Astrological readings on Lord John and Percy Wainwright.
Just one comment though. You mentioned about publishing comments that readers/forumites have made about the books. Personally, if someone had written a comment that was deemed by you (and everyone) as offensive, I don't think the poster would like to see their embarrassment immortalized in print in a book. I think the feelings of the commenter should be taken into consideration.
How about a timeline of how the Lord John books fit in and around the Outlander books? I sure was happy I'd read them when I got into An Echo in the Bone because I think I'd have been lost without!
The more maps the better for me!
Also, maybe when there is a character description also list the specific books they have been in. I loved the last Companion, so I'm sure I'll love the next couple! 
Oh! Maybe put in clan tartan pictures or coat of arms, etc… that is interesting to look at! Thank you for doing this! 
I can't wait!
P.S. Are you sure you knew what you were getting into asking us what we would like?!?!
Diane,
Will there be any way to address when certain key events took place? For example, in Echo there are several references to Brianna having told Lord John about her and Claire being time travelers but I don't recall and could not find the place where this actually happened. At the end of Breath she tells Lord John that she is from America but not that they are time travelers. Was it earlier and I missed it?
Thanks!
Your proposed list alone would make for a large book!
As a reader, the only additions I'd appreciate would be visual aids. I find maps, family trees, time lines, instruments used in battle/medicine, etc incredibly useful so I'd imagine they'd make it a true companion to both series.
I think other things, such as your personal writing routines, your own thoughts about writing, travel, etc, would be interesting to see in a memoir.
I _must_ have recipes! Traditional Scottish recipes that would have been used at the time, as well as recipes for things Jamie and Claire were eating when they came to the colonies and how they produced things.
AND herbal remedies and recipes to make some yourself. Yes, there are heaps of books on herbals, but I would like to have a source of the more traditionally used and easily made home remedies. As well as some of the completely off the wall 'cures' for things during the time.
I only discovered your books a few weeks ago and I am nearly done drums of Autumn. I am obsessed. Thank you so much for such a perfect historical fiction series. I don't know how I hadn't discovered them earlier!
I guess the one "thing" I would like to see better with the help of the Companion, is the "floorplans" or views of the rooms. So often, I can't imagine what the small cabins on the Ridge would look like especially with those scenes where everyone just takes a flop on the floor…
Or what about Claire's surgery? Or the cave/barn/paddock that Jamie built? Or the whiskey clearing/mash floor? Or the Lallybroch kitchen? Well, you get the idea…
And thank you for asking us for our ideas – how amazing to have any sort of "conversation" with an author you adore…
All of the ideas so far have been great. I would like to see a map of standing stones/time travel locations. We know of several from their mention and use in the books, but it would be neat to see them all on one map. Also, I would love to see some of the minitures that Brianna painted. Maybe even of Jaime and Claire? I would also enjoy seeing some of Mrs. Bug's recipes, namely the bannocks, included.
I really love that you have created a non-fictional reference point based on fictional books. It has settled a disagreement more than once amongst my Outlander friends!
I've only seen it here once, but I can't say I've read every single comment… I love your book lists! (Methadone list?) I got so many other books out of it to keep me busy! I also have to say that I love going to a bookstore, choosing a book and then seeing your quote on the cover. It makes me feel like I'm making a good choice!
Detailed drawings of the clothes would be wonderful – for example Claires wedding dress etc.
And recipes and maps would be great too…
Hi Diana,
Please could you let me know where you'll be in Manchester on 20th?? I've been trying to work it out via Google and have come up against a brick wall…
I'm so excited about getting my book signed!
Lizzy
Hmmm…those last three comments ought to generate some interesting ideas….
One more thing to add…how about a bit on Claire's garden – layout, plants, and such?
I´m a new fan of yours from Finland and wanted just to say that your books are fantastic and inspiring! I started to learn Scottish Gaelic while reading The Outlander or Muukalainen, as it´s in finnish. I wanted to ask if there´s any news on The Exile? Can´t wait, I will order it straight away when it´s puplished!
If you could get the same woman to do astrological natal charts for Brianna, Roger, and Maybe Lord John, that would be fantastic! Also, I'd love to see any excerpts you may have relating to your story about Master Raymond.
Vancouver Voyeur, it's my belief that this was hinted at in 'Echo'. Jamie and Claire are talking about his dreams of the children, and he mentions he once dreamed he saw her in a softly lit window, doing something with her hair, looking frustrated, and thinking to himself, "So this is what electric light looks like."
Please, Please explain the fully-dressed "Jamie ghost" in the beginning of Outlander.
I think I've actually got a request no one's yet come up with!
I'd love to see a list of the literary and pop culture allusions and references that go right over Jamie's, Ian's, Lord John's (and other people's) heads.
For example:
(I don't have the books with me at the moment, so these won't be exact quotes.)
In "Voyager," Jamie says to Claire, "I should know you from any other woman, and ye havena your name embroidered on your chest." To which Claire replies, "Not so much as a letter A!"
And some pages further on, she comes up with what I'm sure is a quote from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," but I haven't checked it.
In one of the later books, Brianna says," No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!" which nagged at me until I Googled it.
I'm sure everyone picked up on the significance of "Does the name Ringo Starr mean anything to you?" but there have to be references, quotations, and allusions that I, and other readers, missed.
So, please, a list of those would be fun.
With respect to the last poster,
I love the following quote:
"Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, Bloody Timmy's in the well!"