Ooookay. THIS weekend (August 26-28) is Bubonicon, which takes place in Albuquerque, NM, at the Airport Sheraton Hotel. I’ll be there from Friday evening through Sunday, and will be doing several different appearances:
8:30 PM on Friday night—a panel on “Beyond Goddess/Whore”
1:00 PM Saturday–a panel on Jules Verne
4:00 PM – Mass Autographing (with other authors) – I _think_ this is open to the public, but can’t swear to it, and
10:00 AM Sunday – a 70-minute talk/reading (with Sam Sykes)
I’ll also be taking part in the Sunday afternoon tea, and will just be generally around most of the time. See you there!
Or if not at Bubonicon….
NEXT weekend (Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-4), I’ll be at DragonCon in Atlanta. I’m doing two appearances there:
Title: Whiskey, Haggis, & Madmen: Myths & Reality of the Scottish Highlands
Time: Sat 08:30 pm Location: International BC – Westin (Length: 1)
Description: The stories that made Scotland famous: why kilts, why Braveheart was an inspiring fairy tale, and how the Scots invented everything. Yes, everything.
Title: An Hour with Diana Gabaldon
Time: Sun 07:00 pm Location: International BC – Westin (Length: 1)
Description: The best-selling author discusses her time-traveling Outlander series, and more!
Now, I’m _not_ doing the Decatur Book Festival this year, but with due regard for Atlanta-area folk who might want to see me and get a signed book, but don’t want to fight their way through the DragonCon zoo {g} (or pay for the privilege of doing so)….I _will_ be doing a talk/reading/signing event in Decatur (about three miles from downtown Atlanta):
3 PM Sunday – Talk/reading/Q&A/signing
Eagle Eye Book Shop
2076 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA 30033
404-486-0307
www.eagleeyebooks.com
This is a free public event, so for any of y’all that can’t make it to DragonCon (or turn pale at the thought {g})—I’ll see you in Decatur!
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Righto. Now, with business out of the way, I did promise to post the excerpt that made tents full of people gasp in Fergus last week. {g}
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WARNING/WARNING/WARNING/WARNING/WARNING/WARNING
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE SPOILERS FROM BOOK EIGHT
DON’T READ THIS!!!
(still with me?)
(OK, then….)
Excerpt, Book Eight: Roger in the Past
Copyright 2011 Diana Gabaldon
[You may recall that at the end of AN ECHO IN THE BONE, we left Roger embarked on a quest through the stones to find his son Jem, whom he believed had been taken into the past. From Craigh na Dun, Roger goes immediately to Lallybroch, figuring that if Jem had managed to escape from his captor, he’d head for home.]
His heart rose in spite of his anxiety, when he came to the top of the pass and saw Lallybroch below him, its white-harled buildings glowing in the fading light. Everything lay peaceful before him; late cabbages and turnips in orderly rows within the kailyard walls, safe from grazing sheep—there was a small flock in the far meadow, already bedding for the night, like so many wooly eggs in a nest of bright green grass, like a kid’s Easter-basket.
The thought caught at his throat, with memories of the horrible cellophane grass that got everywhere, Mandy with her face—and everything else within six feet of her—smeared with chocolate, Jem carefully writing “Dad” on a hardboiled egg with a white crayon, then frowning over the array of dye-cups, trying to decide whether blue or purple was more Dad-like.
“Lord, let him be here!” he muttered under his breath, and hurried down the rutted trail, half-sliding on loose rocks.
The dooryard was tidy, the big yellow rose brier trimmed back for the winter, and the step swept clean. He had the sudden notion that if he were simply to open the door and walk in, he would find himself in his own lobby, Mandy’s tiny red galoshes flung helter-skelter under the hall-tree where Brianna’s disreputable duffel-coat hung, crusty with dried mud and smelling of its wearer, soap and musk and the faint smell of her motherhood: sour milk, fresh bread, and peanut butter.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered, “be weeping on the step, next thing.” He hammered at the door, and a huge dog came galloping round the corner of the house, baying like the bloody hound of the Baskervilles. It slid to a stop in front of him but went on barking, weaving its huge head to and fro like a snake, ears cocked in case he might make a false move that would let it devour him with a clear conscience.
He wasn’t risking any moves; he’d plastered himself against the door when the dog appeared, and now shouted, “Help! Come call your beast!”
He heard footsteps within, and an instant later, the door opened, nearly decanting him into the hall.
“Hauld your wheesht, dog,” a dark man said, in a tolerant tone. “Come in, sir, and dinna be minding him. He wouldna eat you; he’s had his dinner.”
“I’m pleased to hear it, sir, and thank ye kindly.” Roger pulled off his hat and followed the man into the shadows of the hall. It was his own familiar hall, the slates of the floor just the same, though not nearly as worn, the dark wood paneling shining with beeswax and polishing. There was a halltree in the corner, though of course different to his; this one was a sturdy affair of wrought iron, and a good thing, too, as it was supporting a massive burden of jackets, shawls, cloaks and hats that would have crumpled a flimsier piece of furniture.
He smiled at it, nonetheless, and then stopped dead, feeling as though he’d been punched in the chest.
The wood paneling behind the halltree shone serene, unblemished. No sign of the saber-slashes left by frustrated redcoat soldiers, searching for the outlawed laird of Lallybroch after Culloden. Those slashes had been carefully preserved for centuries, were still there, darkened by age but still distinct, when he had owned—would own, he corrected mechanically—this place.
“We keep it so for the children,” Bree had quoted her uncle Ian as saying. “We tell them, ‘This is what the English are.””
He had no time to deal with the shock; the dark man had shut the door with a firm Gaelic adjuration to the dog, and now turned to him, smiling.
“Welcome, sir. Ye’ll sup wi’ us? The lass has it nearly ready.”
“Aye, I will, and thanks to ye,” Roger bowed slightly, groping for his 18th-century manners. “I—my name is Roger MacKenzie. Of Lochalsh,” he added, for no respectable man would omit to note his origins, and Lochalsh was far enough away that the chances of this man—who was he? He hadn’t the bearing of a servant—knowing its inhabitants in any detail was remote.
He’d hoped that the immediate response would be, “MacKenzie? Why, you must be the father of wee Jem!” It wasn’t, though; the man returned his bow and offered his hand.
“Brian Fraser of Lallybroch, your servant, sir.”
[end section]
That’s it?!
Ye are a wee, wicked woman, Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins…….wicked.
The sun has finaly come out in hurricane ravaged NJ and I can breathe easier. But now I’m anxious over Rogers predicament. I am a big fan of Rodger; Oh, please, please, be easy on him and get him back to his family!
Woohoo! So glad you’ll be in Decatur! I’m planning to be at Dragon*Con Saturday night (you convinced me to go and now I’ve got friends joining me to boost my bravery) but if the crowds are too bad to meet you on Saturday night (or if I cannot last that long after a full day), it’s so good to know I can catch you in a more intimate, less-crazy setting the next day! I’m thrilled and really looking forward to this weekend!
Amy in Atlanta
So, I was in Barnes and Noble today, looking over the Bargain Books, and found “How the Scots Invented the Modern World” by Arthur Herman. So, having read this blog, I of course, had to buy it. Anyway, just wanted to let you know, I know you didn’t make it up.
WWWOOOOWWWW!!! Totally blew my socks off Diana! When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? When is Book Eight released? Lol just. can’t. wait.
I couldn’t sleep last night after reading this, not a good thing with a newborn baby! =) If Roger feels compelled to change anything in the future (his past) please let it be to have his beautiful singing voice back. Please, please, pretty please!
Danger doesn’t even begin to describe his situation, he has the potential to delete his whole family. As for Buck, I assume he is either dead as per his family chart, or he has landed in his own time as he would have tunnelled towards Morag.
Ohmygosh !! goosebumps all over.
Ohmygosh !! Goosebumps all over !
I haven’t thought much about reading for months. Last night, like a flash of light – BAM! I remembered…..When is # 8 coming out? So there’s some time to pass here…I’m gonna read your Lord John series!. Thank you for the excerpt and thank you for taking the time to make your books so incredible
(But I really don’t want to wait..pout pout.)
I’ve spent my first summer as a newly retired teacher reading and re- reading the entire series (3rd time around) and because I could not stand the thought of having no Gabaldon to read, I read all the Lord John’s too. How will I make it till book 8 comes out? I just know Roger is about to meet young Jamie if “the lass” is making dinner! How will Roger move ahead to get to the right time? aaaaaagggghhhhh! Please take pity on us poor readers and hurry!
Ahhhhhh! You did it again, I gasped out loud. Holy Crap it’s Brian!!!! And will it be Jamie and Jenny there or Ellen??
Love, love, love it!!!!
Lisa
DIANA!!! I didn’t see this S/L coming. But when the panel was unblemished, my mouth fell open and stayed that way through the end of the read. I couldn’t wait before (heck, I never could!), but this will be simply amazing. Black Brian and Ellen…are you practicing for your prequel? Please stay home and write, as you are killing me. Love from Tucson.
Holy Smokes! Don’t tell me he just met Jamie’s father?! Well, now I’m going to worry about whether Roger can make it back to Brianna! Oh, the waiting….
THANK YOU !!!!
That is an excellent twist. LOVED IT!!!
All the implications, he could meet Jamie as a child or even just before he is taken by the English. And Brian dies watching Jamie while he is flogged.
Holy Cow the possibilities are amazing. I can not wait to read the book.
Not to rush you or anything but, write, write, write…
Ok. I’m beginning to understand why you wear long large sleeves. You have so many tricks hidden in them.
Great to know the anticipation is going to be worth it.
Thanks so much for the excerpt! Looking forward to seeing you at Dragon Con next Saturday. I am now kicking myself that I didn’t book a later flight on Sunday as I am staying with a friend in Decatur. ARGH!
I just finished listening to ALL of the unabridged versions (took about 2 months!!) and came here to see if there was news of the 8th book…the excerpt is a wonderful tease!!! Could this possibly mean the next is coming soon????
I can imagine this as a difficult time for Roger…knowing what he does…if he tells ANYTHING, this could change EVERYTHING!
Weren’t they wonderful?? I’ve listened to them 3 times! I can’t wait til the 8th book comes out!!
Wow it’s great to know I’m not the only one going crazy and trying to fill my life with great reads or inspiring literary entertainment. After reading the series and the companion books three times. I have no other choice but to fill my void with the audio books.OK I confess, I’ve actually read Outlander 4 times. But now I’ve moved on to my First audio book!!!( I’m an avid reader but nothing is satisfying my thirst but Diana and her marvelous books)Never thought I’d like an audio book but I MUST GET MY Jaimie, Claire, Roger, Brianna fix. OK mainly Jaimie and Roger but God I’ve turned into a junkee. Look at me it’s nearly midnight and I’m searching this website for any scrap of wonderful info on the next book.
Your miserable devoted fan!! Can’t wait for your next book!!!You really are Brilliant!!
Gee whiz, and I thgohut this would be hard to find out.
Oh Yes! The Davina Porter’s narrations are wonderful aren’t they. I never thought that I would like the audio book format, but now I am hooked, often until the wee small hours of the morning. I cannot imagine any other ‘voice’ for Claire, Jamie, Lord John, Ian, Jenny, et al…..
Anyone out there who hasn’t added the extra facet audio books to their Diana Gabaldon library, be advised you don’t know what you are missing…..
Warmest regards from
Antipodean Janet
Davina Porter is the Goddess of narration, not just for Diana’s books but all the books she narrates! We are blessed to have her bring Outlander to life! 8>D
Ah, anticipation. We can stand the wait. Good wine or whiskey, or a good story, is worth the wait and takes a while to brew. So, 200 years give or take a few is not so certain. Reuniting Roger’s family just became even more difficult. Imagine his horror at that thought.