Which is….
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD
(I still want an octopus on the cover, but we’ll deal with that later.)
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Now home from DragonCon!! Had a good time, but good to be back. Further info on title, pursuant to questions:
Y’all are assuming I _know_ everything about that title, which is not the case. {g} I do know a _few_ things, though:
First off, it has to do with the printing trade, the written word, and its effect on the American Revolution (and the effect of the Revolution on the printers and writers, for that matter). That’s why it specifically needs the “written with…”–
Though that part has also to do with Roger, but I’m not going to tell you why.
And as I said (I think) earlier, it has to do with the Gaelic term “A chuisle,” meaning, “my heart’s blood”–to refer to a beloved child. (You recall that Jamie uses it of his adopted grandchildren as well as those who really _are_ of his physical blood.) Ergo, possibly—you think?–to do with family relationships, of which there are One Heck of a Lot in this book.
I can’t think why some folk assume there’s anything ominous about the title. It just means that something’s done–e.g., written–with passion, not that someone’s stabbing themselves in the chest with a quill and going GAK! on their desk. Have we never heard of imagery or metaphor, for heaven’s sake?
And no, it certainly doesn’t give any intimation that this is the last book. What about it sounds like “THIS IS THE END?” IF it should turn out to be the last book, I’d tell you straight out. At the moment, I’m thinking the odds are against it being the final one, but I won’t know that for a few months yet.
As for the person who thought someone was going to die in this book….well, I can give you pretty good odds on that one. I’ve never written a book that didn’t have anybody dying in it. (And fwiw, Jamie’s _been_ dead for at last part of every single book in the series. It isn’t necessarily fatal, you know. {g})
And as for not sounding like the other books in the series–it has the same number of words, the same number of syllables, and the same rhythm as A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. Most of the books are paired, in terms of title structure: OUTLANDER/VOYAGER, DRAGONFLY IN AMBER/DRUMS OF AUTUMN, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES/WRITTEN WITH MY HEART’S OWN BLOOD (I’m leaning toward “Heart’s Own,” if only because “HOB” is easier to pronounce). Only THE FIERY CROSS and AN ECHO IN THE BONE are unlike the others. (I didn’t do this on purpose, btw, with the exception of DRUMS OF AUTUMN–that one _was_ chosen specifically to echo DRAGONFLY (and is subsequently the weakest title of the bunch).)
I am one of those folks who really like to know what’s going to happen and so I have allowed myself to read the spoiler from book eight.Following on the heals of “A leaf on the wind of All Hallows Eve” I can hardly wait for book eight to come out!!My imagination is running wild with all the possibilities for the characters.
As far as major characters dying they can live forever as long as the author’s imagination can keep them alive and travelling through time. I suppose they can live until we find out just what that ghost of a Highlander was looking for under Claire’s window in Outlander!
I Know….right?
Argh! 2013? Diana, some of your readers aren’t exactly spring chickens. If there are two more books, you might have to send #nine to me in the spirit world. It’s unthinkable to leave this earth without knowing what happens to all those fictional folk you made so dear to us.
Jamie (for real), just wait. The best is yet to come!
Guys— When Claire is combing her hair and Jamie’s ‘ghost’ is looking at her through the window, Claire and Frank are on their second honeymoon in Scotland before she goes through the stones the first time—that’s what I read anyway!! He’s a ghost because he’s been dead for 200 years!
I love the new title. I think it’s very romantic.
If any of you that re-read multiple times have not tried the audiobook version, you are missing out. Davina Porter does an excellent job narrating the first seven. I go to bed with the voices of Jamie, Claire, Bree and the rest in my head. She also does an excellent job with the gaelic.
Yes I must agree with Karen.
I too, am a multiple re-reader tragic, and am now spell-bound by the audio books.
The Davina Porter narrated ‘Outlander’ series audio books are absolutely marvelous.
Impatient at how long it would take for a hard copy version of ‘Warriors’ an anthology to arrive with the latest Lord John short story, I purchased and downloaded the audio version of ”Warriors’ – with narration by Patrick Lawler, and was very disappointed to hear Lord John Gray speak with an American accent.
Nothing wrong with an American accent, just that it doesn’t belong to a British Lord. It just killed his ‘character’ as far as I was concerned and distracted from Diana’s excellent story.
I shall look forward to reading the story once my paper version arrives and adding my own voice to Lord John.
I appreciate that it must be difficult for Diana as an author with a short story in an anthology to dictate who narrates her characters, but am hopeful that consideration might be given to future opportunities.
And no…. It doesn’t bother me in the least that the audio book voices I hear for Jamie, John, Rodger, Ian, et al all come from a woman, (Davina Porter).
Davina does an unbelievably good job in delivering the very essence of all Diana’s male characters.
Warmest regards from
Antipodean Janet
I totally agree – Davina Porter does an excellent job of all the voices (men and women) and all the dialects – listening to the books after reading the hard cover versions adds a new dimension to the story and heightens the enjoyment of Diana’s work. I highly recommend the audio versons for the re-reads.
Squee!!! CANNOT Wait! Especially with the way “Echo” ended–what about Jem?!
Ms. G. – Thank you so much for this blog. It would require many octopi to represent the lot of us addicts. I don’t look at much else in the way of blogs, and very rarely respond, but it’s so nice to know that you’re writing away, though having a bit of time out for a life now and then, but practically taking us with you, and nice to hear how things are going with our favorite Scot and his family, friends and even his less-than-nice fellow citizens. As we all sit and wait for Eight, now aka HOB, it’s consoling to know we’re all in it together.
Thanks for five years and three weeks of enjoyment – looking forward to as many more as your imagination and research can provide.
Love the symetry and metaphor and the way the words flow with An Echo In The Bone title! I also love seeing your thought process through this! I won’t read spoilers but this tidbit is enough to make me want to delve back into a reread of Jamie and Claire’s world! Looking forward to Scottish Prisoner!
Diana, do you realize just how OLD I’ll be before you write the whole series?? And I just can’t die till I read it all! My mother’s maiden name was Bemis, so it was with great interest (yes, she was of the Bemis’ from Bemis Heights) I read about the revolution in your books. Ya just can’t escape your relatives! A confirmed Diana Addict.
when i first heard the book 8 probable title, i thought it was a bit cumbersome to say…(i still do!)…what about ‘written with my heart’s blood’ as you,(DB), states “A chuisle” means…my first thought about the meaning of the title was the letters clair and jamie wrote to bri and roger…and then my second thought went to the printing press and what troubles jamie would be getting himself into…and about that octopus, they also have ink but seem to waste it in the ocean instead of on paper…! DB please hurry with HOB as I along with so many others are anxious as to the plight of our favorite, and not so favorite, characters…
Love the title of book 8!!! Thank you for giving us these characters to love, to hate, to cry for, to laugh with and to feel heart break with. The history lesson you give us in every book is invaluable. My life is forever changed knowing these characters and I thank you endlessly for that! Looking forward to “WRITTEN WITH MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD”!!! I know it will be well worth the wait
Thank you for all your hard work!
~Corrie B.
Diana, this is not about the Outlander Series. Your writing is number 1. This is about a possible other series for you. Please don’t stop reading just yet. Jane Mason was born 1769 near Alexandria, Virginia. The same area where George Mason, signer of of the Declaration of Independence. Jane was doctoring at age 12 and was a doctor by 16. The story goes on from here. Please Google “Jane Mason Jeffery” , you will not be disapointed. The reason I know Jane Mason Jeffery so well is that she is my ggggggrandmother. This is a fascinating pioneering family and we have tons of recorded history. From Virginia to settling the White River Valley with much in between and after.
Diana
Love the title…either way … I just want the story! Thank you for writing a book that I use to measure all other books by! I have become the Outlander pusher…all my friends are now addicted to the series also…LOL I also love the audio books with Davina Porter, I commute 1 hour each way to work, and they help make that time bearable!
Did I read in your blog that you were in Scotland on Loch Ness in July? Okay, gotta do a fan freak-out here…I was there also at the same time….on Loch Ness on the 19th….! It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know you were there in the land of Jamie & Claire…I am sure I would have stalked you! LOL JK
I found myself in Inverness looking for the B&B that Claire & Frank stayed in, on the banks of the Loch Ness wondering if that was where Claire saw the wee monster…. LOL Do I sound like an obsessed fan? Oh, it is a beautiful country, and your story does get the feel of it- does that make sense?
Anyway – thank you for writing such great books! And one day I will finally get you to sign my copy of Outlander!
AlysL
Intriguing title! Any sort of (ballpark) estimate when it will be out? Looking forward to it.
I’ve got to be honest, when I first read the title my first thought was ‘um…ok’. I was a little underwhelmed. So I’ve been rolling the title around inside my head for a while, and surprisingly, and almost against my own will, I like it. It’s a grower! I shouldn’t be surprised, I’ve loved every word Diana has written so far, so why the title took me so long to appreciate I have no idea. I can only apologise for my own literary inadequacies and pray for forgiveness from the great Gabaldon!
I love the title and agree that Drums of Autumn was the weakest title in the series. Have you thought about what you would retitle it if you could?
Diana,
I am ecstatically anticipating the arrival of the new book! I have read the excerpts (I couldn’t help it!) and can’t help but wonder what new adventures await our heroes!
And don’t listen to anyone who has issues with the title!
*to all* It’s her book! Duh!
Thank you for all you do!
Diana,
I just can’t get enough of this series !! It is so exciting to know the new one is not that far away and now has a title. All the characters become a part of you and you wait with anticipation as to their fate. It’s certainly been a glorious ride and glad to see it continue. The last one brought a bit of home to me with Ft Ticonderoga and Saratoga in it as I live just west of Saratoga and have been to the battle field and glad that you did visit. I’ll have to go back to the Lord Jon series to tied me over until the new one arrives. Thanks so much for your great vision and talent as a writer.
I’m bummed that the book wil not be finished to the end of next year! I guess I’ll have to reread the books. Btw- I like love the title! To me, it sets the precedent for Jamie and Claire’s relationship! How will it evolve now that Jaime is aware of about her dealings with Lord John. ummmm, looking forward to it!
2013? Sigh……..i had my hopes on 2012.
I guess I should start off by saying how much I really enjoy your books and your writing style. But, I feel that the new title is a bit…awkward. It just doesn’t seems to roll off the tongue as well as expected from your previous titles. It’s your book and obviously you can name it whatever you please, but I thought I’d give you my honest opinion. Regardless of whatever title it ends up with, I am sure I will love book 8 since I have loved the previous 7 and reread them many times. Thank you for your excellent work and I hope to soon be reading book 8.
Dear Valeska–
Well, you know–live with it awhile. It may grow on you. {g}
–Diana
Not only does the title bring on so many thoughts and ideas to my mind but the fact that it will be graced by an Octopus says to me its going to be a book with many directions! I cannot wait!!!
AWESOME title! Sounds like book #8 will be very exciting and filled with more intrigue! Can’t wait for publication!