I got the following message from the Poisoned Pen late this afternoon (the 13th):
“We’ve looked at the influx of new orders and even with working in double shifts
I see no way we can accept any more orders for Christmas delivery.
I’d rather be up front than make your fans angry by creating an expectation
we can’t meet.
If you agree, then would you change your website to make the cutoff date midnight
tonight for Christmas, but assure them they can continue to order any of your books
for delivery soon after the holidays.
Will will note this information on the auto response the system generates to those
placing orders, so they will get it from us as well as on your site.
We’ve got over 500 to process with more coming in by the hour and realistically
we can’t ship more than 100 a day, regardless of when the shipping systems shut
down. We’re going to end up shipping some on Monday and eating the extra priority
expense ourselves in our best effort to get orders in place to their destinations.”
[me again]
I’ll be going into the store on Thursday to sign books–and will do more early next week. So you _will_ get your signed/inscribed books, even if not by the 25th. Thought of giving a signed book as a New Year’s gift? Ground Hog’s Day, or Valentine’s?
Our apologies, and we hope you’ll enjoy the book(s), as soon as can get them to you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, a Jolly Kwanzaa, and a Blessed Winter Solstice to you all!
Of course, Doctor Gabaldon, if you receive this e-mail, it is because I have read all of your Outlander’s book and the Lord John series as well, many times over ! You will have notice by now that my first language is French, so please be patient with me.
I have a question that you may have answered already in you books but obviously, I mist it. So, there it is : In your book ¨The Fiery Cross¨, chapter 48, entitled ¨Strangers in the Night ¨ there is a mysterious man that is titillating the feet ( and more ) of Claire … Suddenly, Claire doubts that it might be somebody other than Jamie and she jerk’s away and he leaves abruptly. Who is this mysterious man ? Will we finally know who it is in your next book ?
Your last Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner is captivating, to say the least. All your books are a discovery of the 18th century period; we learn to appreciate the way people lived during this time, the hardship they had to endure. We learn the medicine by plants, how women were perceived ant treated. You have the ability to balance seriousness, gaiety, pain, humor and a panoply of other emotions, as well.
Thank you very much for the gift you give me and the other readers by writing your books.
My best wishes for the Holiday Season are with you and your family.
Danièle de Maisonneuve.
Dear Daniele–
That’s Jamie. {g} After all, she meets him immediately afterward, drunk on the stairs.
–Diana
Well…that’s a relief! Always thought it might of been Philip Wylie…little twerp!
I am really missing the Daily Lines…Why isn’t Twitter letting you post? I know that they are on Facebook…but alas I’m not…missing my daily dose…(-:
Finished Scottish Prisoner last night…enjoyed it very much. I was pleased to find out the back story about Isobel, and how Lord John made that leap…for her sake, as well as William and Jamie’s.
Wanted to wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas, and New Year! You give us all so much all year long, in escape and unabashed…fun! Hope you relax and enjoy the success of the new book over the holidays!
Iseabail
I’m so relieved too, and thank you to Danielle for asking.
Iseabail, I thought from the smell of powdered hair that it was Phillip Wylie too.
Ms. Gabaldon:
I am so grateful for these books and your creativity. This is the truth, I was absolutely not a reader until my sister introduced me to your books. Now I can not get enough. I wish you and your entire team continued success in your endeavors and a very happy holiday season.
Michele
Dear Michele–
But all the ladies in the room with Claire would have been wearing rice powder during the day/evening, too.
–Diana
Whew!
Ground Hog’s Day! What a novel idea… My husband and I celebrate this understated holiday every year (stemming from many years ago when he gave me a beautiful bracelet (for no reason) on Groundhog’s Day) Since then..this has been our Valentine’s Day….and we don’t have to share it with all the other romantics. I think I may drop the hint for my gift this year! Thank you Diana! Can’t wait to read all of your books. I am on my second reading of the Outlander series :O)
Yes…but when someone places an order on December 4, and the Poisoned Pen website indicates that signed copies are in stock, one would expect to receive their shipment in plenty of time for Christmas. I called the store this past Monday, and was told my copies would be sent to me the next morning. Then yesterday I get e-mail saying I’m out of luck. While I understand the overwhelming popularity, don’t tell your customers one thing and then do something completely different.
I’ll have to buy them elsewhere, unsigned. Sigh…
Did you call them after you got the email? They really are very helpful. I ordered mine on the 4th as well and mine JUST arrived today.
Good Luck, I hope you are able to work it out!
Trina
Dear David,
We got your email and I answered you personally on Friday Dec. 16. Please check your email regarding your concerns.
Thank you.
Susan H.E.
(Diana’s assistant)
Diana,
I just finished the Scottish Prisoner and it was superb. Loved the info about Hal and Minnie.
I thought the scenes between Hal and Jamie very interesting. I’m glad Lord John discovered
William’s parentage the way he did. I think this was the BEST of Lord John’s books, probably because
of Jamie’s presence. I really didn’t want it to end. I miss Jamie and Claire so much. Every time
Jamie prayed for her and the babe, I thought, just wait Jamie. Boy, will you be surprised.
I got my copy of the 20th anniv. Outlander as soon as it was published. It’s a beautiful book
and of course I read it as soon as I got it. 2013 seems very far away.
I now have all your books on my Nookcolor, so they’re always at my fingertips, in addition
to MOHB, I’m looking forward to the new Outlandish Companion. Diana, you are an extraordinary
writer. I told my sister if you ever wrote the phone book, I’d read it from cover to cover.
Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
mikie
Diana,
Glad to know the mysterious man was Jamie, but I always wondered how he could find her in such a dark room. Perhaps she told him where she slept?
I have loved every book in all of your series. Every time a new one is released I go back and re-read EVERYTHING before I can bring myself to open the new one (which generally means I don’t sleep for a couple weeks!). Thanks so much for the wonderful story and all of the intertwining books. Can’t wait to read them all again with the release of the new one!
I’m impressed that it takes a couple of weeks for you to read the whole series! I just finished doing that before SP came out and it took me a whole 7 months! About a book a month. But then I only read them at night at bedtime!
I think Hogmanay would be the perfect day to get a Diana Galbaldon book!
Diana,
I too have the new book in my house as a Christmas Present for my mother, and am dying to read it! I just wanted to send a special Thank You for taking the time to inscribe it for me. I know it will make an extra special gift for my mom. The series is one of the best I have ever read, and we have passed it along to all of the women in the family. I can’t wait until my three daughters are old enough to join in on the journey.
Thank you again!
- Kim
I love your books, have every one on kindle. I’m enjoying reading the 20th anniversary edition of Outlander, it’s such a thrill to have an autographed copy. There’s just something about having the book in my hands. Any chance there’s a 20th anniversary edition of Dragonfly in Amber in our future?
I find myself going through Jamie and Claire withdrawals! I hadn’t read since high school (about 16 years). Last Christmas I found myself reading the Harry Potter series. Then at the beginning of summer a friend suggested the Twilight series. Another friend said if you liked Twilight you’ll love the Outlander. Read all seven in one month. I have even gotten a bunch of my clients in my salon to start reading them. I think I’ve started my own Outlander book club!
Although I like the Lord John series they’re just not the same. Since finding out that I actually enjoy reading I have read close to 90 books this year. But nothing compares to the story of Jamie and Claire. I don’t know if I can wait another year. Probably going to have to read them again and again.
It is wonderful to see such a response for your writing! Please take time to enjoy the holidays yourself! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Diana,
Just finished SP today and enjoyed every minute of reconnecting with Jamie and John! Completely enjoyed the little surprise excerpts at the end…more reasons we need 8 in our hands! lol
Congrats on your great sucess and heres to many more in 2012!
Got my sisters birthday book in the mail on Thursday!!! I am going to be her favourite sibling for getting it signed by you!!!
but then again now we are even as she is the one who got me started on your books so without her i could still be missing out!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS DIANA!
I thought I read sometime that you wrote a novella about Rodger’s parents. If so what is it published as? I just finished Echo in the Bone for the second time and I am very interested it what happened to his father. Also, of course, I can not wait to read the last book in the series! Have you read the Sara Donati books? I’m sure you know Ian is featured here in.
thanks, korah
Dear Korah—
Roger’s parents’ story is “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows,” and it’s a short story (more or less {g}) in an anthology titled SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH. Edited by George RR Martin and Gardner Dozois. Hope you enjoy it!
–Diana
Oh I can highly recommend everyone to purchase SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH just for “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” though many of the other stories were delightful too, I did buy it for Roger’s parents story and OMG! I just fell in love with them both and enjoyed the painful journey they were on, right until that very end moment and even though I knew that it wasn’t ever going to change differently (other than getting a little bit more than I expected), I was just heart broken at the end … everyone, treat yourself and read this little treasure!
I read when watching TV and my attention was immediately caught by the ad (which I saw twice) yesterday for Scottish Prisoner! Ads don’t usually get noticed by me and I was so surprised. One question that I do have – Are Dragonfly and Voyager in hardback? I would love to add them to my bookshelf if they do.
I bought my hardbacks on e-bay and amazon. But I wanted the jewel-toned covers, so I had to ask many sellers what cover style they were selling before purchasing. But other than the poisoned pen, that is the only option I know of to buy the hardbacks–unless you have a used bookstore around! Good luck!
Dear Diana
When this new book in Spanis?
Besoss
Patricia
Diana,
My husband bought me a copy of the 20th anniversary “Outlander” for my birthday, and you inscribed it to me. It was one of the best birthday presents I have ever received, and I was jumping up-and-down excited. (This from a person who doesn’t really show enthusiasm while opening gifts.) He then told me of the process of obtaining the personalization, and he said that the people at the poisoned pen were very friendly and helpful. My birthday was Tuesday and the book arrived at my mother-in-law’s house on Saturday, just like they told him it would!
It’s great that the poisoned pen can offer this, that you go in and inscribe books for your fans. And no matter how overwhelmed the people at the store may be, it truly is a wonderful thing that they are.
Thanks again!
I received my signed copy of The Scottish Prisoner for Christmas. You inscribed it with a Gaelic word, but I can’t find the translation for it. Help! I’m not sure hot to spell it so that has made the search even harder. It looks like the word is spelled Liveas. Is that even close?? I’ve looked through every online Gaelic dictionary and scoured through The Outlandish Companion without luck.
Dear Erin–
That’s “Le meas!” {g} It means “With respect” (or “Best wishes,”) in Gaelic. Merry Christmas! (Nollaig Chridheil!)
–Diana
Thank you!!
Merry Christmas!
Erin