The State of the Wicket – February
Now, we’ve been getting a lot of mail, Facebook comments, tweets, and so on, asking about the status of Book Eight, the short stories, etc. So I thought I’d give you a quick run-down of what-all I’ve been doing, where it all is at the moment, a short peek at everything, and—most importantly [g]—when things will be published.
For starters, I’m very pleased to announce that The Scottish Prisoner was released on November 29th, 2011. This release also includes a “teaser” chunk from Written in My Own Heart’s Blood (aka Book Eight, or MOHB (aka “Moby,” which is how I refer to it for convenience. I don’t _think_ it will be white, but it will certainly be a whale of a book [cough]). The teaser includes several scenes about different characters.
Now, I do normally work on multiple projects at once; it keeps me from getting writer’s block, and makes me generally more productive. I also think it’s entertaining to write the occasional short piece (novella or short story) that fills in a missing part of someone’s story and/or provides more depth to the overall tale.
The most recent of these short pieces to be published was “Lord John and the Plague of Zombies,” which was published last October—and which gratified me extremely by recently being nominated for an Edgar Award (for best mystery short story of the year—though it’s not all that short, really…)—in an anthology titled DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS. The anthology is edited by George RR Martin and Gardner Dozois. http://tinyurl.com/Plague-Zombies
I’m presently writing a short story for another anthology (this one titled DANGEROUS WOMEN)—the story is called “Virgins,” and is about Jamie and his not-yet-brother-in-law Ian, as very young mercenaries in France. I don’t have a pub date for this anthology yet, but expect it will be out sometime later this year. I do post occasional brief snippets from “Virgins” (as well as other works-in-progress) on my Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/AuthorDianaGabaldon.
OK– on to Book Eight, which is probably what most people want to know about.
1) WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD is the eighth volume in the main Outlander series. (It’s the sequel to AN ECHO IN THE BONE, where allll the cliffhangers will be picked up. [g])
2) I don’t know yet if WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD is the last book in this series!!
3) I am still writing WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD!!!
A) I hasten to say that most of the mail I get is wonderful, and Much Appreciated! However, I do get a small amount of idiotic email accusing me of having already finished the book, but “hiding” it from the readers, or keeping it off the market “just to be mean” or (of all insane notions) “to drive the price up.” (It ain’t pork bellies, people; the cover price is the same whenever it comes out, and I don’t set it.) I don’t mean to be impolite here, but…geez, guys.
i) Look. Books are
a) written in order to be read, and
b) published in order to make money.
ii) Publishers do not make money from books that are not in bookstores. Ergo….
iii) Publishers want to sell books as soon as the books are ready.
iv) So do authors. What do you think I live on, while I’m supposedly keeping a book off the market to be mean? And why do you think I’d want to be mean to the people who read my books? Sheesh.
4) Right. Now, I hope to finish writing the book around the end of this year.
OK, pay close attention now….
5) The book will not—repeat not—REPEAT NOT!!!—be published on December 31st, even if I finish writing it on December 30th. Why not? Well, because…
A) Books don’t go directly from the author to the bookstore.
B) Books go from the author to the Editor, who
i) reads the manuscript
ii) discusses the manuscript with the author, and
iii) suggests minor revisions that may improve the book
C) The book goes back to the author, who
i) re-reads the manuscript
ii) considers the editor’s comments, and
iii) makes whatever revisions, emendments, or clarifications seem right.
D) The book goes back to the editor, who
i) reads it again
ii) asks any questions that seem necessary, and
iii) sends it to
E) The copy-editor. This is a person whose thankless job is to
i) read the manuscript one…word…at…a…time
ii) find typos or errors in grammar, punctuation, or continuity (one heck of a job, considering the size not only of the individual books, but of the overall series), and
iii) write queries to the author regarding anything questionable, whereupon
F) The book comes back to the author—yes, again—who
i) re-reads the manuscript
ii) answers the copy-editor’s queries, and
iii) alters anything that the copy-editor has changed that the author disagrees with. After which, the author sends it back to
G) The editor—yes, again!—who
i) re-re-reads it
ii) checks that all the copy-editor’s queries have been answered, and sends it to
H) The Typesetter, who sets the manuscript in type, according to the format laid out by
I) The Book-Designer, who
i) decides on the layout of the pages (margins, gutters, headers or footers, page number placement)
ii) chooses a suitable and attractive typeface
iii) decides on the size of the font
iv) chooses or commissions any incidental artwork (endpapers, maps, dingbats—these are the little gizmos that divide chunks of text, but that aren’t chapter or section headings)
v) Designs chapter and Section headings, with artwork, and consults with the
J) Cover Artist, who (reasonably enough) designs or draws or paints or Photo-Shops the cover art, which is then sent to
K) The Printer, who prints the dust-jackets–which include not only the cover art and the author’s photograph and bio, but also “flap copy,” which may be written by either the editor or the author, but is then usually messed about with by
L) The Marketing Department, whose thankless task is to try to figure out how best to sell a book that can’t reasonably be described in terms of any known genre [g], to which end, they
i) try to provide seductive and appealing cover copy to the book
ii) compose advertisements for the book
iii) decide where such advertisements might be most effective (periodicals, newspapers, book-review sections, radio, TV, Facebook, Web)
iv) try to think up novel and entertaining means of promotion, such as having the author appear on Second Life to do a virtual reading, or sending copies of the book to the armed troops in Iraq, or booking the author to appear on Martha Stewart or Emiril Lagasse’s cooking show to demonstrate recipes for unusual foods mentioned in the book.
vi) kill a pigeon in Times Square and examine the entrails in order to determine the most advantageous publishing date for the book.
M) OK. The manuscript itself comes back from the typesetter, is looked at (again) by the editor, and sent back to the author (again! As my husband says, “to a writer, ‘finished’ is a relative concept.”), who anxiously proof-reads the galleys (these are the typeset sheets of the book; they look just like the printed book’s pages, but are not bound), because this is the very last chance to change anything. Meanwhile
N) A number of copies of the galley-proofs are bound—in very cheap plain covers—and sent to
O) The Reviewers. i.e., the bound galleys are sent (by the marketing people, the editor, and/or the author) to the book editors of all major newspapers and periodicals, and to any specialty publication to whom this book might possibly appeal, in hopes of getting preliminary reviews, from which cover quotes can be culled, and/or drumming up name recognition and excitement prior to publication. Frankly, they don’t always bother with this step with my books, because they are in a rush to get them into the bookstores, and it takes several months’ lead-time to get reviews sufficiently prior to publication that they can be quoted on the cover.
P) With luck, the author finds 99.99% of all errors in the galleys (you’re never going to find all of them; the process is asymptotic), and returns the corrected manuscript (for the last time, [pant, puff, gasp, wheeze]) to the editor, who sends it to
(1. The ebook coding happens somewhere in here.)
Q) The Printer, who prints lots of copies (“the print-run” means how many copies) of the “guts” of the book—the actual inside text. These are then shipped to
R) The Bindery, where the guts are bound into their covers, equipped with dust-jackets, and shipped to
S) The Distributors. There are a number of companies—Ingram, and Baker and Taylor, are the largest, but there are a number of smaller ones—whose business is shipping, distributing, and warehousing books. The publisher also ships directly to
T) The Bookstores, but bookstores can only house a limited number of books. Therefore, they draw on distributors’ warehouses to resupply a title that’s selling briskly, because it takes much longer to order directly from the publisher. And at this point, [sigh]…the book finally reaches
U) You, the reader.
And we do hope you like it when you get it—because we sure-God went to a lot of trouble to make it for you. [g]
6) As it happens, Random House (who publishes my books in the US and Canada) prefers to publish my titles in the Fall quarter (between September 1 and December 31). That’s because this is traditionally the biggest sales period in the year, what with the run-up to Christmas, and therefore all the publishers normally release their “big” titles in the Fall. I’m flattered to be among them.
However, if I do finish the manuscript around the end of this year, Random House (and the UK publisher, Orion, and the German publisher, Blanvalet) _may_ decide to release the book earlier in 2013. They probably won’t set a pub date until I deliver the manuscript—which I _HOPE_ (no guarantees, mind you. Stuff Happens) to finish by the end of 2012.
(The other foreign editions—I think we’re now up to 29 countries, including Israel, Croatia, Russia, Greece, and Korea, which is pretty cool—will be out whenever their respective editors and translators finish their production processes, but I’m afraid I can’t predict that at all.)
So—that’s why the English and German-speaking readers will almost certainly get Written in My Own Heart’s Blood _sometime_ in 2013.
When I have a specific publication date, rest assured—I’ll tell you. (Webmaster’s note: WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD has an official publisher release date of June 10, 2014.)
[Amended to add that the photo above is of me sitting down to a well-earned glass of wine at the end of all this...no, really, it's of me at a dinner at Culloden House last summer. Thanks to Judy Lowstuter, who took it!]
Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for. Relax people and let the lady do her job her way. Her Book, Her way.
Thanks Diana for the wonderful adventures over the years, and yes , I ‘ll wait patiently for book 8.
Wow that is quite the going back and forth! I hope someplace in that list we add the audio version. I look forward to whenever it come out. No pressure
Donna
I will have to wait for the audio as well, I listen while I drive and that is absolutely the best way to enjoy the books. My commutes are about an hour and a half each way, so it works for me. Besides, Davina Porter is just fabulous.
Dear Debra–
She is! So is Jeff Woodman, who read the Lord John part of the series.
–Diana
I love Jeff Woodman’s work.
I agree. Jeff Woodman has become Lord John’s voice-in-my-head.
I love your books and I love to quilt. Since I’ve read all the books I am now listening to the books while I quilt. I am getting a lot of quilts made this winter and really enjoying myself! Currently on Dragonfly in Amber. Davina Porter is wonderful.
I think that Davina Porter really brings this amazing masterpiece to life-and certainly because you don’t ever have to stop listening- the story can go with you anywhere and while doing almost anything – it is my preferred method of enjoyment. The Diana/Davina team is my absolute favorite. I am so excited to know what happens to everyone (these characters seem so real, I think about them and where we left off in Echo frequently) but I can’t read the excerpts because I would feel like I cheated, and I know that I can wait for the whole book to be ready…but it’s November of 2013 now…and I haven’t heard or seen anything yet…I was really hoping to get MOBY as a Chanukah gift this year. I think that usually the Audible version comes out at the same time as the hard copy, and I can’t imagine that the Diana/Davina combo will be broken, right?
Ok- I’ve got to start my apology by saying-in my own defense like- I had just returned from a flight (I’m a flight nurse) and it was 4:30 in the morning with NO sleep at all… And I realize now, after a full night’s sleep and my hubby’s loving (laughing out loud and poking me in the side repeatedly) encouragement that this year IS 2012 and the book is supposed to come out NEXT year… I am an such an idiot- although, I AM still interested in knowing if it will be Davina Porter reading the book?
Sorry, I shouldn’t be allowed Internet access after not sleeping!
Ditto! I do hope the book is the same size as others in series, though & not smaller like “Scottish Prisoner”. ( just a personal preference)
Dear Suzanne–
Well, SCOTTISH PRISONER is a different _kind_ of book. MOBY is one of the Big Books; it follows AN ECHO IN THE BONE, and looks like being fairly substantial. [g]
–Diana
I like that Scottish Prisoner is a different size – it’s fun to have something different. And I LOVED it! Now I want to read about John grey when he was younger.
I’m excited for MOBY because it’s hard to wait but I’m with you that you have to do what you have to do.
You don’t usually leave cliffhangers, let alone multiple ones, so we’re all a bit more anxious this time around.
Thanks for all your hard work and your wonderful imagination.
–Sue
I love hearing it is one of the “big books”!!
I love the size of the Scottish Prisoner. Fit in my hands well. Yet, glad to hear the next one will be one of the “big” ones. Think I am going to read the whole series yet again in preparation for the next one!
I’m dumbfounded that someone would take the time to write such sillly complaints.
But apparently someone has, and all I can say is shame on you…and consider taking some medication!
Look, it’s a book – a REAAALLY good book that I’m looking forward to with great anticipation, but a book none-the-less. There’s no need to get so wound up that you start insulting the author.
My two favorite Diana responses:
‘ it ain’t pork bellies, people!’
and
‘ (step) vi) kill a pigeon in Times Square in order to examine the entrails to determine the most advantageous publishing date for the book ‘
BwaaaHaHa!!
I, like so many others, patiently await M.O.B.Y !
I agree! I think it’s pathetic to complain like that. Get a life people and Diana, just do your thing! We love your work and it’s worth waiting!
the other good thing about the long wait: there’s plenty of time to reread the whole series!
I’m not patient at all! But I do understand and will wait until the process runs its course. Thanks for the insight, Diana.
Thank you! Just what I was about to say ..
Pressure wont help it! We should ALL wait patiently and be
happy – and – enjoy the Bits and pieces Diana ALLOWS us to Read!
She musnt do that, Know ?!
keep cool Lassies :-))
Thank you for sharing all the work that you do (and others do) behind the scenes. I’m thoroughly enjoying The Scottish Prisoner at the moment, in the few free moments I have to read for fun between life as a mother of two young children, working, going to school (taking my first history course – Canadian pre-confederation history), and volunteering. Thank you for sharing your fabulous stories with the world and I will gladly wait for book #8:)
Diana, I would venture to say that those few nitwits who caused you to write this blog entry are a small whiny group and NOT AT ALL indicative of your adoring fans, who are happy to get the books whenever they are ready; and probably ecstatic that Book 8
“may” not be the last book
Dear Dr. Gabaldon,
Thank you for the accurate, readable and coherent overview of the publishing industry – as a “retired” sales manager/rep, that’s the best I’ve seen.
There is one other step: the marketing/editors have to present the new books of the season to the sales representatives at a sales conference months and months before the publishing release date so that they can put in their two cents’ worth into the print run estimates and then dash off to the buyers of the major bookstore chains and key independent stores so that they, too, can schedule such a best seller in their inventory and promotion. A sure-to-be-successful book like “Moby” is Christmas all year for the sales grunts, but it does take some planning to make sure that enough books are in the right places – all on time.
]
[Imagine what it was like for the Harry Potter sales reps and The Veil of Secrecy before those books came out?
Your generosity by giving us a glimpse into your writing process is unique, and having mentioned it to an author the other day, we both agreed that it’s brave, too. What if you send something on Daily Lines and then want to change it after the editor sees it? It has to be done, and you risk sharp-eyed fans calling you on it!
You deserve all the wine you need. We look forward to “Moby” when you decide it’s good and ready.
Thank you,
Sarah
Dear Sarah–
Thanks! Both for all your hard work (and that of your fellow sales reps and managers), and for adding that valuable bit of insight into the publishing process! (I’ll add it, the next time I have to post this sort of piece. [g]).
As to the #DailyLines…nah, I’m not worried about that. I’ve _always_ (since before OUTLANDER was published) posted excerpts of what I was writing–it is, in fact, the _only_ effective way of selling books that can’t be described. [g] But it’s always been done with the understanding that this is work in progress–obviously, some details will change, and some things that are posted don’t end up in the next book (usually because they turn out to belong in the one after that…). Sometimes I don’t think something works where it is–or just have a better idea. I think that’s kind of the charm of doing #DailyLines–I’m exposing the readers not only to tantalizing glimpses of the story, but to glimpses of the process of writing it, too. And I will say they mostly seem to appreciate that.
–Diana
We do appreciate it…Tidbits every day! How do we get so lucky.
Thanks for all your story telling prowess. Love it!
Can’t believe anyone would ever complain!
Thanks for all your hard work…..I am sure it will be worth the wait. I just hope it is LONG, so I can make it last!
I agree with Sandra.. Everyone needs to chill out and leave Diana alone.. let her create her art.
Gives us all time to re-read the first 7 books anyway!
I have read them all at least once, some twice.
Love your style, here’s hoping Outlander goes for 9 or 10!
Just….Thank you for your wonderful stories. Honestly the most profoundly real fiction I have ever read and obviously the hell of a lot of work to bring to us.
i can only say that i waited for over 5 years for the sequel to the jean auel book-my mother and i debate this very issue and i know that even though it is hard to wait for the next book the longer we wait the better the book will be —-so i just do my yearly re-read of the series and fill in the gaps with any other good books i can find -im just thankful that such a good and fullfilling series of books is out there -thank you to diana for sharing her stories with us all-Sarah
Loved the Scottish Prisioner! It’s so nice to hear from all of these characters in between your books. I love the Outlander series and share them with anyone that will read one. Even my friends that don’t like to read, either read these or listen to them. You’re fabulous! I even like to read your blog. I read a TON and have my favorites,(all different genres), but you are my MOST favorite! Thanks for continuing Jamie & Claire’s story. And when they’re gone, continue on down the line. That could go forever you know! Can’t wait for the new one…whenever it comes out.
Stephanie
Patience! Why do you suppose we love these books so dearly?….because they aren’t rushed. They’re well thought out and the characters have hearts and souls. Never hurry your babies to grow up too fast, you’ll miss a lot if you do
Whatever you’ve been doing Diana, please continue
You said it Sandra! I also have patience for something so good. I rarely find missed spelling or other errors. Which has become more and more rare over the years.
Well said. Good things come to those who wait, and wait we must, so we might as well let Herself do her job as peaceably as possible. Om Mani Padme Om… Sending peaceful, calm, happy writing vibes your way!
I love this infomation entirely! I was laughing as I read it. Thank you Diana Gabaldon for taking the time to enlighten us as to how exactly these books end up in our hands. When I began reading this all I could think was “who says she is keeping the book from the very people who are buying it”. But of course, smart lady that you are, you addressed this very thing.
I for one can not wait to read the new one, but also understand the time and effort that each book must take. They are always worth waiting for!!
Thank you for keeping us all entertained for so many years!
Agreed!! Everything you explained -and WOW! by the way- is why I reread the series and wait patiently for the next installment. I am loving the daily lines on Facebook.
Thank you, Diana, for sharing your amazing gift with us.
I agree with Sandra… ( and throughly enjoyed your run-down of production and marketing- lol) I would rather the time be allowed for you to write as you like, so that we can enjoy all the magic of your writing wizardry vs having you under so much pressure to rush it out to the addicted (myself included). I will patiently wait, enjoying additional rounds of the early books and LJ series to keep my cravings at bay- So enjoy that well deserved glass of wine and write on, write on….:)
Thank you for the explanation. As a huge fan I am sorry there are crazy people out there. Don’t they understand before this process starts the words have to go from your head to pen to paper? If they want to be that dumb you don’t need them. For every one person there are 5 more lined up. You take your time. It’s your freakin book.
Diana:
Loved the Scottish Prisoner and how it filled in the gaps. Take your time with number 8, those of us that appreciate your stories and writing style are more than willing to wait. Hard to believe that when we lived in Flagstaff and attended your father’s Parrish that someday I would be so hooked on his daughter’s books. Now my 86 year old mother and 27 year old niece share the passion. Have a wonderful 2012.
Diana – I am tired just reading this blog post! You make it sound like writting the book is the easy part of this journey. I honestly don’t know how you put up with certain ‘idiotic’ questions all the time. I probably wouldn’t be so polite but I do love your #3, it gave me a giggle. Best of luck this year with your next steps into the world of Outlander.
T
HOLY COW!!! I’m exhausted just reading what all goes into this process. Thank you for spelling that out for us. And THANK YOU for the daily lines that keep me hanging on (instead of falling off) that cliff you left at the end of Echo.
“it ain’t porkbellies”
hahahahahahah Love it!!
HAHA!! Diana,well now, THAT makes it sound like very tedious process, indeed. Very Informative, that. WOW. Now, if someone still asks “when”…..which, they undoubtedly will…..you will know that there are people who claim to be avid readers but only really read the first and last sentence to save time. The same kind of people who think Jamie should have blond hair and brown eyes and be 5’6″!! Another problem, explaining this, (you will always miss one) which seems to be asymptotic!!
I am so excited for it though, whenever it happens!! You can’t rush these things!!
Bonnie
WOW…lots of back and forth! But, it’s always worth waiting for. Only thing I ask….please DON”T let MOHB be the last in the series. I just can’t bear the thought of the end…!
Ditto Ms. Sandra Barry’s comment up there! Your work is so good for a reason – you give it the attention it deserves. “Anticipation” seems to be a lost art, hmm?
Please don’t kill any pigeons on my account.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Tucson FOB next month!
Phew! I’m exhausted just reading this, and I’ve been working in various aspects of publishing seemingly forever, so I know how it works! I just finished rereading “An Echo in the Bone,” so the wait has been on my mind. It is well worth waiting for one of your books; I’ll be patient.
Anybody else dizzy just reading the back-and-forth process between author and editor? WHEW! I never knew it was so extensive. 100% worth it in the end for a well put-together novel, though! I’ll definitely appreciate books just a teensy bit more than I already do
While I was hoping to have my hands on MOHB by the end of 2012, I literally squeed for joy when you hinted it *might* not be the last in the series, after all. You write it; I’ll read it! That’s a promise.
I also agree with Sany Berry! Thank you for the description of the process!
Love that!
Don’t listen to those nuts out there Diana!
I thought I needed a life BUT GEE WHIZ!
I can be patient! BECAUSE…
That’s because a friend and I have decided to start saving for a little overnite vacation
to The Poisoned Pen’s MOBY book signing.
So besides the book to look forward to – I have a trip to plan!
I got to see you in Pasadena, CA for The Exiles book signing but she has not had the
opportunity.
You are just fantasic SO..
Just keep on Keeping on>>>>
“Sheesh” for sure, I really had not thought of all the processing a book as to go to before it it the shelves, it’s almost like a woman’s work, it’s never done. I also will wait patiently for book 8, and in the meantime I’m aquiring every anthology that your work appears in. These guys must be over the moon when you agree to contribute to their books. It’s bound to increase sales for them.
I also would beg, on bended knees if it may help, and believe me when I say that’s not that easy getting down there anymore…lol….please, PLEASE, PLEASE, don’t make book 8 the last. There are so many more adventures for Jamie and Claire awaiting them as they reach the autumn of their years. and then think!!!, what would, your fans do if there were no more Jamie and Claire? It would be like a death in the family for most of us, for me for sure.
So Diana, when you get that writer’s block you spoke of, do whatever you have to do to get over it, write a hundred short stories if you must but please keep our beloved duo alive for many, many more years. You can say they were your life’s work, and they were, you were born to give them life and I’m so glad you did. BTW I never did wish you a happy birthday, I do so now, just think your only ???60 someone said, can’t hardly believe it, having met you and your lovely husband in Fergus last year, think how much more adventures there are yet for the two of you to share and pass that on to our beloved couple. LOVED, loved, loved, the Scotish Prisoner even if I did have to wait until Christmas to get it.
…”[pant, puff, gasp, wheeze]…” LOL!! Man, do I know thAt feeling! *grins* I figured next year in the fall, since BOSAA and EOB both were released around the same time of year when They came out. *snorts with mirth* I’m like a little kid waiting for Christmas…
You crack me up.
You take as much time as you like, it gives me something to look forward to! Also gives us enough time to start all over again. Funny how the story never seems to get old…
Di–I know! BTW, I know what it’s like to not fit in, so I really feel for Claire (and later Bree when the story about the back row of class pictures is mentioned, though I’m not nearly as tall as her). Long story–involves Years of teasing.
You’re awesome.
We all deserve a glass of wine after that rundown! Waiting, such a sweet pain…
It will give me time to make space on my Bookshelf o’ Favorites.
LJ and the Zombies, that was such a fun read! And, in that collection I happened upon some other fun reads, for my growing methadone list.
Health and happiness to you & yours in 2012!
I have to say that no matter the wait time for MOBY it will be well worth it. The Scottish Prisoner was so good. I read it so fast I have to read it again, alongwith the whole series. I keep rereading all of your books and short stories in between various other books…none of which are nearly as good as your books. (I’ve never reread a book before I read Outlander.) I guess I’m an obsessed fan; so much so I will soon be getting a few tatoos to add to my collection…Claire’s ring (around my right wrist) and the stag pin on the inside of my right wrist above the ring). Can’t wait!!
The reason I re-read all of the books in between is I find something new in the books each time! Usually a very witty forshadowing of something to happen, not necessarily in the next book, or a great reminder of the past that I totally forgot had happened.
Can’t to read what happens next!
To those people who are complaining, I’d like to see you try to write a better book faster. No way its possible!
So.. January 7th or so, then?
I jest.
Those who commented above me are all correct.. it will be worth the wait. Do what you need to do, ignore those without common sense, and the rest of us will be waiting somewhat patiently (but most assuredly EAGERLY) for the release.
LOL! Thanks for the entry and making me smile! Keep writing!