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!]
Very nicely summarized lesson on book production/publishing … a gem just like your books :>
To continue in the vein of shared knowledge I came across a couple of tidbits of information you may find of interest related to the regions of NC you highlight:
John Bartram, King George’s Pennsylvania Quaker Colonial Botanist, and his son William, who at 18 left PA to move to Cape Fear and operate a trading post here until 1765, made a botany expedition through NC-GA-FL in 1765. It was neither the first nor last time the two famous (botanist/horticulturalist/natural historian)’s would be active throughout this region. With Claire’s penchant for ‘green leafy bugs’ as my husband calls all things with leaves – much to my inner naturalist’s great dismay – this may provide fodder for an interesting encounter in MOBY.
Another green leafy bug related item of interest is the Camellia. As tea always holds some interest to the far flung Brits/Scots it may be of interest to highlight the introduction/availability of Camellia Sinensis (shrub that provides tea) and Camellia Japonica (the beautiful flowering shrub that is found throughout Southern gardens) – Introduction/availability of both these plants would be appropriate for the Outlander series in NC/SC. Both have a variety of possible edible applications that include the leaves for tea, flowers which are rather tasty, and seeds that can produce a fine oil.
Finally, through my own long term love of history and my continued relationship with Fort Bragg/Fayetteville/Cross Creek/Campbellton/Cumberland Cnty and it’s surrounding areas I spend a good portion of time reading local history. From my reading I think you are well acquainted with the engagement at Moore’s Creek Bridge, along the same line of local Revolutionary War history I’d also recommend the book written by Rev. E. W. Carruthers, in 1854 entitled ‘The Old North State in 1776′. In particular you may find his description of the Piney Bottom Massacre and its aftermath of interest as in this area it played out as much a Civil War between families as a Revolution. The 1918-1967 version of the ‘History of Fort Bragg’ includes an excerpt as well as information relating to the Revolutionary period here and people of interest. One family you may be interested in further research, if you haven’t already heard of them, is the Blue family – of Scottish origin (Duncan and Margret Campbell Blue emigrated vic Lakeview, NC 1768) the family grew to be major land holder’s here and their significant holdings were largely to become today’s Fort Bragg.
While I discovered and became enamored with your writing through the Outlander series I love all of your writing. I look forward to one day seeing all of it put together in one place even though tripping over samples such as ‘Dream a Little Dream’ and other short stories here and there is always a delightful surprise. Perhaps if it could be arranged for the books you have contributed to to be available near your outlander books it would be profitable to all :>
Best Regards and Happy Writing – I keep telling myself 2013 isn’t so far away – as I suppose do you;>
Cheers,
Vanessa R. Kovach Bowman
Dear Vanessa–
Thank you so much! This is fascinating information–and I love the “green leafy bugs.” [g] Claire hadn’t (as yet) made the acquaintance of the Bartrams (she only returned to the past in 1766, so would have missed their expedition), but has quite possibly heard of them. I’ll see where they were in the summer of 1778. [g]
–Diana
John Bartram, the botanist, had a brother William who settled here in Cape Fear. John Bartram also named his own son William. It is the John Bartram son – William who was most active in traveling/living in this area (when he moved here at 18 it was to join his uncle’s family at their plantation). His various regional studies known generically as ‘The Travels of William Bartram’ (there are sub divisions/publications) were published in 1791 from material that was collected throughout the preceding two decades. In 1778 William Bartram actually returned to PA to his father’s home and already well recognized gardens at Kingsessing. John Bartram passed away in 1778, but the father and son did enjoy a few months together in that year before that. William remained in PA 1778-1823 when he himself died. William never married, his brother and sister and their families who had remained in PA welcomed him home. William’s publications achieved great literary success and are recognized today as one of the foundation pieces of 19th century romantic movement.
It is so much to correspond :> I would never make it from research stage to writing – it’s too hard to put books down once you’ve got them open :> I’m glad you are able to make that leap :>
-Vanessa
I see in today’s daily lines that Kingsessing will be the place to acquire asafoetida and ginseng root :> Fantastic, fun, and exciting – a splendid surprise!
Dear Diana,
I went back to this original post as I’m guessing it is best to keep things are organized as possible. I just wanted to say it has been a real treat to see the Bartram information blossom;> I’m so glad that worked out for you. I am, as always, eagerly looking forward to the next book. I also have my fingers crossed for the mini-series. I just watched the BBC mini-series: Call the Midwife, created by Heidi Thomas. I recommend the series on its own entertainment merits, but in addition the lead actress, Jessica Raines is excellent, has the right look (almost as close as you can get in real life to the portrait of Claire by Hoang Nguyen), is about the right age (b. 1982), is British, and of course is a working actress with the perk of already having time-period (almost) appropriate work (plays a nurse in 1950s England) to her credit. Here is her imdb profile for easy reference: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3565962/Some day I hope that fate and timing work together that I can actually attend one of your public appearances. The Army conspires to always have a mandatory event that places me as far away as possible whenever there would seemingly be a time in my schedule or a location that is not all the way across the country. I hope this post doesn’t get fully buried in my effort to keep continuity by posting this near the original. Best wishes to you and yours.
Cheers,
Vanessa R. Kovach Bowman
Thanks Diana
Even your response to complaint makes great reading!!!!!
Waiting patiently….. gives me time to re-read AGAIN the series in preparation for MOBY
I’m another person who thinks your books are wonderful! I reread them a lot. My daughter shared your first book with me and I’ve been hooked since. I have introduced a lot of other people to the books too. I’ve read a few of your “sneak peaks” but have vowed to stop…… Looking forward to the next book!!
I love your work. And given the things you published and the attendant processes to get to the public, I figured you work 23 hours out of 24, so that you have that one hour to sleep, eat, note spouse and children, breathe for all of six seconds and then back to work! I too wait with baited breath for the next installment of anything you write, but life is real and I think we are all lucky that you do write these (often) huge books to devour and then pray for more. Does anyone think you can do more than you are? Line up to be painted absolutely stupid and have your writing fingers and mouth sewed shut until the next book comes out.
Thank you for the update! I hope people will take the time to check here and read this because it seems like you are constantly getting all of these questions everywhere you are — Compuserve, Facebook, Twitter, etc. You must be a very patient soul to continuously answer the same thing over and over and over again… Speaking of being a patient soul, I’m pretty flabbergasted that you get mail accusing you of purposely hiding or delaying the publication of MOBY. What a very odd thing to accuse you of, though there is certainly no shortage of strange conspiracy theories in the world.
To those experiencing withdrawals, I wholeheartedly agree that the Lord John books are a great way to “deal” in the time between the Outlander books. In fact, I have grown to love them just as much as the main series. LJG is one of my absolute favorite characters in all of fiction. The most recent LJ book, The Scottish Prisoner, is absolutely fantastic. And, yes, the audio versions are very good too. (To those complaining about the Warriors reader — audible.com lets you listen to an excerpt before buying a book, or you can check it out at your local library first! So do your due diligence before committing to an audio purchase.)
Diana, one thing you didn’t address in this post is the short story about Joan and Michael. I noticed you’re not posting excerpts of it anymore on Facebook. I’m wondering if it’s because you’ve put this project aside for now, or if it’s because it’s getting close to publication in some anthology, or something else? Can you share any details about where that story is in the process?
Thanks!
Please let me publicaly apologise again for my ignorant and uncircumspect comments about the narration of the ‘Warriors’ anthology.
I greatly regret the naievity of my previous comments, and am ‘attempting’ to purchase the highly recommended audio versions of all the stand-alone ‘Lord John’ books.
I write ‘attempting’, because as an Australian, it is very hard to purchase e-books, let alone audio versions of any of Diana’s books. International publishing restrictions limit our access, (by recognising our IP adresses), and deny us the ability purchase many titles easily purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, etc. in the U.S.
To add further weight to my status as a thoughtless ignoramus, I must also acknowledge that I had no idea that one could conduct ‘due dilligence’ and access preview audio examples prior to purchase.
I appreciate you advice, and hope that other less informed individuals like myself will benefit from your insights.
That is the beauty of this collective of ‘Diana Gabaldon’ devotees; through our shared passion, shared knowledge.
Sincerely
Jane
Ms. Gabaldon,
Thank you for sharing the world of publishing, as I had no clue what the loooong process was!
I’m so excited it will be a “Big Book”! Of course we are a society that expects things fast, i.e. fast food, fast info on the internet, etc. Good things take *time*. Anyone who is a true fan has a great respect for what you give us in each and every one of your books, and how long it takes to do this. (Doesn’t mean we can’t whine when we have to wait!! haha)
You have spoiled me for any other author! I *pray* this will not be the last book, as it’s my favorite world to “escape” to. Every character feels like an old friend, with different personalities and quirks that I enjoy.
Your biggest fan
Sheri in CT
Diana,
Wow, that’s a LOT of work after you are done writing! It makes me wonder how you’ve managed to publish so many books already! You look fairly young, and it seems like all that would take at least 10 years for each book!
I greatly look forward to this next one, I just can’t stop thinking of the cliff hangers which you mentioned. I’m sure we’re all wondering what’s going to happen. I really like this series, the mixture of time travel, the descriptions of life in the past, and romantic parts make great books.
Keep up the great work! I love the books.
Diana,
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us all about the process a book goes through after the author finishes the story. I found it fascinating…I love learning something new.
So the moral of the story is …….. The book will come out when it comes out. Because there are a lot of people working to make sure the product we buy is as perfect as it can humanly be made to be.
Thanks for giving us all such wonderful stories that we can all take to our hearts to enjoy and love. At least for me it is greatly appreciated. Your books are placed on my bookshelves that holds my most treasured stories and books. To be read over and over!
Take care,
Jeanne
Thanks so much for the update. I really can’t believe that people would make those kinds of comment to you. I appreciate your hard work and will continue to anxiously await MOHB
Dear Diana,
I admit to being impatient for the next book, but only because I am so enthralled with the series. They are so well researched and compelling. I will try to contain my impatience, because I know that the wait will only improve the final product and increase my pleasure in reading it.
I must beg you, however, not to make MYOHB the last book!!! Ending the series would break my heart, as well as that of so many others. Jamie and Claire are a part of all our lives by now, and losing them would be a serious loss and heartbreaking. There must be so much more to their story that you can share with us in future books. PLEASE!!!!!!
Love your books. Stay well, for your own sake, as well as that of your many, many loyal fans.
Love,
Carmel
Thank you Diana, Any time you get this book in our hands is great with me. You do have a LIFE! And I appreciate your writing a lot.
Thanks again for the info.
So good of you to take the time to update us and give us some insight into the “process”. I was interviewed by the local Santa Barbara newspaper last month about what book I’d been reading. I said, “Echo In The Bone” and that “As much as I admire what you do write, I am in awe of what you leave out because it always leaves me wondering what the characters are doing and wanting to know more.” … Thank you again Diana for creating such wonderful characters. Jamie & Claire have become as dear to me as my life-long friends. I will always want to know about what they are up to. Best aye’
Thanks for the input, Diana ! And I hope it will make the People, who are so out of place, keep their Comments to themselves.Why do people find time to insult but no time to commpliment…Your writing is some thing I enjoy and have lots of Fun reading it..or even re- reading it..Would love more than Eight, but Hey! i don’t write it so I will let you get on with it…Thanks a lot for the Fun and Enjoy reading it…
Hi Diana
I hope you don’t worry too much about the complaints as most of your avid fans appreciate the time and effort you take to publish your wonderful books. I myself am a huge fan and will always wait as I believe you are the best Author going around.
I also really appreciate you coming downunder for all your avid readers.
Keep up the good work and I will wait for as long as it takes and hope you will never stop writing.
Cheers
Carmel
Hi Diana – looking forward to the next book – thanks for the insights. Thanks also for the methadone lists you’ve put together in the past for the waiting period in between books! I’m currently reading Dana Stabenow (beginning to end) and it’s a wonderful series. I’m also thankful that there is a lag time between when you finish writing and when it gets published – gives me time to re-read the series so that I can jump from the cliff-hangers right into the new book!
I have just finished “The Fiery Cross” & “An Echo in the Bone.” I live where you are writing about!!! I must admit I’m confused about some things, & impressed about others. You mention Black Mountain, Spring Creek, Asheville, & the Cherokee lands. I live in Madison County, NC near Marshall, the county seat. Black Mountain & Spring Creek are an hour away by car; Cherokee is farther. Wilmington is a-l-l the way across the state, probably 7 hrs. by car. You make it sound like they just got on their horses & trotted off there! I finally figured out where Salem is (there’s also a Salem–a wide place in the road–near Weaverville, 10 mins. from Asheville), & it’s not nearly as much in the mountains as where I live. Just curious as to how/why you chose that location…
Also, you mention “hordes of bloodthirsty mosquitoes” to the extent that Claire & Jamie sleep with mosquito netting around their bed. Unless things have changed a lot since 1772, there are practically NO mosquitoes here! Hordes further inland & on the coast, yes, but the mountains have never been bothered by more than a few now & then.
I find it fascinating that you know so many arcane things about living in the mountains & the way things were done in the old days! You also have an impressive grasp of medical protocol, herbology, etc.! I’m planning to reread the earlier works, as I’ve forgotten so much since reading them. Can’t wait to get the next installment!
P.S. Madison County, NC is home to a number of musicians & “balladeers” who have preserved the old Gaelic ballads to the extent that they actually travel to England, Ireland, & Scotland to teach them there! You should come visit us!
P.P.S. I want some of whatever it is that keeps you looking so young! Your recent pictures still portray you exactly as you looked on your first dustjacket!!
I love that you explained the entire process for publishing. See, we “Diana Groupies” will read anything and everything you write, and enjoy it!
Happy writing, and please do hurry!
Thank you for your books and can honestly say they changed my life. I was working in Canada and my roomate gave my the first three books to read. I absolutely loved them. Shortly after I met a Scotsman who had come to Canada on holiday and as soon as he said he was Scottish I was smitten, perhaps thinking a bit of Jamie, lol. Nine years later we living in Scotland, married with two wonderful daughters and another baby on the way.
Will happily wait for book number eight. I think I will start reading from the beginning again.
Kelly
PS – I just finished The Scottish Prisoner and really enjoyed it. Thank you for your creativity and hard work.
Are Ian and Rachel in this new book?? I am so hooked on the Outlander and all of the characters.
I wish I had a small part of your imagination!!
Dear MaryAnn–
Yes, of course they are! Hope you’ll enjoy it!
–Diana
Good things come to those who wait!
Seriously, in much long-awaited anticipation of MOBY, I started re-reading the series again for the umpteenth time. I decided to slow down the reading process – enjoy and really savour the flavor of the characters and the story. I’m only part-way into Voyageur, but with any luck I can drawn this out into next year, taking into consideration working and play time, reading other novels in between,etc! Perhaps I’ll just be finishing Echo in the bone by the time MOBY is released!
Colleen