A couple of publishers asked me this week to write a brief bit of catalog copy for them, describing MOBY–so I did. For those of you wondering What to Expect from the eighth book in the OUTLANDER series:
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD is the eighth novel in the world-famous OUTLANDER series. In June of 1778, the world turns upside-down. The British army withdraws from Philadelphia, George Washington prepares to move from Valley Forge in pursuit, and Jamie Fraser comes back from the dead to discover that his best friend has married Jamie’s wife. The ninth Earl of Ellesmere discovers to his horror that he is in fact the illegitimate son of the newly-resurrected Jamie Fraser (a rebel _and_ a Scottish criminal!) and Jamie’s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for Ian’s Quaker betrothed.
Meanwhile, Claire Fraser deals with an asthmatic duke, Benedict Arnold, and the fear that one of her husbands may have murdered the other. And in the 20th century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter Brianna is thinking that things are probably easier in the 18th century: her son has been kidnapped, her husband has disappeared into the past, and she’s facing a vicious criminal with nothing but a stapler in her hand. Fortunately, her daughter has a miniature cricket bat and her mother’s pragmatism.
The best of historical fiction with a Moebius twist, WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD weaves the fibers of a family’s life through the tapestry of historical drama.
NB: I’m still _writing_ this. With luck, it will be published in fall of 2013. (Update from the webmaster: This book will be released by the publisher on June 10, 2014, in the U.S.A.) Hope you enjoy it! (In the meantime, if you’re the sort of reader who likes to see bits and pieces as we go along, I do post brief snippets–from this book and other works in progress or coming up for release–most days, on both Twitter (my ID there is @Writer_DG) and Facebook.
NB2: I told my editor I want an octopus on the cover of this book. (There are eight main characters whose stories are told–and they’re all linked together.)
NB3: I call the book MOBY for short. My Own Heart’s Blood = MOHB = MOH-B = Moby. Geddit?
From the webmaster: Visit the MOBY home page for the latest information.
Diana~
What are these cards(land?) that were referenced that show a map, of sorts, following the characters travels in the books published in Germany(I think)?! I love this idea! Can we have that in our books, here in the states? Please?!
Also, you mentioned attending a traditional latin mass. Can I ask how you liked it? Our family attends the traditional mass when possible-it’s how I was raised and at 42 find the norvus order mass not as…peaceful, I guess.
Thank you for your invaluable books and time,
Carolyn Lopez
Dear Carolyn–
There aren’t any map cards that I know of, though I’m sure that would be a wonderful idea. [g] I do plan to include maps in the second volume of THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION (the first volume was issue in Germany as DER MAGISCHE STEINKREIS, which I think is a silly title, but the German publisher always changes my titles and I seldom like them).
–Diana
Dear Diana, I absolutely love the OUTLANDER series! It has two of my favorite ingredients for a book, Scotland and Time travel. I would love to travel to Scotland and England but because I’m disabled and on a limited income, that’s impossible. But your books make it seem like I’m really there. Thank you for that. I especially love how you jump back and forth between the present and the past. I guess I’m going to have to be like everyone else, and reread the series for the umpteenth time-a real chore(not!) Can’t wait for MOBY to come out, and will definitly get TRAIL OF FIRE to tide me over untill the fall of 2013. I know it will be worth the wait! Kindest Regards, Pat Harris
My husband and sons have grown used to your books lying around various rooms in the house. I currently have 4 on the go. Whatever room I am in, I pick up that book and read til I have a reason to leave that room. They think I am crazy. Can’t say for sure just how many times I have read the whole series. Love love love them all and am anxiously awaiting MOBY. We are moving to a house with more rooms and I need one of your books for each of them
Counting the days…
Dear Elaine–
So get them to _read_ the books lying around. [g] Then they won’t think you’re crazy.
–Diana
i love your books what is moby?
Dear Maryanne–
My Own Heart’s Blood = MOHB = MOH-B = MOBY. Geddit? [g]
–Diana
There is nothing I can say that has not already been said about my best friends Jamie, Claire, Bree and Roger Mac. Thank you is what my heart says. Not to sound pitiful but I have lived a somewhat friendless existance in the past twenty years. Not that I haven’t any friends but they are not close enough to spend time with so thanks to you I have my new best friends to visit with whenever I feel lonely. My daughter in law brought me “Outlander” three years ago for a summer read when she brought my grandchildren for a weeks visit. She had borrowed it from her local library (which is another state) and since she had read it already she left it for me. Being a reader she knew I would finish it by the time she picked the kids up the following week. She was right but I had fallen in love with the book and by the time she came to get the children and the book I was reading my own copy that I had found at the local Goodwill. I cannot believe anyone gave it away but I am so thankful. I could not find any books of the series where I live so I asked my daughter in law for her help. Together we have built a beautiful bond as well as a collection for both of us and the best part..my son started reading the series and he and my daughter in law are now back together after a ten year breakup. Yes, no BS, through Jamie and Claire he was able to not only learn about love but to understand. Coincidence? Maybe. But I don’t think so. Love of the centuries, James and Claire Fraser.
Dear Brenda–
You know…maybe you want to move closer to civilization, if you’re far away both from friends _and_ places where you could buy my books. [g] (Though logic compels me to tell you that if you can read my website, you can order any of my books from Amazon or barnesandnoble.com. For that matter, you can get any of them _signed_ from The Poisoned Pen — http://bit.ly/DianaGabaldonAutographed ).
–Diana
Diana,
Stay home and finish WIMOHB PLEASE!!!! I am dying here. I have reread the entire series every time a new one is due out. Please hurry. Have wonderful holiday season.
Dear Denise–
I write all the time, whether I’m home or not. [smile]
–Diana
Diana,
Have LOVED every book. I know it takes an amazing amount of research and fact checking – incredible and KUDOS to you and your staff.
Have read the teasers for IMOHB and offer a different version of “schmutzige bastard” in the piece on William Ransom ….perhaps more explicit.
I suggest “dreckiger bastard” …..Schmutzig means “dirty’ in the sense that one’s face or hands are dirty or something is unclean like one’s clothing – whereas “dreckiger bastard” really does means “dirty rotten” as in scoundrel or dirty dog. It’s may be more in context.
My German father also used the term “Dreckzack” from time to time – when he was really annoyed with someone. It means the same thing: http://dictionary.reverso.net/german-english/Drecksack)
Have enjoyed the Lord John books too and am REALLY looking forward to IMOHB!
Helen Gillespie
Ottawa Canada
Dear Helen–
Thank you! That’s what my German translator said too–I check the German and Latin bits with her [g]–so “Dreckiger” it is!
As for my staff…I do all my own research (owing to the way I write, it would be impossible for me to tell anyone what to go and find out [g]), but I do have a few nice people who help out part-time with website maintenance (I write the blogs and other material, but Loretta helps keep the front page announcements updated, and looks out for things that need attention here or there), maintain the video lists on the YouTube Channel (thank you, Nikki and Caitlin!), help manage the fan mail (thanks, Janice!) and kindly help with ad hoc stuff like the OUTLANDER THE MUSICAL ordering website (thanks, Michelle!). And then there’s Susan, of course, whom I share with my husband; she takes care of bookkeeping, bookplate requests (she organizes and gives them to me; I sign them, and she lugs them back to the post office), makes appointments, takes dachshunds to be washed now and then (the rest of the time I just put them in the scullery sink and shampoo them), keeps track of where I said I’d be and makes sure I go there, and so on. An invaluable person, indeed!
But no one does the research, writing, blogging, tweeting, or Facebook posting but me. [g] (Though Random House’s very nice IT department built the Facebook page for me, and occasionally put up things like fan videos. If a posting says [admin], it’s them, whereas if it says [Diana], it’s me.)
–Diana
My Goodness! No wonder it takes you so long to write those wonderful books of yours! But worth it…
Hi Diana:
I’ve re-read your series several times over the years, and each time I do I find something new to consider. Your characters are so well written that they seem to be real! I try not to look at the fan websites where they vote on who they believe should play the characters in a movie – it spoils the vision I have in my head!
As an FYI for your Canadian readers you can get the books from Chapters.ca for the KOBO. I have them in both trade paperback and e-books, so always have a copy on the go.
Keep writing – we are all anxiously waiting for your next tome!
not Rachel for the eigth tentacle, JEM!
Diana -
I started your series a couple of months ago and I am totally hooked. They are wonderful books.
I was excited that I was going to be able to go from the 7th book right into the 8th one but have now
discovered that the time has been pushed to the Fall of 2013. I, like all your other readers,
will have to wait patiently for it . (but please hurry..) I will starting reading the books again in the summer to prepare for the 8th one.
Big question – is the 8th the final one? Whenever you do write the final one, I would hope that
neither Jamie or Claire die. I would like to see them settled back at Lallybroch, with their family
and loved ones around them where they can live out the rest of their days in peace.
This has been a wonderful series – thanks so much for sharing Jamie and Claire with us.
Dear Kay–
No, there will be nine books in the main series, all told. There will also be a prequel book about Jamie’s parents, plus two/three volumes of THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION. And all of the Lord John books, and the novellas and short pieces are in fact part of the series, too.
–Diana
Thanks Diana! I will look forward to another book after MOBY!! I can only hope that it
will end with Jamie and Clair alive and well at Lallybroch.
Thanks again for this wonderful story of loyality, family, passion and enduring love!!
Diana -
I bet you were thinking I was crazy for wanting to see everyone back at Lallybroch. When I wrote the comment above, I was in the 4th or 5th book… I am now in the 7th book – “Echo in the Bone” and realize that Jamie and Clair will never be back at Lallybroch for good and that Frazier’s Ridge is their true home.
I am anxiously waiting for the 8th book!! It has been fun to see your daily lines on facebook and getting snippets of what is to come.
I know I am putting the horse before the cart (so to speak), but just curious if you will write the 9th book next or if you will write the “Prequel (the story of Jamie’s parents) next and then the 9th book and if the “Prequel” will be a ‘big’ book or more of a novella.
Thanks again for sharing Jamie and Claire with us – I can’t wait to start the series over again!
Diana,
I’ve just finished “2A Trail of Fire and thought it was brilliant. However I’m not sure about the ending of “A leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” and feel that a Strand for MOBY or MOBY plus 1 has been missed. I was looking forward to MOBY early next year but I guess I’ll just have to read all the books again while I’m waiting. Thank you for totally re-readable and believable stories. Roll on MOBY.
James
Dear James–
Thank you!
–Diana
Diana,
Thank you so much for your books. I can hardly wait until the 8th book comes out. It is really easy to get into Jamie & Claire’s life. Your writing makes me feel like I am right there with them. I have read numerous books but yours is by far the best. The research you put into your books makes you feel like you are reliving that era. Thank you again for the amount of time you put into your books. Once you end your books please think about having Jamie & Claire & their whole family back together on the Ridge. During these times we really need to have them together. Their love shines for us all. I hope this comment stays. It seems that every comment I leave cannot be found afterwards.
Diana – These books are my favorite of all time and I am an avid reader. I agree with everything Kathleen S. wrote. The time and emotion you must put into these books really shows in the reading of them. I hope you keep going for a while!
I know you have nothing to do with the casting of characters in the TV series – but Gerald Butler gets my vote!
All the best –
Gayle
I have read the entire series three times and can easliy do it again, I love the books. I truly enjoy the details in each book, every time I read them I find snippets of information that I missed before that enriches the story. My daughter and I have been to Scotland just for a vacation but we did make the tour of Culloden which gave us a very real basis for the battle scenes. (She has read all of the books multiple times also) We both fell in love with Scotland, it is a beautiful country with friendly people and we are hoping to make another trip back. I can’t wait for the next book to come out but I know the wait will be worth it.
I’ve never been a reader in all my life,
My friend turned me on to the outlander series and have not been able to put them down.
The love between Jamie and Clair is so strong how could anything bad happen between them to ever tear that kind of love apart. A love that most of us has never seen so strong
Outlander series is awesome. I have one of the first books from your first publications. Have had to purchase reprints as I wear out or lose books.
This series is so totally incredible, you have me going back through history trying to piece where Jamie and Claire could have been in real life.
Keep up the great work, I will continue following DG to the end.
Dear Diana, I am very new to your series! My sister mentioned I might like Outlander because it was a story where, “people go traipsing around the countryside on horses”. A completely lame synopsis but it was enough to get me over to the book store to buy your first novel. ( I volunteer at an equine rescue stable where we snatch horses out from under the slaughter-house meat buyers – we bring them back to health, retrain and find loving homes for them. Incidentally, most of them get new and appropriate biblical names like, Shadrach and Lazarus just to name a couple =)
Sadly I began reading Outlander while spending a week at my sister’s cottage with my two children – I say sadly because after the first chapter I was uncontrollably engrossed in the book. I sat on the dock oblivious to my surroundings, ignored my poor kids (luckily they are good swimmers – heh) and by the end of the week the book was three times its original size as a result of people sending walls of water at me and yelling, “get your nose out of that damn book!)
I’m ruined I might add, I have become a complete literary snob and can — not! find an author whose writing meets my lofty expectations after having my pallet tuned to the great works you have crafted. I spend a good deal of time at the library looking for promising pieces and then end up throwing them back in my book bag disgusted… disgusted! You see, it’s the delicate balance of a truly meaningful and slightly graphic romance ( I mean graphic in a good way) written around a historical core that gets me – the book has to have good “guts”, something to invest your interest in! And of course the characters have to come alive, even the loathsome ones. So like many others I just keep reading your novels over and over again but I certainly can’t do that forever …. I don’t think!
There is a point to this post if you can believe it, you have inspired me to write God help me! Joined two writing groups! I never thought I had it in me because I can’t write in a straight line – story-wise I mean. I read a bit about how you write scenes out of sequence and then fit them together – OMG so do I! My professors told me (way back when) I had polluted the writing process, tried to snap me out of the nasty habit so I gave up any notion that my love of story telling may amount to anything even if it was simply for personal enjoyment. I must thank you, I should have known to stick by what felt right for me. I’m a teacher for God sakes, I’ve completely revamped my writing program …. “Throw out your writing plan students, this time we’re starting in the middle!” Well, something like that!
Lorraine
Ontario, Canada
Hello Lorraine,
have you ever tried Dorothy Dunnett, the Lymond Chronicles?
- The Game of Kings, starting in Scotland in September 1547
- Queens’ Play (France)
- The Disorderly Knights (Malta)
- Pawn in Frankincense (Mediterranean)
- The Ringed Castle (Russia)
- Checkmate (France, Scotland, ending in 1557)
The main character, Francis Crawford of Lymond, was my favorite Scot long before Jamie and it is very great fun to compare these characters.
Just have a try and I would love to know your opinion about these books! And I think Diana even mentioned them somewhere.
Regards
Claudia
Lorraine,
All that has been said about the Outlander Series, Diana’s talent, being ruined and completely engulfed by the books and writing…. I am right there with you. I stop checking to see when the next book may be out because then I get very anxious…. but I have to say …( sorry Diana)….. Michelle Moran also a historical novelist has similiar talents of pulling you in making you wanting more of the history and the story. Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra’s Daughter, Madame Tussauds all have been used to tied me over until the next Jamie or Lord John book have come out. I agree, I read many other things but Diana has got me. I blame it on sharing her IT background and always wanting to cover all the holes so something is not missed. I have never recommended a single author to so many different people. I have purchased at least 12 copies of the “Outlander” myself to give to others to get them addicted. I wish Diana would write historical novels for middle school and high school students. I believe that they would be so much more interest in history if presented as Diana has presented history with Jamie and Claire. Thank you for the literary enticement and the absolutely absorbing story telling that can take the reader away as if they also fell thru the stones to another place!
Julie
What a wonderful dream – books for middle and high schoolers would be AMAZING! Of course, Diana keeps a pretty full plate, writing-wise
How long does it normally take for a book to become available for Kindle?
Dear Jane–
It depends on the publisher’s philosophy, but nowadays, most books are published simultaneously in hardcover and Kindle (or other ebook) editions. Mine are, at least.
–Diana
Kate Winslet – an English born actress, would be perfect for Claire….believable, authentic, could pull of being a physician, ages well, a natural choice.
Gerard Butler – a Scottish born actor, perfect, would even look good with blonde hair
You could not possible go wrong with these two.
Dear Carole–
Except that both of them are Way Too Old. Jamie is 22. Claire is 27. Why can people not grasp this when they start imagining casting choices? [rhetorical question]
–Diana
Diana-
I am very fond of your writing style. I guess I’m a little different from almost everyone, I skip over all the sexual parts. Not into reading that in the written word. But, I do love the way you can spin a yarn. (as they use to say) I know I probably lose a lot of other dialog skipping over all the bedroom or where ever else scenes, but I do get enough catch up in other parts of the books to pretty much gather what’s going on I think.
I as well cannot imagine Jamie as most of the characters that have been mentioned….I do picture Jamie with a deeper voice for sure than the guy in the musical. I guess if I was going to pick someone that looked like Jamie that was older it would have been someone who looked a lot like Howard Keel in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” he had red hair in that film I believe, and a huge smile like I picture Jamie. Anyway If in the present I would probably pick someone blond that could easily dye their hair….I think I would start out as a young Jamie being Liam Hemsworth, and graduate to his brother Chris for the middle books. LOL and maybe I don’t know for the older. But, the Hemsworth brothers definitely would keep you busy for years.
I am writing a period piece on Scotland in the 17th century started it about 2004 and have been writing it off and on since then. I never read your books until someone referred them to me this last summer and I just finished “An Echo in the Bone”. I love the way you can come up with a twist out of nowhere. I hope my novel will be even half as popular.
Really? It’s not porn in the sexual scenes. Live a little!
Sorry you took offense Holly, but to each his or her own. What you feel is too much and what I feel is too much is obviously different.
It’s too bad you felt the inclination to respond to something that was my own personal opinion stating it in my remarks to Diana. There were many compliments paid to Diana on her writing, and story development too bad you couldn’t remark positively about those.