The State of the Wicket* – as of New Year’s Day, 2013
This is a quick run-down of everything I know about that y’all might possibly want to know about. [g]
1. The cable-TV series of OUTLANDER.
a) It _is_ an agreement for a cable-TV series.
i. It is NOT a mini-series.
ii. It is NOT a movie.
iii. It is not regular network TV.
iv. Yes, if it gets made, unless you already subscribe to STARZ, you will have to pay to watch it, sorry.
b) The cable-TV series is being developed by STARZ.
i. It’s being _developed_.
ii. It’s not (yet) being _produced_.
iii. There is no casting call at present.
a. If there was one, I’d have nothing to do with it.
b. Please stop sending me pictures of your male relatives that you think look like Jamie.
c. Please stop sending me photos of yourself, even if you’re _sure_ you look just like Claire.
d. _Really_ stop sending me photos of that grotesque Irish wrestler with the clown hair.
e. Yes, Kevin McKidd, Gerard (not Gerald) Butler, Kate Winslet and Alex Kingston are all wonderful actors.
f. All these people are about twenty-five years TOO OLD to play any of the main characters in OUTLANDER.
g. Jamie is 22. Claire is 27.
h. Makeup and special effects do have limits.
c) No, I don’t know when the series will air.
i. The pilot script is still being written.
ii. The pilot script is not yet approved.
iii. If it is approved, STARZ might or might not agree to confirm the whole series or they might shoot the pilot first; we don’t know.
iv. When I _do_ know, I’ll tell you.
d) Ron D. Moore is the developer, writer, and show-runner for the OUTLANDER cable-TV series.
i. Yes, I like him.
ii. He came out to my house and spent a whole weekend with me, talking over the books, characters, etc.
iii. I believe him when he says he cares about doing a faithful (but effective) adaptation.
iv. I liked his ideas and suggestions.
v. Yes, I’ve seen the outline for the (projected) first season.
vi. Yes, I think it’s good.
vii. No, I haven’t seen the pilot script. But
e) IF the series does get produced, I can pretty much guarantee that it will have a lot of sex in it.
i. If you are one of the readers who reads the books with a black marker in hand in order to cross out naughty words and scenes of intimacy, you might want to make plans to watch something else.
2. MOBY. Aka WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD. Aka Book 8 of the Main (Big Book) Series. Aka Yes, it’s about Jamie and Claire. (My Own Heart’s Blood = MOHB = MOH-B = MOBY. Geddit?) Also, it’s probably going to be fairly large. (Precedent, you know?)
a) No, it isn’t on bookshelves today, even though it –is- now 2013.
b) No, it won’t be on sale this month, either.
c) BECAUSE I’M STILL WRITING IT, THAT’S WHY.
d) Yes, it _will_ (God willing and the creek don’t rise) be published this year.
e) In the Fall, OK?
f) I live in the Northern Hemisphere. I mean MY Fall. All y’all Australians and Kiwis are smart people; I have complete confidence that you can make the mental adjustment.
f) No, I don’t have a pub date.
g) The publisher sets the pub date.
h) The publisher certainly wouldn’t set a pub date without some reasonable expectation of having a manuscript in hand by said date.
i) They don’t have a manuscript in hand yet.
j) BECAUSE I’M STILL WRITING IT, THAT’S WHY.
m) No, I can’t tell you that I will be finished writing it on X date.
n) Because it doesn’t work like that.
o) And for heaven’s sake, what possible difference could it make? (Talk about OCD…)
3. Other Stuff.
a) Novellas. There are several novellas, dealing with secondary characters from the main series. Most of these were originally written for various anthologies, but as I get the reprint rights back, are now being made available as print collections and/or standalone ebooks.
b) Which form you, personally, can get hold of easily depends where you live. Printing rights are sold and managed on a geographical basis: i.e., print rights are sold _separately_ in the US and in other English-speaking countries. In practice, it usually works out that the US and Canada have the same rights and timing, while the UK/Australia/NewZealand group of countries may have something different.
c) Now, I do urgently need to go back to writing MOBY, so I’m not writing up all the ghastly details of where/when/what about the novellas AGAIN. I’ve done it on Facebook and on my website, _and_ as a special “extra” for the UK edition of THE SCOTTISH PRISONER. You can find the complete (mind-numbing) explanation on www.DianaGabaldon.com later this week. However—
d) IF you live in the US, you can get “The Custom of the Army” as a standalone (i.e., cheap
http://tinyurl.com/CustomArmy
and likewise “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows,” which is the story of Roger MacKenzie’s parents in WWII.
http://tinyurl.com/LeafHallows
e) IF you live in the UK/Australia/NewZealand end of things (OR you want to go to the expense of getting an imported book), you can get A TRAIL OF FIRE, which is a print volume containing both the novellas noted above, plus two others: “Plague of Zombies,” and “The Space Between” (which deals with Michael Murray, Joan MacKimmie, the Comte St. Germain, and Mother Hildegarde, among others).
f) “The Space Between” _will be_ released in the US/Canada market IN AN ANTHOLOGY (that means you should look up the title OF THE ANTHOLOGY on Amazon.com/ca, not the title of the story) in February of This Year. Right soon now. The ANTHOLOGY is called THE MAD SCIENTIST’S GUIDE TO WORLD DOMINATION. (I’ll be doing an appearance to sign this—and anything else anybody wants signed—on Feb. 20th, at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, along with John Joseph Adams, the editor of the anthology.)
g) For information on getting autographed copies of any of my books, see
http://bit.ly/DianaGabaldonAutographed
THANKS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Thanks for all your information.Living on the other side of the Northern hemisphere from you, I regretfully cannot watch Starz. I do more regret though, that you´ll have to spend your time on answering all those inane questions, instead of more productive work – as well as getting some time for yourself and family. I´m sure wa all fans just long to get our hands on MOBY as soon as possible, but do take care of yourself as well during the process.
Just to let those of you in the UK know. I was doing my weekly check on Audible UK for ABOSAA unabridged version and I found it there this morning. At long last !!!!!!! What a great way to start a weekend.
Just to let those of you in the UK know. I was doing my weekly check on Audible UK for A Breath Of Snow And Ashes unabridged version and I found it there this morning. At long last !!!!!!! What a great way to start a weekend.
Your updates are almost (almost!) as much fun to read as your books, LOL! Thanks for keeping us rabid fans informed!!
So true. You crack me up regurlarly with your sense of humor! Its just great to read your updates! I hope that your kids can appreciate your humor as much as your fans do!
Take care of yourself and wishes for a HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
lol…….I agree!
As concerns MOBY , Take all the time ye need lass. Good things come to those who wait.
Verra well said
Thank you Diana!
Yep. I read that in Jamie’s voice. (Well, the one I have in my head for him anyway.)
Hello Diana, Thankyou for today’s updates ! I feel so grateful for the connection you have with us all, Outlander fans all over the world. It’s amazing that you find the time to write and post almost everyday for us. My vocabulary has grown since reading your books. We’ll be eagerly but PATIENTLY waiting for book 8 “good things come to those who wait”… Sending you all the best from France.
Great post!! I love the frankness of it all.
LMAO, I love your sense of humor in dealing with all of the questions fans bring. Thanks for sharing!
See what happens when you open yourself up to your fans??? I suggest becoming a hermit, changing your name, and dropping all your blogs. More time to write!
Thank you for these updates — Only you can make the sharing of such information both humorous and helpful at the same time. I love your wit! Enjoyed reading about the Outlander TV series. You might want to meet my cousin who looks just like… Ha! Just Joking! Have a Happy New Year, God Bless, and good luck with your writing.
You’re hilarious! Obviously you get a bunch of stupid comments! Thank you for writing–I’m a naturally patient person. Enjoy your new year!
YOU are TOO COOL!
I can’t believe why people are so slow on the uptake to realize that you aren’t involved in the casting of the Starz series. I’ve only seen you put it in writing a dozen times. I’m glad that your Facebook followers have gotten away from discussing what actors would be best for the roles.
I didn’t find ordering (from the U.S.) “A Trail Of Fire” all that expensive or difficult. I just ordered it from amazon.co.uk like I would order from amazon.com. They even had my shipping address and credit card info all ready to go. With shipping it’s not more expensive than one of the big books and is a great read!
Jerry
Jerry, I did the same thing! It arrived very quickly too.
Excellent summary Diana – thank you for taking the time to do this! I especially love the humor you insert here and there……and I really think sometimes in the (hopefully) not too distant future, I need to subscribe to STARZ.
It’s a DG “Do you want fries with that?” List. LOL Boggles my mind how lazy some people are and just ask you all the time. As a long time fan I just found the answers rather easily on my own. I think you need a new “most asked questions” mug.
Oh lookie there……my icon is a cute a little paw. Don’t even remember doing that! When’s the next book out again? *g*
thank you for the update, i had to laugh that people actually send pictures of themselves and /or people they know to be cast in the outlander series.i was wondering if or where the jamie and ian virgins story will be available, i really enjoyed the lines that were published here.thank you, God bless you and your family with a happy healthy new year!!oh yeah i live in canada in case the dates differ.
Ha! Lovely information and very much appreciated. Do keep your sense of humor – you made my day!
But AZ doesn’t HAVE Fall! Just Summer and Not Summer! It will never be published. Ahhhh!
My heart just fell when I read that STARZ will be the selected medium for “Outlander”. We have HBO and Showtime, but not STARZ. Dammit. Guess I’ll have it for a few months anyway, once the series begins…
I don’t have any of those. But I have no fear that I’ll get to see it eventually, even if I have to wait for DVD or Netflix. You gotta do what you gotta do.
I agree here, as much as I am eagerly awaiting the series, since I don’t subscribe to STARZ, I, too will wait for Netflix or Blu-Ray releases….. : )
Diana!
You my dear are a victim of your own success….I hope you take some time for yourself and family to enjoy the new year. We are on your schedule and people will just have to get that through their thick skulls!Your loyal and understanding fans will appreciate book 8 even more when it comes out. Thank you for all that you share with us and please remember to keep that sense of humour of yours going!
I had to chuckle when I read your comments.
Take your time for the next book but make it good!
Oh Diana, you are so hilarious. You just go girl, because, like you keep saying to us, if you have to keep answering these silly questions, you can’t write the book we are waiting for!!!
Very best to you.
Bethia