See the note below—this post is from July 6, 2014 and is a bit outdated…
I’m about to head back out in a few hours, to do my _last_ US/Canadian book-tour event in Traverse City, MI. But thought I might grab an hour to do a bit of updating before I absquatulate again…
First—I’m delighted that so many of you like MOBY!* Thank you so much for all your kind words.
As for the next book(s), I have no idea.** I finished writing MOBY on April 15th (having stayed up 36 hours straight to do it), spent the rest of April working 16 hours a day to finish the copyedits and galley proofs, then spent most of May dealing with everything (including stuff associated with the TV show) that was pushed out of the way during the Final Frenzy of MOBY. And on June 7th, all hell broke loose and I’ve essentially been on the road for a solid month, with three brief touchdowns at home (ranging from 12 hours to a whole day-and-a-half). So far, I’ve signed roughly 38,000 copies of MOBY and will undoubtedly hit between 40-50,000 by the end of summer. (No, I don’t have carpal-tunnel syndrome, but thank you for your concern.)
Now, I realize that it’s difficult to know what to say to a writer at a book-signing; I’d be tongue-tied myself, in the presence of someone I admired but didn’t know. It’s always great to hear, "I loved this book!" or "I love your books and I’m really looking forward to reading this one!" if you need a default. "WHEN WILL BOOK NINE BE OUT?!?" is possibly a little less welcome.
But I do appreciate the enthusiasm/impatience that spawn this question, so here’s what my immediate writing future looks like (assuming I survive the rest of the summer):
At the moment, there are only scraps of Book Nine—plus a useful "What I Know" document that I wrote right after finishing MOBY, about the "shelf-hung" subplots (those are bits that are kind of folded back on themselves, but not left as cliffhangers—like where William is going or what will happen to Lord John next).
I haven’t even formally sifted MOBY’s Mfile (the regularly updated list of files written for a specific book) and moved the remnant files to JAMIE9 (the directory/folder for Book Nine) yet (that’s a two-day job in itself). The next thing I do is to go through my major reference shelves, cleaning and tidying, and in the process, assemble the "core" shelf for Book 9–for any book, no matter how many references I consult along the way, there will end up being maybe five books that are _very_ helpful/relevant and that I use a lot, and maybe 5-10 more that I want to keep close to hand, for more limited but still important stuff. I keep one shelf for that core reference stuff, and refurbish it when I start serious work on a new novel. adding new sources as I come across them. Then I read through the relevant portions of ALMANAC OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a _very_ useful book that gives brief notes on everything happening everywhere <g> on a given day, that had any importance in the Revolution. This is my first pass at a historical timeline (which lives in my head and evolves constantly over the course of a book). I’ll probably write bits and pieces while I’m doing these necessary chores, but it’s pretty random and nothing like the sustained effort that comes as I move fully into a book.
In other words, you’re not likely to see #DailyLines from Book Nine for awhile.
Now, there’s a _lot_ of THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, Volume 2 in existence. I’ve been messing about with that on the side for the last 2-3 years, and most of it is _there_, if not yet tidied into its final form. There are a few chunks of original writing still to be done for that–the detailed synopsis for MOBY is the first that springs to mind, though I’ll also need to add commentary to a largish excerpt section (specialized excerpts), and a few other bits to be collected or contracted (i.e., I may have to get someone to produce things like maps or floor-plans, as I can’t do better than crude sketches on my own). But IF I move OC2 to the top of the work pile (not as the main focus, but as the main side-project), it _might_ be ready for delivery to the publisher around January, and thus might be in print sometime in the first half of 2015, which would be nice. (I also need to do slight updates to OC1, removing obsolete material and maybe improving the Gaelic Pronunciation Guide—that sort of thing.)
Then there’s the HOW TO (AND HOW _NOT_ TO) WRITE SEX-SCENES ebook. That’s actually complete, but I finished it right before both the show and MOBY hit high gear, so I now need to read it through again and do final fiddles (and maybe include a few scenes from MOBY), then run it past my agent for response and suggestions (if any). Ebooks can be produced _very_ fast, though, so once we’re happy with it, it could be out within a couple of months–I’d kind of like to have it out this fall, but that’s a matter for discussion with agents, publishers, etc.
And more or less on the same level with Book Nine (in terms of how eager I am to work on them) are the prequel volume about Jamie’s parents (for which I have only fragments at the moment) and the first contemporary crime novel. I think I have about half of that, and it’s "live" for me–but will take a good bit of intensive work, both in terms of research and writing. On the other hand, it’s short by comparison with everything else on my menu.
And on the outskirts of my mind are the germs of what might eventually be novellas, but I haven’t had the time even to _look_ at those with any attention. They _are_ brief, though, and I might well pick one up to get back into my regular routine–come September. I’ll be traveling/working most of July and August, and won’t have anything like peace and quiet ’til Labor Day. (No, I’m not going to Dragon Con this year, unless Starz decides they want to have a presence there for the show, and at the moment, they don’t.)
In the meantime, any eager soul who foolishly asks me, "When will Book Nine be out?" will be politely ignored. Or bonked on the head with the copy of MOBY they just asked me to sign, depending…
*(And for those few who complained that the ending of MOBY was a cliffhanger….go back and read the end of AN ECHO IN THE BONE, to see what one actually looks like. <g> If you just wanted to "see" what happened next in MOBY…feel free to fill in your own version of "OMG! OMG! OMG! <hughughug> <weep tears of joy> OMG! OMG! OMG! <broken endearments> OMG? OMG? OMG? <hopping up and down> OMG!" I have complete faith in my readers’ intelligence and imagination, and I don’t tell y’all things I know you can figure out for yourselves.)
**Webmistress’s Note on August 28, 2015: A lot has changed in the year since Diana posted the blog above on July 6, 2014:
- See Diana’s Book Nine webpage for excerpts (aka "Daily Lines") and current information.
- The revised, updated and expanded version of THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, VOLUME ONE, was published on March 31, 2015 in the U.S.A. This ultimate guide to the OUTLANDER series covers the first four major novels: OUTLANDER, DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, VOYAGER, and DRUMS OF AUTUMN. (The original OC was published in 1999. The U.K. edition of this guide was titled THROUGH THE STONES.)
- THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, VOLUME TWO will be published in the U.S.A. on October 27, 2015. OC II is the guide to the second four major novels in the OUTLANDER series: THE FIERY CROSS, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES, AN ECHO IN THE BONE, and WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD (aka "MOBY").
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for being able to get back on to Facebook. Lowering the age to 13 is better than 18 but after following the site for years, I really didn’t see too much wrong with what was on it in the first place. Kids know how to manipulate the ‘media’ if they want to so it seems to me that the parents should be the ones monitoring what kids view. Mean while, back at the ranch, (no pun intended) I’m glad to be ‘in the know’ once more since I am not signed up on Facebook.
Wow — I was so grateful that MOBY was ‘not’ a cliffhanger after Echo; can’t imagine someone thinking it was. Loved the continuing development of characters; historical documentation; story development… Continually stunned by how you keep refining the writing to communicate without ‘splainin’… Thanks, Diana, for all you are putting out there for people to enjoy!
I just have a simple question. How did Clare end up being the one to go through the stones ?
We have none of her ancestors having gone through the stones. Is she one of Raymonds missing
relations?
Have read all 7 books about 6 times, have read #8, 3 times.
Dear J. Stirton–
Err…how would you know whether any of Claire’s ancestors could time travel? Maybe one or more of them could, but never happened to stumble on a place where it was possible–maybe they couldn’t, and Claire has a slight genetic mutation.
Best,
–Diana
I wonder about a family connection between Perseverance Beauchamp and Claire – is there one?
I think I know how Clair was able to travel through the stones the first time. Her five times great grandmother was Brianna of course. I posted this on face book and got a lot of responses, from impossible because she cannot be her own great grandmother to if time travel is possible then why not?
I had read every book in the series until MOBY. When I learned of it’s official release date I started a new job that required a 1.5 hour commute each way. I decided to listen to the books on tape starting from the beginning. Davina Porter is wonderful and truly brought to life the characters in a way that made them more alive then reading them in black and white. MOBY was amazing and I am sad to say I have completed listening to it. Look forward to the next chapter. Will now start the John Grey series. August 9th is a month away and excited to see the Series come to life!
Thank you so much for MOBY, I was really happy with it and happy with the ending. I did not consider the ending a cliff hanger at all, maybe a small ledge but not cliff.
Thank you for that. I hope to meet you at a signing in the future.
Stacy Sties
Been awaiting the next book in the series and fantastic to see the hard back in the shops today (in England). I must have forgotten more of Echo in the Bone than I realised – I looked at the first few pages of MOBY and thought maybe I had missed a whole book!
I started with Dragonfly in Amber bought from a second hand book store but had to go back and buy every one of the others – I have replaced at least three books because I read them until they fell to bits. They are amongst my very favourite books ever.
I cannot wait to start the latest one based on these reviews – and will search for an number of the others that fill in gaps.
Hello Diana!
Thank you for another wonderful book, and an entertaining blog on what’s next. I feel that each new book is The Best.
I had to laugh at your advice on what to say at a book signing – luckily I didn’t ask about the next book! But I couldn’t speak to you without stuttering and mumbling. The moment just took me over, but it has made for a good story among other Hosers! Maybe the Decatur Book Fest in Atlanta will make it onto your schedule again.
My mom’s birthday was June 22, so I surprised her with a signed MOBY and we read our books together long-distance – she’s in NC, and I’m in GA. I love that we can share our infatuation with your stories.
Happy summer to you and yours!
-Bethany
I love, love, love this entire series! I had just finished reading Outlander again, for the third time, in anticipation of the upcoming television series, and then MOBY was released, and I have just now finished it as well.
Well Done You!
All of the above-named unresolved issues came to my mind as well, but I must be a snoopy sort, because I found myself wondering the entire time “What is in Brianna’s big bag?” that she brought with her through the stones.
I loved this book, as I have loved the whole series, and whenever you can, I will love anything else you write as well. Take a break, have a vacation, soak your feet, sip a glass of wine (or scotch) and I’ll just wait here, hmmm? You deserve some time off girl.
and, thank you.
Linda
Like all your fans I have read and reread your books. Each time I find some little nuance I missed, or have a new understanding of a passage.
After reading MOBY it occurred to me that I would love to “hear” the Gaelic words spoken by the characters. I know I could accomplish this by getting the ebooks, but I love my hardcopies and love paging back and forth to make connections with the “before and after” of what’s going on.
So my idea is, just in case you don’t have enough to do, is something like your Outlandish Companion and in an ebook format, that gives the name of the book, the page the Gaelic statement is made, and that statement recited in that language. Can you visualize a person reading one of your hardbacks and coming to a Gaelic statement, clicking the statement in the ebook and “hearing” what is written?
I don’t know if such a thing is even possible, but for what it’s worth am passing this thought along.
Thank you for the Eight, and looking forward to all you do in the future.
Karen
Hello Diana!
I love a good book that inspires your imagination to make up your own stories about the characters and your books do so Thank You!
I just finished reading “Written in my own hearts blood” and I loved it so mutch!
I’ve read the other Outlander books several times and I’m sure I’ll read them again patiently waiting for number nine to be written
/Linda
*much
After waiting so long for MOBY I got to the last 34 pages and I really did not want to finish so I made myself close the book and walk away! I just wanted to know I had more to read……there is never enough of this family and DG’s wonderful storytelling. I also wanted to think about what could would or should happen. There was no way everything could be tied up neatly and the saga would end in 34 pages I was so assured there would be a ninth book! Yeah………but then when I did go back and finish I was devastated as I thought that it was over. Excellent ending which allowed me to make up my own story from there. Frustrating because I wanted to read more. But then…..happy again because I knew that we had to be in for another book at least. So many emotions – which is what good writing should bring on. Thank you DG we, your fans are so very grateful to you for allowing us to share your imagination and the love you obviously have for your characters! The time between now and when we are lucky enough to read the next instalment will give me time to retread the whole series from beginning to end…..lucky me! Many many thanks but let me say I am very envious of all the hundreds of thousands of people who are able to line up and have you sign the copy of their book. Are you ever coming down to Australia……you have legions of fans down here tooooooooooo.
so excited to hear you were in Traverse City, very close to the UP where I live. I read Dragonfly in Amber first as I found it in a book sale, and don’t normally gravitate toward the romance genre. But, as a nurse I have been fascinated about the medical aspects of your writings including the historical treatments and how Claire manages to insert ‘modern-day’ interventions into earlier time periods. After the first book, I had to go back to read Outlander, and then of course, I was totally hooked. Truly a wonderful story. My daughter also started the series, and she was very excited to tell me about the Starz miniseries soon to start. When I was on YouTube looking for trailers, however I found scenes from a movie starring Rachel Weisz and Gerard Butler but have been unable to find this in a video format. Was it ever released?
Dear Amy–
Glad you’ve been enjoying the story–and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the TV show, as well! The video you found was just one of dozens (and dozens) of fan-made clips, done by fans who couldn’t wait for a movie. Some of them are very well-done and some are…err… but none of them have anything to do with a real movie based on OUTLANDER.
Best,
–Diana
thanks for clarifying, I was very confused. Am really looking forward to the series
Hello Diana.
I have read all 8 books with huge enjoyment, so much that in fact pages are falling out !
Is there any way we can see the TV series here in the UK ?
I was sooooooo excited to read you will continue writing another book! I didn’t feel like you ended with a cliffhanger in MOBY. As a matter of fact, it ended beautifully and you could have left it as is, because we are all left with the assumption the family is finally together again. It was my favorite ending thus far out of all your books.
I hope to meet you one day and promise I will have an excellent response to my favorite author.
Write on!
~ Tamera
LOVE this entire story! I was so happy to get My Own Heart’s Blood into my own hands in June, and I LOVE that ended quite nicely. . . MUCH better than Echo. At least this time, I can patiently wait for the next book. Waiting for Heart’s Blood was agonizing because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to Jem, as well as everyone else.
Thanks for a great story.
(A side note. . . could probably do without a few of the more graphic sex scenes but will read the stories either way!!)
Dear Diana,
When my husband was fighting the cancer that finally took him, he got bored with TV, and not being a good reader himself, asked me to read to him. 8-12 hours each day; sometimes during those night hours when the bone pain kept him awake and no amount of morphine would take it away. I read close to 100 novels to him, but his favorite (and mine) was the Outlander series. We laughed, we cried, we discussed Jamie and Claire and felt their love mirrored by ours. We read the first six books (that’s all there was), and got the Lord John series (1st 3 books); we loved them and couldn’t wait for more! We were reading the series for the second time and were halfway through The Fiery Cross when he finally came to a point where he couldn’t hold the thoughts any more. My voice was almost gone so we took a break from reading – and never got back to it. He passed the following year, but we had so many mini discussions about Jaime and Claire, telling the stories back to each other and laughing (and crying) over it. Thank you so very much for sharing your talent of writing and your hard work researching to create this wonderful world. God bless and keep you and yours. Sincerely, Catherine
Dear Catherine–
I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. [hug] I’m really glad, though, that the books should have been able to give you both some respite, and something good to share and remember.
All the best,
–Diana
Hi Diana
I started reading cross stitch in the 90′s, fortunately for me not discovered until you had written the first 3.
I just finished MOBY,( on a kindle, which was fine and I couldn’t wait for the mail for a book).
I really enjoyed it and feel you have introduced intriguing and exciting new possibilities with the William storylines, I am very fond of Lord John too. I am looking forward to when William realizes Jamie is Mac.
The Brianna and Roger story was riveting, I couldn’t put it down and when they arrived at the end of the story I was so happy.
I wonder when the TV series will come to the UK. I don’t mind too much as long as I can buy the DVD’s in fact although I always thought the stories would be great as films, it will be hard to better the images my own mind produces.
The medical and herbal aspects of the story always interest me. I am a reflexologist and reflexology and acupressure have been used in most cultures through history, you may find some of its uses interesting for childbirth and the native Americans may have been aware of benefits from pressing parts of the anatomy.
When I read how many hours you must sit at your computer I hope your back etc sont feel the strain too much!!! If they do treat yourself to a lovely relaxing reflexology treatment and if you are ever in London I would be delighted to give you a treatment in return for all the hours you have worked to produce your exceptional books.
With very best wishes to you and your family especially your hubby who if he is like Jamie as you have hinted, I envy you. Although mine is pretty special too.
Jan Benson . London UK
Dear Diana,
Thank you so much for your wonderful books! I just finished My Own Heart’s Blood (how does this spell MOBY?? – I’ll have to look it up, I guess
), and am so glad I have all of your Outlander books on my e-reader, so I can go back and read them all again and again. I am writing here, because, like probably many others, I had to check to see if/when another book will be coming. I’m glad to see that you do plan to write at least one more :). You certainly are busy – I hope you get to take some time off, and do exactly what you want. Have a great summer…
Katja
Dear Katja–
My Own Heart’s Blood = MOHB = MOH-B = MOBY. Also, it’s big and white. [g] Geddit?
–Diana
Dear Diana, loved MOBY,read it twice so far and reread all the others in this series,still great and I marvel at how compelling these books are after multiple readings!
One thing puzzles me how did Brianna and her family get from 1739 to 1778 to get to their reunion with Claire and Jamie? I was reading so carefully trying to figuire it out and still I feel like I missed something!
Thanks keep up the good work! Deirdre
Dear Deirdre–
You’re not supposed to be able to figure it out in this book. [g] It’ll (likely) be explained in Book Nine.
–Diana
Diana Thanks I will have to admit I felt really stupid,I thought I just didnt get it!
Thanks for answering so quickly! Deirdre
Don’t feel stupid Deirdre…that confused me too! I was going to ask Diana the same question x
My theory of the ending is this:
Since Roger & Brianna & the kids not only had to get from 1739 to 1778 but also from Scotland to North Carolina in the US, I assumed they time/place travelled through more standing stones, (focusing on Claire & Jamie & their new homesite – remember, Claire wrote letters to Bree & left them in places where she knew Bree would find them in the future).
That’s my guess anyway. We’ll find out for sure in another 4 years.
Though I dinna know how I will wait that long !!!!!
I can’t wait to see Jenny’s 1778 reaction upon meeting Roger. In MOBY he meets her as a young woman at her father’s home (while Jamie is away in Paris)….and via the stones has the opportunity to meet her again…nearly 40 years or just a few months later depending upon the character.
Eileen,
I cannot wait as well! I expect it to be quite a shock to Jenny regardless, as she does not truly believe in Claire’s ability to time travel (Claire is still one of the Fey folk in Jenny’s mind. May Diana correct me if I am wrong). Maybe, just maybe, this will help Jenny to believe that Claire didn’t willingly abandon Jamie at Culloden or Ian at Lallybroch. Time will tell!
Eileen I totally agree with you and Arlene ! I enjoyed the first showing of Outlander so very much!
The series will help me get through for a bit.
Thank You Diana for all the things you do , too many to list. The ending of MOBY was the best part of my summer it’s been a extremely tense one for me.
I have a photo of you and my sister that you graciously posed for at the grandfather mountain highland games in North Carolina a few years ago its framed and one of my great treasures!
Thanks for writing MOBY I just finished it and I loved it , I even bought it in English because the German copy was not out yet and I could not wait any longer !!!
Greetings from Germany