See the note below—this post is from July 6, 2014 and is a bit outdated…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").
Hi Diana,
Go raibh maith agat! I send my heartfelt thanks for this wonderful story with all of it’s cast of characters. I have fallen in love with them! I want to share a personal experience while reading MOBY…but first let me tell you a little about me…I love scrapbooking and genealogy and have just finished a book on my family history that I’ve been working on for many years. It was a labor of love and I was so happy to have accomplished it….I have several ancestors that participated in the Revolutionary war, the most famous of these being my 5th great grandmother, Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley aka Molly Pitcher. When reading MOBY, I got excited noting the dates of June 1778 and mentioned to my husband that it seemed to be you were going to write about the Battle of Monmouth. I wondered if any mention of Molly Pitcher was going to be made….I was so thrilled and proud to see her mentioned in your book! I love the family tree you have included in the book and look forward to future adventures of the Fraser/MacKenzie clan.
Thanks again, Christy
Loved MOBY Diana. Had been looking forward to it since well before my Scottish Jamie & Claire Tour in 2012 and it did not disappoint. I loved the ending and had to repeatedly re-read it and re live it as I flew on the wind with them too. The characters just seem like family to me now and I lived the experiences with them. Really sorry not to continue but have to get on with a lot of work at my home that I pushed aside, so that’s probably a good thing. I was glad that I was able to sleep after this one though. I was so up in the air after ‘Echo’ it wasn’t funny.
Glad to see that you will follow up but actually thought that if you don’t get back to it, I could imagine what happened next. I can assume that they lived out happy lives out there on the Ridge getting back to Scotland sometime. William would have somehow become reconciled, he had made his peace with his father to a certain extent. Of course he would become delighted to have a sister. The core is based on love after all. The same with Jamie & Lord John. All in time as their lives on the Ridge have to be established first.
Thank you for NOT leaving a cliff hanger.
Loved MOBY Diana. Had been looking forward to it since well before my Scottish Jamie & Claire Tour in 2012 and it did not disappoint. I loved the ending and had to repeatedly re-read it and re live it as I flew on the wind with them too. The characters just seem like family to me now and I lived the experiences with them. Really sorry not to continue but have to get on with a lot of work at my home that I pushed aside, so that’s probably a good thing. I was glad that I was able to sleep after this one though. I was so up in the air after ‘Echo’ it wasn’t funny.
Thank you for NOT leaving a cliff hanger. Hello from Down Under in Sydney Australia.
Dearest Diana,
Another faithful fan dropping by to say thank you…the Outlander series is by far the best reading I’ve ever done, and I’m ruined for everything else . It’s wonderful to share in your great gift of storytelling. I’m grateful to be living in the same time as you, Diana…no time travel required (I don’t think I would survive the trip)!
-Faun
Thank you, Diana! I had read the entire series 3 times and could NOT wait for MOBY. I am writing to you as I just finished it. I loved the entire book! It is one of my favorites of the series. I especially loved the ending, I love your writing. That’s a lot of love I know, but I say it in honesty. I do think of you often as I’m reading and so many times I am just in awe of your intelligence, and your ability to tell a story in such detail and understanding. It is obvious you are a remarkable person….thank you for all the joy you have given your fans!
Diane
What does one say when it has been said thousands of times, I know this sounds a bit much but it is heartfelt,
Your number 1 in the world, the best ever at taking a person on a journey, the only writer who can make me wish for more, I have been reading books since I first learnt to read, as an adult I’ve read many books yours are the best.:)
The attention to detail is beyond my expectations, your a bl..dy genius.
I finished MOBY in one day, yes crazy, could not put your book down, attempted to put it down but just gave in and had to fill my greedy self, I have since gone back like a drug addict to read it again in two days, brilliant work Diana you must be so proud I know lm proud for you, what a wonderful writer you are.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR BOOKS.
PS, this is a series that will stand with time, no matter how for into the future people will ask if anyone knows a good book to read, Yes will be my answer Diana Gabaldon series Outlander, it will take you on a far away journey, it’s simply the best you will ever read, you laugh, you cry, you hold your breath, you grin and giggle you break your heart for people you feel you know.
Reading is a powerful tool a great book has the ability to make you believe, take you along for a ride you’ll never forget, when you finish reading its with sadness, god what do I read now, because no matter what you read it will never be as good.
Thanks for spoiling me,
God Bless you and always keep you safe.
Wendy:):):):):):):):):):):)
Try The Lymond Chronicle by Dorothy Dunnett – 6 books the first called The Game of Kings…………Gabaldon gets me through Lymond withdrawal and Dunnett gets me through Jamie withdrawal.
AND Thank You for your wonderful books, Diana Gabaldon.
I liked the cliff hanger and I liked this flying ending too. I’m glad you don’t feel (or get) constrained into any one formula. I like discovering the underlying structure/theme of each book. But most of all I love knowing there will be another one!! yeah 9!
I’m just starting a reread of the Lord John series so that I don’t rush into a second read of MOBY.
Thanx for so many happy hours, I picked up Outlander in 1991 so I’ve done many rereads.
P.P.S. In my library are all of the Outlander series in hardback, all but MOBY in trade paper, the early books in mass market, 1 – 7 in ebook format and again 1 – 7 in audible. Books aren’t dying out they’re just mutating
Grace:
I had to send you a message to tell you that I must try “The Lymond Chronicles,” as you recommend, because I am going through SUCH “Outlander” withdrawal, and I’ve already read the Sara Donati “Into the Wilderness” series (ALMOST as good as “Outlander” – but of course, we know “Outlander” is in a class by itself!)
Someone also recommended another historical/time-travel romance series – 4 books – that takes place in ancient Egypt and surrounding areas – a series by J. Suzanne Franks, so I will return the favor of your recommendation with this one (after all, we have to get through 4 more years til Book 9):
In order, they are -
Reflections on the Nile
Shadows on the Aegean
Sunrise on the Mediterranean
Twilight in Babylon
I’ve also already read ALL of the J.D. Robb (Norah Robert’s alternate name) “In Death…” the Eve Dallas series, which is a slightly futuristic mystery/romance, with yet another fabulous Gaelic male character, Roarke.
Sigh – I lift my glass of wine to 2 of the most magnificent Gaelic men in modern literature, Jaime and Roarke.
(And I’ll make another toast to Lord John, whom I have come to love as a brother, and who I suppose could be considered “Gay-Lick”? – pun intended, but only in the most fond way).
Real life is hard to get back into, after being lost in the outlander series!!!
This is a new experience. My granddaughter helped with my first comment .
As one of your more mature readers (75), I have enjoyed your Outlander
series so very much. I tried to slow read MOHB, I made it work for 14 days.
I have so many questions but need to spend more time forming my list.
I love the period of your stories, locations, science -fi, romance,and the
characters.
Will the Randalls be coming back?
Diana
I have so been looking forward to a nice closure after the cliffhanger in the last book, I feel better at the end of this one knowing they are all safe and sound, and that we aren’t done yet. I’m certainly not, I have been reading your novels since 2009 while living and working in North Dakota, while I was looking for a book that would last more then one day I found these gloriously huge books then couldn’t put them down.
I do love that era in time history fascinates me and to travel through time would be just…………
Thank you for your hours and hours of enjoyment I have them not only in paperback but in audio also. I look forward to your next work
Trudy Black
I know you must be exhausted but I love all the outlander books .I will read Moby next but I loved book 8 and can’t wait for 9 but saying that It will be like losing a friend thinking of finishing the series it is hard to believe how long its been since book one and I know it must seem even longer for you and been on your mind for that long too and hearing us all tell you how much we love the characters these have been the best books ever and I love you for all your time and thoughts and research you have put into them .I have never had the Starz channel but subscribe and just waiting to watch it and it gives me the willies thinking of how long it will take to do all of them and I am hoping that we all get the opportunity to watch
with love
peggy
I’ve been a voracious reader almost since birth, but never have felt the way I feel about this series. Like, I’m sure, millions of others, I feel that I know Jamie and Claire as well, and in some regards, better than I know dear friends and even family. I laugh, I cry, I chuckle, and I start to mourn the ending even as I begin. I cannot express the respect I have for your extraordinary talents, as well as what I suspect are sometimes excruciatingly long hours; nor can I begin to thank you sufficiently for the joy I’ve experienced in your world. I only ask one thing…that I live long enough to read the last in this series, whatever that ends up being.
Diana,
I can’t tell if William understands that “Mac” is Jamie? It seems like he hasn’t made that connection. Am I reading it correctly?
Thanks so much for your wonderful/clever/romantic/educational books!
-Holly
Dear Holly–
No, he found that out at the end of ECHO, in the upper hallway at Lord John’s house, when he comes face to face with Jamie.
–Diana
Ah, yes, I guess that was pretty clear (having re-read that section). Thanks for the clarification!
I can only repeat what others have said – the English Language does not have enough versions of WONDERFUL, THANKYOU, etc…
I listen to Outlander series on Audible, and ABSOLUTELY love the talent of Davina Porter. Please pass that comment on to her. I hear all her “voices” and 99% of the time forgetten it is a Woman doing the male voices.
She is BRILLIANT – I can even know who is speaking a sentence just by her accents/tones.
I don’t want to actually see the Series in film or musical, as it may spoil the images I have of the Characters in my mind.
As for the ending of Moby, unlike some others I don’t need to know how the “ending” came about – I am just happy they did. I can make up my own story. The end justifies the means!
It is good to know that you will be doing nº9 – I can wait with the happy heart that MOBY left me with.
My fear with the series has always been that Davina may not be available. I pray that both of you will be around for many more years.
All my love. K
Diana,
I have about 10 pages left in MOBY, trying to make it last, and yet counting down the days ’til the mid-season finale of the fabulous Starz series. I am in awe of your work and so grateful for these treasures of your imagination!
I wanted to post here in response to other readers’ hesitation about watching the series, re: the cast not matching our own images of these adored characters. Please, please don’t let that stop you – I too struggle with tv & film after books and worry over the loss of certain details, but this show is worth opening your hearts and minds for! The amazing thing is, even as I become more attached to the screen versions of Jamie, Claire, etc (I confess to a little crush on Murtagh – his expression when seeing Claire in her wedding gown, gahh!) my mind’s eye reverts back to my original images of them as soon as I pick up the book again.
Don’t be afraid to look, there’s only more to love!
I have all of your books – first edition. Not all are signed. Can I come to a book signing or something to have the rest of them signed? I was told that I could by just mailing them in but I’m concerned about the mailing process and possibly losing them. Please advise. thank you
Dear K–
I’d be happy to sign your first editions. People often do mail or FedEx me books to sign, and so far I haven’t heard of any going astray. [smile] If you’d like to catch me at an event sometime, though, that’s fine. I should tell you that if it’s a huge event (like this last tour has featured), often the organizing bookstore will put a limit on the number of books that each person can have signed, just to make sure everybody gets out of there before dawn. But if you’re near an event and would like to bring your first editions, you could call the bookstore and explain the situation, and tell them I said I’d be happy to do it for you.
Hope to see you(or your books) somewhere along the way!
Best wishes,
–Diana
Diana,
Many thanks for the latest book! Retread the series before I started Moby and “discovered” many of the finer points that I missed in my younger days of reading the series. I have an appreciation for Lord John and his family now. I had actually seen you in Asheville, NC at Malaprops Bookstore several years ago when you were promoting a Lord John book. I was very interest in your presentation but not so much Lord John. I will be going back and reading the various Lord John books and novellas now. It appears that everything has it’s season. Older and wiser now I find the side characters fascinating in their own right. Ellen and Brian’s story appeals to me also. I hope that we learn more about Murtagh in their story!
Congratulations on Moby’s success! The Starz production looks like it will be wonderful!
Come back and visit us in Fraser’s Ridge country—-Liz
I have just put down MOBY and got the your crazy look from my husband that I always get as I was yelling OMG. But it was a great book just like all the others you have done.
I dragged out MOBY as long as I could, a chapter or 2 a day, hoping to make it last for many months. Alas, I finished last night. I loved the ending, but because it wasn’t a cliffhanger, I thought uh-oh, that’s the end. Very glad to come hear & read that it’s not the end. I have to say, I am very happy it’s not a cliffhanger like the Book 7 – that was a killer.
Loved it. Went back and re-read A Leaf in the Wind and it had so much more meaning and I was a little sadder for reading it.
Now just hoping Starz make the program available on Amazon!
I love your books! Thanks for all the effort you put into creating an interesting storyline, lovable characters, and including fun bits of history. Looking forward to your next project (whenever you release one) and incredibly excited to watch the show on starz!
I just finished MOBY. I always pick up the next Outlander book with a little trepidation because long series can often die natural deaths. This one was superb and wholly satisfying. I read a LOT and there are only a handful of authors who have written characters as memorable, poignant, and addicting as Jamie and Claire. I have now read the entire series through twice–knowing full well that there will easily be another round in my future. Thank you for such a sustaining, satisfying, and enjoyable series.
Thank you so much for the detailed update! It’s great to hear your plans. I thank you so much for all you put into this series, your approach to your characters is what makes you one of my top 10 favorite authors.
I too am one of those people that waited in line for hours in Dallas to have my books signed. I brought the first two books to be signed which were failing apart from overuse. I didn’t know what to say but thank you for all the work you put into the Outlanders series. It is a wonderful escape for me. Also let’s me dream that there are really men of Jamie’s caliber out there. I unfortunately haven’t found. But I still have hope! I hope your hand has recovered and thanks for coming to Dallas.
July 15, 2014
I just finished reading “Written In My Own Heart’s Blood” and I thank you so much for a wonderfully written book. I have read all 8 of the Outlander series, the first each 2 times and will probably read this one at last one more time if not more than that. For the most part, I was thrilled with the adventure, romance, and intrigue both good and sad. A number of difficult things stand out: Claire getting shot; Rollo dying (I cried when I read that, I have had a number of my dogs die, heartbreaking, but this one was really sad. ((I know it’s fiction!)) I have a Border Collie now, a fine dog, 6 years old, hope I go before he does.); and Henri-Christian’s death. I also want to thank you for including my clan in this book. My clan name is MacLaren, I am a member of the clan, our Clan Chief lives in Balquhidder Scotland. I await the next offering, 4 years is it? God Bless you in your work.
next time you post on ms. gabaldon’s blog, please don’t mention parts of the story that many people have not read as yet. I’d like to have eased my way into it.
Dear Bobbi–
Well, you know…the books have been out since (beginning in) 1991. I kind of don’t think you can reasonably ask people not to discuss or mention things in books that have been available for twenty years, just because you haven’t read them yet. [g] (Mind, I think it’s courteous to maybe put a spoiler notice on something from a book that’s been published quite recently.)
Best,
–Diana