See the note below—this post is from July 6, 2014 and is a bit outdated…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").
I finished MOBY earlier this month and loved it. I am just glad that instead of feeling entirely bereft at the end as I sadly wait for the next novel in the series, I have the new TV series to look forward to. I’ve been enjoying the clips, trailer, and your interviews. If you need another book tour location, Door County Wisconsin is a lovely place to visit and just North of where I live!
I just posted my review on MOBY if anyone is interested. I finished the novel earlier this month, but I’m running very behind on review. Kids will do that to you.
http://www.lauragerold.blogspot.com/2014/07/written-in-my-own-hearts-blood-by-diana.html
Thank you, Laura!
That’s a lovely review–so glad you enjoyed the book, and I hope you’ll enjoy the TV show just as much!
Best,
–Diana
Hi Diana! I have enjoyed every one of the Outlander books :). Thank you so much for your amazing stories and giving me a way to escape my reality. I would love to see you come to San Antonio! You have a great deal of fans here. Maybe during a comic con visit? I am counting down the days of the STARZ series.
Hi Diana,
I was schocked when I read what happened to Henri-Christian.
Why did you chose for this, as an author you had I guess other solutions as well and I was wondering why this choice? Don’t wanna give to much away for other readers..
Hope the next book is coming a bit (a day or so) faster, can’t wait to read it!!
take care,
nala.
Dear nala–
No, actually, I never do things like that as a conscious decision; in fact, I looked for some time for a way for that _not_ to happen–but it did. Things do, sometimes.
Best,
–Diana
*sigh* Just finished MOBY. *sigh*
LOVED IT!
I laughed, I cried, I was completely and utterly transported.
Thanks so much for sharing your stories!
*now what to read??*
While waiting for book 8 to come out, I decided to go back to the beginning and reacquaint myself with all these wonderful characters…. for months now I’ve been enjoying their company daily! Just when I finished book 7 MOBY came out!! YAY!!! I just finished it today and I have to say, I’m going to miss them! I am just so relieved to hear that there will BE another book!!! I couldn’t imagine this being the END
Take as long as you need is what I say!! If I know another one is coming, I can wait! You ROCK Diana!!!
There is a God and her name is Diana.
Please, please, pretty please work a little miracle and deliver Book 9 as soon as possible.
Reading Books 1 to 8 has been one of the most enjoyable periods of my life.
Thank you.
Hi Diane
I found your book which had been left on an American Airlines flight.
That was over 25 years age. I am still addicted to your books and have just acquired my hard back version of MOHB. You say there will be another book, my goodness! I am going to be reading thse in the nursing home (which is fine by me)
Thank you so much I love the books and the way you write them
Dear Diana,
I am a big fan of your books. A friend of mine recommended your books about 4 years ago and ever since, once I start reading them I can’t stop. I take them everywhere with me. It is always a great pleasure to get home after work, do the house chores and then have a relaxing tome with your books. I feel that I know all your characters and feel their pain, happiness and excitement through the book. It always makes me feel sad when I finish reading a book of yours. It leaves an emptiness, a void in my soul. It’s like having to say farewell to a person that you love deeply and that you know that you will not see in a long time.
You are a very gifted writer and I thank my friend every day for introducing your books to me. I can’t wait for the tv series. I have it booked in my calendar and I feel very thrilled with expectation. You are a very busy person, and I hope that you can write your next book in less than 4 years. I had to read the previous book again in order to remember what had happened before. It was a great idea because I had forgotten important parts of it. Anyway, a big hug for you for making all your fans happy and I look forward to continuing reading your amazing books.
Ana
I thought you did a fabulous job of refreshing our memories about the characters. I expected to have a much harder time remembering them, but you brought us up to speed on each one in a way that seemed perfectly natural. I like the stories, the characters, the medical and historical details, everything but the overly explicit scenes. Would like to recommend the series to a lot of friends, but I can’t because I know they would find such scenes offensive and/or excessive. If you toned that down a bit, you’d capture an even larger audience.
Dear Jean–
Frankly, I’d capture a much bigger audience if I put in lots _more_ sex. [wry g] Reader’s tastes differ; the only criterion I can possibly use is my own judgement as to what’s necessary to tell these people’s stories adequately.
Best,
–Diana
Will you ever write a book with all of the herbal remedies from the Outlander series.
Dear Pat–
Maybe.
Best,
–Diana
YAY!
I agree. Yay! I truly enjoy your books.
I have so enjoyed reading this series. You have such a gift for developing and breathing life into your characters. Everyone of them feels like a three dimensional fleshed out beings. I look forward to reading where ever you continue to bring them. Congratulations on the success of your more recent book. I am still in the process of reading it and am enjoying it very much. May this family of characters inspire you to continue their sagas well into the future.
Dear Diana,
Big fan… near end of Moby… “thanks for the fish” …. u like sci fi too!
Congrats on TV series… hope its great.
First rule of hearing your favorite author takes years to write her next book is “Don’t Panic”.
Thanks again for enriching our lives with your imagination and hard work.
Diana, I just wanted to say thank you for writing the best series I have ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed MOBY—I laughed and cried and then cried some more at the end. I thought it was a great ending to the story but I am excited that there will be a ninth book.
I would love to come to a book signing if you ever come close to North Carolina. I would probably be one of those fans that is awestruck and doesn’t know what to say but I promise it won’t be, “When is book 9 coming out?”
I hope you get a well deserved vacation soon,
Christi
Hi Diana,
Just wanted to let you know how much I LOVE your books. I first read them when Fiery Cross came out – I actually read that first and loved it so much I had to go back and read the series from the beginning – and then read them again.
Since then I have reread the series several times – in between new books coming out just for fun and then every time a new book comes out I read the new book and then go back to the start and read them all again.
Some think I am strange but I never get tired of the series, I am currently re-reading them from start to finish as I have just got MOBY* – I know people give you a hard time about the next book but I am just glad that there will be one (I do secretly wish next week) as I was very upset when this one ended and wished it had gone on and on.
I have also read all the side novelas and even tried once to read them in proper order with the big books.
I love the idea of a prequel.
Whatever comes next I will devour it with glee – this is my favourite series ever and I have put several friends on to it and we are planning a girls night to watch the TV series.
Thanks
Hi, I have never posted on an author’s page before, but I felt it was necessary. I loved the Outlander series, so much that I checked at least weekly for the 8th book. Yes, the book was wonderful, my poor family did not see me for four days!!! Every man for themselves, when I am reading a book as great as this one was. I am glad to read that you are thinking/working/hoping on a 9th book. I would love to have more output about Brianna, Roger Mac and the kids journey to the Ridge. Also, what will become of William, and finally will Frances and Germain have a romance. I am current residing in Texas, and am hoping you may visiting a major city nearby. I will keep looking on your page to see where your travels take you. It would be great to have a book signed by you! You are a great writer, and I love your books, hours upon hours of entertainment. Also, I just ordered STARZ, so I can watch the new Outlander Series. I found it amazing, my mind pictured Claire and Jamie, almost identical to the characters that will play their roles. Amazing! Thank you again for the wonderful books you have written.
I am so glad you are alive and write! God bless you for ALL your books, (and all that goes with them).
I think you should relax after Labor Day, spend some time with Doug and the children, and the furry children.
Feel all the love and gratitude coming your way from all the people all over the globe who follow you.
I was thrilled with the Outlander TV production part one, I hope it continues to be as good.
Thank you Diana.
Diana,
Like most I have read all of the books multiple times and just finished MOBY. Bonzer!! I’ve been so excited about the TV series ever since I first heard of it, and having seen the first episode on Saturday, I have to ask…have you heard any news of being renewed yet??? LOL
Hey, at least I didn’t ask when the next book will be out.
candy
I have loved this series, and I waited as long as I could stand before buying this book because I knew that I would read it as fast as possible, usually a few days and then be left with nothing until the next comes out. I made it last a whole week- and now I have the show to fill in the next 8. Then I will work on my own novel- much like your first novel it’s a practice piece just to see what it looks like and if I can pull it off. They have a story I just need it to come from my head to the page. Thank you so much for your inspiration, and for not making us wait as long as Martin does
I do hope we get to see more story, more filling the blanks and are eventually able to see the story laid out chronologically, not just within one characters lifeline, but from the earliest date to the last date mentioned in the story. Filled with events, locations, and characters ages at the time. That would be a great graphic. I’m off to see if there is already one online somewhere.
I don’t know HOW I did it. But I had MOBY in my hands for 2 weeks before starting to read. I wanted to prolong the joy of continuing the story as long as possible. It was worth it. As though each novel is a long personal letter to me from someone in my own family. Beautifully written, with so much compassion and depth. Thank you.
Its almost as interesting to read your readers comments to you as it is to read your books. Moby is read for the second time and I of course eagerly await book 9. My health too is failing so if my heart, sight and state of mind sustain me I will at least be around for another great book by you. Thanks Diana for giving an old man something to look forward to.