See the note below—this post is from July 6, 2014 and is a bit outdated…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").
OMG! I LOVE these books. My only issue is I started them just this year and now I am nearly done listening to it. I can’t wait! It will kill me! So here is my proposition. Charge us a yearly subscription to your blog and write a chapter or so a month… What do you think?
If the publishers give you any grief I am sure a I can pass on a copy of Outlander to our local mob boss and he will make sure they leave you alone once hooked.
On a more serious note, I have gone from dreading waking up and making the hour long drive into and from work each day to looking forward to those parts of my day due to you and Davina Porter. The only part of my drive I no longer enjoy is turning off the car and pausing the book. The two of you are truly wonderful together. Thank you.
Dear Cliff–
Well, your suggestion might work…if I wrote in a linear fashion. [g] As it is, I don’t–I don’t even _have_ chapters ’til I’ve finished the book; breaking the ms. into discrete chapters and titling them is the final thing I do to a book before sending it to my editors. So I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait…
To pass the time in the meantime, though, you might want to check out the new “OUTLANDER” TV series that’s about to air on Starz, starting this Saturday (August 9th, at 9 PM, all time zones). If you don’t have STARZ, you can still check out the first episode for free; they’ve made it available online–on http://www.starz.com and YouTube (just search on “Outlander First Episode Preview”), and on various On Demand channels. Hope you enjoy that, too!
Best,
–Diana
I live in Sweden and have read all your books (2 times now). When I heard that a new book MOBY was coming out, I ordered the book in English. All the other books are translated to swedish. During my vacation this summer I have read your new book and it was amasing. It took some time for me and there were some words that I had some difficulties with, but I loved the book. I am looking forward to read more about all the persons. I am not a big fan of “science fiction” but your books just captured me. It is the best series I have ever read. I am going to buy your books and give them to some of my friends.
Thanks again and take care
Dear Inez–
(My grandmother’s name was Inez. [g]) Really glad that you enjoyed the book! Since you read English so fluently, perhaps you’d find it interesting to go back and read some of the earlier books in the original language. Even though I believe the Swedish translations are good, there are always thing–like the Scottish accents–that simply can’t _be_ translated.
Best,
–Diana
I just finished the 3rd time through MOBY/ added to 3 times for the forerunners. Tears for the friends I’ve come to love. We wwere in
scotland in 1995…loved everone we met. I wish I could return, as I met ffamily after 200 yrs.
Because of a mixup I didn’t get to see the TV…I hope to get it on DVD or ?
I am just one more super-fan that has loved your books for the past 20years. I have Scotch-Irish roots via the Stewart Clan that immigrated to SC from Antrim County Ireland in 1788. I’ve always felt the lure of the highlands, but never as much as after I started reading your books. At the top of my bucket list is a trip to Scotland. Of course, now my holiday will be twice as long due to having to visit Fraser and MacKenzie sites along with Stewart ones! LOL I LOVE the historical settings and info in your books. I am also a nurse and have developed a true love of botany and medicinal herbs from watching Claire convert her 20th century knowledge into 18th century practice. Loved the ending of MOBY and will, of course, now have to start back at the beginning and re-read them all again. *oh darn!* (think I should warn my unwary family? nah, me neither). Anyway, take a vacation and, as my Stewart Grandmother always said, “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise”, I’ll be here waiting anxiously, and not patiently (sorry!) when it comes out. Cudo’s to you and THANKS!
Diana,
I sent you a message on twitter and someone told me to try asking my question here. I’m worried about a spoiler but I’m confident that if I’m vague you will get the gist of what I am trying to ask.
At Bartram’s Garden, when Claire and Jamie are talking about what happened between her and Lord John, Jamie says that he didn’t think it mattered that much. I trust you recall the context of the conversation. I have read this section a dozen times at least with different ideas of what Jamie and Claire might mean by “it.” I have brought it to the amazingly bright women in the Outlander discussion group that I belong to and they, for the most part, think Jamie is saying that he didn’t think that *what everyone thought happened on the ship with Jenny but didn’t actually happen* mattered to Claire. I don’t agree. I think that he is saying that he didn’t realize that *what happened the night that Lord John couldn’t mourn alone* mattered that much.
Normally, I don’t mind not knowing exactly what you intended something to mean but this one is bugging me for some reason. I just can’t fathom Jamie saying he didn’t think it mattered that much to, you know, the ship thing. Will you shed some light on it?
Thanks either way!!
Jessica
Dear Jessica–
He did mean his presumed death. Not that he didn’t think Claire would _care_–but that seeing her reaction now, he realizes the full extent of her emotional devastation, in a way that he wouldn’t have if he hadn’t seen it in her recounting. And realizing that, now understands what actually happened between her and Lord John.
Best,
–Diana
Diana,
Alrighty then, :). I’m going to take your word for it as you are the authority on the matter. I still don’t understand how Jamie could think that Claire would be anything less than devastated by his death but people are strange creatures.
Thank you for replying to my question. I know you are busy so it’s super cool.
Cheers!
Jessica
Dear Diana,
I understand other readers feeling closure with “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood” and truly it is a wonderful book. However, I am greedy , I guess, because I can hardly wait for book 9!! I know it will be several years but I can wait. I want to experience the miracle of their reunion with Bree and Roger and children. I know how they have all missed each other. Bree will somehow bring William into the family as son, brother and uncle. etc and Jamie and John will reach an accomodation with each other! Roger will fall back in love with his commitment to his ministry (which he is already doing). I want to meet Ian’s & Rachel’s son and meet Denny’s and Dorothea’s baby. Just joking!
Whatever you write will be as devastatingly real and charming as all your other works.
I read “Outlander” in the eighties and had no idea there were other books about these lovely people for several years! I corrected that oversight (on my part) as soon as I became aware…
I have read “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood” cover to cover four times since I purchased my copy.
I cannot thank you enough for your gorgeous writing, your careful attention to detail and for bringing these characters so totally to life! You are gifted and Jamie and Claire truly live!
Thank you,
Vicki Peery
Thank you, Vicki!
Really pleased that you enjoyed MOBY so much! [g] And Book Nine will be along in good time–hope you’ll enjoy it when you get it!
Best,
–Diana
Dear Diana,
As someone who adores a good time-travel and timeless love story, I don’t know how I missed your books. One has to begin somewhere, and I have read through the first four since the tv series began on Starz. I admire your writing and greatly respect the amount of research you have done.
Since you say there will be a Book Nine. I really, really do hope you are at least considering closing the circle of this great love story with Jaime’s ghost standing under Claire’s window looking at her in 1945. It was moving to read in Outlander and to view on the tv screen. It would be a challenge, but what a way to end an engrossing saga.
All best wishes
Dear Susan–
I’ve always said that the ghost will be explained–as the last thing in the last book. We aren’t there yet, though. [g]
Best,
–Diana
Diana,
Didn’t Jaime dream of the moment in the “future” when he watched Claire from the street? I think it was in Echo in the Bone. Isn’t that almost explanation enough?
Kimberley
Dear Kimberly–
No. [g] But don’t worry, you’ll find out. Eventually.
–Diana
Dear Diana –
I teared up the first moment of the pilot episode during the opening song of the Starz Series because it was just so rich and heartwarming. I am embarrassed to admit on this type of forum that this was my first introduction to Outlander. As this was during a time of deep depression and hardship for me, I cannot tell you how much this love story helped me understand and learn to forgive in my own marriage and brought sunshine to a badly needed dark space.
From there I looked to soak up everything I could! I loved watching your interview on the Starz extras and seeing you at the Gathering!! I loved the “Drought-lander” and waiting every month for another tidbit. But meanwhile, I got my hands on the books and let’s just say the characters, details, smells, sounds everything on the grand on that giant HDTV with surround sound came even MORE to life in your beautiful words.
I’m only halfway through Drums and almost savor every page as a newbie knowing that I “only” have four more books left. To make sure I am never in a state of withdrawal I order the next book in the series online when I only have 200 pages left.
Thank you for taking the risk and Leaning In to follow your passion and letting us in on your “practice” novel that turned into so much for people around the world. Your technical and scientific background and steadfast commitment to historical and pharmaceutical accuracy transforms your stories into life lessons! I even got deep down the rabbit hole with essential oils, inspired by my physician Claire Fraser.
But after all this rambling, the real reason I wanted to reach out to you is to say that I too am SOOO excited to learn how Jaime’s ghost in the very first Starz episode will play into the ninth book and bring us full circle!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You have given us all a gift and renewed hope that love does surpass time and the physical world.
Warmest regards,
Sarah
Thank you very much, Sarah! I’m really glad that you’ve enjoyed both the show and the books so far! (I don’t know that Book Nine is necessarily the last one–but you will eventually have the answer to Jamie’s ghost!)
Best,
–Diana
Diana,
I understand the impulse to ask about the next book, but it must feel like when a newly delivered mother is asked if and when she is planning the next pregnancy!
Greatly enjoyed MOBY -in fact reread whole series including Lord John books-the ending was lovely.
Jackleen
The Outlander books were the PERFECT books for me!
I love the time travel, the American Revolution, (have been
asked to join the DAR many times ) but mostly it’s the live story.
Thank you so much for the wonderful time I’ve had reading your books.
Can’t wait for the next!
Diana,
As so many of us have said before….thank you so much for you hard work, imagination and these characters that we have all fallen in love with. I was in my 20′s when I started reading Outlander and am now turning 47 next month. The years in between were filled with the usual. Marriage, the Navy, travel, friends, family and finally children. Life threw us many curve balls along the way, but all through I’ve had your story to fall in love with, to escape with, to learn history with and to fill lonely gaps when my husband was deployed. I can’t even begin to tell you what a comfort your books are to my soul, to read of Jamie and Claire’s love and devotion to each other. I’m excited about a future Book 9, but for now I still have my good friends, Books 1 through 8. Thank you again!
Sondra Yasik
Hi Diana
Thank you so much for your simply wonderful writing. I just wish there were actual men like Jamie in the world. There probably are but I just haven’t met them. I was a bit bemused at myself because after waiting so long for MOBY I read it in a couple of days & then thought to myself “what on earth did you do that for”. Have just completed the second read. The Outlander books and Lord John are the only books I retained of the many hundred I owned when I moved into a very small a couple of years ago.
Is the TV series going to be shown in Australia?
Thank you again for bringing joy into my life. I sincerely hope you get some time to yourself now.
Beverley
Hi Beverley – you’ve probably seen by now, but Outlander is on one of the Foxtel channels (Soho I think?)
Talk about multi-tasking. Yikes! I do wish book nine was right around the corner. I’m not getting any younger.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, release The STARZ OUTLANDER series on DVD. I can’t pay for a year long subscription, on a series that comes on twice a year. I have read and re-read the series, listened to it on audio books and can hear Jaime talking to Claire, when I think about the series. He had such wisdom about life in general. I am dreading not being able to see it.
Thnak you for such a wonderful series of books and now the show.
Ann Rivers
Dear Ann–
I don’t have a thing to do with the marketing or sales of the TV show–but I mean…really. Think about it. Do you know ANY TV show that doesn’t come out on DVD? Why on earth would a production company _not_ do DVDs? “Oh, why would we do that? We have plenty of money, why bother…?” Come on. [g]
–Diana
Oh! That would be great, so no Problem for me in Germany!!
Dear Diana- I stumbled across a paperback of Outlander in the ’90′s….hooked forever.
Now I have all the hardbacks, audios and have bought tons more to get friends hooked.
Between you and ‘Braveheart’ my one wish before I die is to travel to Scotland…I am 70 and have no one to go with so believe that will be a dream that will never come true.
I know how ticked it must make you when someone says they have a ‘suggestion’ for future books.
You are the writer, the creator, the artist…you are the one giving birth…no one else.
If they have ideas then they should write.
It makes me angry when I am trying to create something or decorate and someone tells me how I should be doing it.
By the way, I am trying very hard to like the boy playing Jamie but so far he just isn’t ‘JAMIE’.
Thank you for finding and sharing your talent.
Paulette Kershner
Diana, is the TV series
Diana, Is the TV series of the first book – Outlander – going to be aired in Canada?
I have been following Claire and Jamie since the first book was published. I have read all of the books several times as well as purchased the whole series in CD format. I am glad to see that the series has been made into a movie. I have looked a pictures of filming and all I can say is WOW! I do not get Starz but hope that the series will be available in DVD format.
Diana, well done indeed!
Diana,
Just finished MOBY – loved it and especially the end – I had hoped the story would have this happy ending and I am not one bit disappointed! I’ve read all books 3 times – and I’m pretty sure I’ll do it again, but for now I will be engrossed in the TV series. I’ve already watched the first episode 4 times. Hah! Nobody can beat your imagination and expertise in writing. Thank you Diana for the most wonderful reading experience I’ve had in my 69 years.
Dear Karen–
Thanks! MOBY isn’t the last book of the series, you know. There _is_ a Book Nine, in the fullness of time–hope you’ll enjoy that one, too!
–Diana
Oh Diana – I am well aware you are working on a ninth book – believe me! I know there will be more stories to tell and I am so looking forward to it. Like many other of your fans I am one of those who keeps saying I only hope to live long enough to read that last book – haha. You go girl – health, happiness, more writing, and some relaxing time for you also ~
Always a fan~
Karen
Dear Diana,
Love, love, love your writing and how vividly each character has been brought out of your imagination and made completely human (or inhuman!). I came late to the Outlander party, didn’t start reading them until two years ago, but have pretty much been continuously re-reading them since. I managed to make MOBY last for about ten days by restricting my reading to only at bedtime for a few chapters.
I like BIG BOOKS and I cannot lie…
Congratulations on all your success and the joy you get from delving into history with your beloved Jamie and Claire, and now moving on to the next generation. I was sad when I came to finish the last words of MOBY, but will reread it and enjoy it all over again many times. I can’t tell you how much it pleases me to have the main character of your book be a woman of age; a smart, sassy, and fierce woman at that, too.
The first episode of Outlander was so good! My husband and I enjoyed it thoroughly, though I did have a little bit of trouble hearing the Scottish accents. Definitely glad we have the Starz channel and will look forward to all the episodes!
Thank you, thank you, for creating the Outlander world and all its amazing braw and bonny inhabitants. In my mind, when I read your books, you are Jenny Murray
My daughter and I read all these books together during her teen and young adult years. As we read, we always “cast” the movie so that we could “see” the scenes unfolding with real faces. So many years passed that we had to select new actors, as our originals got too old to play the parts. Some great actors missed out on the role of their lives. I haven’t read MOBY yet, and now I read there’s another coming! I just turned 61. Hope I live to find out how this story ends. My theory is that Jamie and Claire cannot die in the same time, or why would Jamie be looking for her in the first book? Also if Claire dies in the past, is she yet to be born in the 20th century? And thus the cycle will ever repeat. The conundrum of time travel–fascinating to think about, but very complicated!
My daughter called me today and told me about the Starz series. I called DirecTV right away and ordered Starz just for that. Got the DVR set to record the series.
Thank you. MOBY got me through the first 36 hours after oral surgery. I opened the book hoping for distraction from the aftermath happening in my mouth and fell into the Revolutionary time period. Living with Jamie and Claire as they experienced life and death together kept me up for hours.
I now want to return to the start, as it has been years since I was introduced to the group who are friends who came into my life.
Enjoy a little time for YOU. It must be very intense living in 2 worlds as you write of their adventures. Keep yourself strong….so we can enjoy more adventures after you have had time to enjoy YOUR life.
Thanks again.
I know that authors take a broad view of their works, so that they may create a strong and cohesive piece of literature, but I cannot help but being completely preoccupied in wanting a happily ever after for Jamie and Claire.
These characters, and us along with them, have endured so much together! I cannot help but be extremely anxious in waiting for the ninth book, if only to see whether we’ll all be left after closing the book feeling like we just experienced a heartbreaking goodbye or a heartwarming hello.
I’m ashamed to admit it, because as much as I read the books for the plot and writing, I must admit I read it first and foremost because Jamie and Claire’s love story is so powerful. If I find that the ninth book doesn’t end with them happily growing old(er) together, I don’t know if I’ll be able to read it.
My heart aches at the thought of concluding such an epic love story in tragedy, as so many love stories are.
I hope Jamie and Claire can find peace in the ninth book, and find it together.