Below is a new excerpt from GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE, which will be book nine in my OUTLANDER series of novels.
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Jamie and Brianna came back in mid-afternoon, with two brace of squirrels, fourteen doves, and a large piece of stained and tattered canvas which, unwrapped, revealed something that looked like the remnants of a particularly grisly murder.
“Supper?” I asked, gingerly poking at a shattered bone sticking out of the mass of hair and slick flesh. The smell was iron-raw and butcherous, with a rank note that seemed familiar, but decay hadn’t yet set in to any noticeable degree.
“Aye, if ye can manage, Sassenach.” Jamie came and peered down at the bloody shambles, frowning a little. “I’ll tidy it up for ye. I need a bit o’whisky first, though.”
Given the blood-stains on his shirt and breeks, I hadn’t noticed the equally stained rag tied round his leg, but now saw that he was limping. Raising a brow, I went to the large basket of food, small tools, and minor medical supplies that I lugged up to the house site every morning.
“From what’s left of it, I presume that is—or was—a deer. Did you actually tear it apart with your bare hands?”
Brianna snickered.
“No, but the bear did.” She exchanged complicit glances with her father, who hummed in his throat.
“Bear,” I said, and took a deep breath. I gestured at his shirt. “Right. How much of that blood is yours?”
“No much,” he said tranquilly, and sat down on the big log. “Whisky?”
I looked sharply at Brianna, but she seemed to be intact. Filthy, and with green-gray bird-droppings streaked down her shirt, but intact. Her face glowed with sun and happiness, and I smiled.
“There’s whisky in the tin canteen hanging over there,” I said, nodding toward the big spruce at the far side of the clearing. “Do you want to fetch it for your father while I see what’s left of his leg?”
“Sure. Where are Mandy and Jem?”
“When last seen, they were playing by the creek with Aidan and his brothers. Don’t worry,” I added, seeing her lower lip suck suddenly in. “It’s very shallow there and Fanny said she’d go and keep an eye on Mandy while she’s collecting leeches. Fanny’s very dependable.”
“Mm-hm.” Bree still looked dubious, but I could see her fighting down her maternal impulse to go scoop Mandy out of the creek immediately. “I know I met her last night, but I’m not sure I remember Fanny. Where does she live?”
“With us,” Jamie said, matter-of-factly. “Ow!”
“Hold still,” I said, holding the puncture wound below his knee open with two fingers while I poured saline solution into it. “You don’t want to die of tetanus, do you?”
“And what would ye do if I said yes, Sassenach?”
“The same thing I’m doing right now. I don’t care if you want to or not; I’m not having it.”
Click to visit my BEES webpage which has information and links to more excerpts from this new book.
This excerpt was also posted on my official Facebook page on January 19, 2018.
Thank you for books. When can I read this new one? I have just bought Season 3 and loving it but the makeup dept. have done a great job ageing Claire but Jamie still looks the same, maybe more pronounced mussles (in a 45 years old man?) ?? Please can this be addressed so that it is believeable.
Many thanks.
Please hurry!
Dear Dianna,
I already thank you for the story so many times but I think one more time is never enough in this case.
I love the way you use words and that you use so many of them. I came across so many new words and learn new usage. There are many popular writers but for some reason, they do not extend the vocabulary and basically, after the third book you can predict which way the action of the book will go. That is why I read your books again to remember the details, not for the story but how you said it and what words exactly were used. That is why I value your writing so much because is full of knowledge about Scotland and early US history, about the biology, herbs, custom and most of it the relationship of people. I cannot wait for the new book to come out.
There was a Polish writer who wrote Peasants ( Władysław Stanisław Reymont ( Nobel Prize). A very detailed story of four seasons of peasant life. I think that is what you accomplish in your books. Bring to XXI century living of people in early colonies, almost like a documentary:)
The last time I could not put books down, I was in fourth grade reading Three Musketeers by Alexander Duma. After the first book, I was so happy to discover that there are two more. To this day I have remembered the feeling of excitement when I was going to bed to read next chapter.
That is exactly how do I feel know, even to read for the second time.
Reading other posts I agree that there are hanging some unfinished pathways of the stories.
1) The ghost of Jamy in the beginning of the first book. Will we learn why he was there?
2) Frank WWII story, will we get more details?
3) Will we learn more about MASTER RAYMOND?
4)Will we learn more about Fergus and why his mother and father family?
These are four questions that I remember now?
Sincerely,
Bozena
Thanks for sharing! Love your books, the Claire and Jamie ssaga in particular! Cannot wait for “Bees”!
There is going to be unseemly begging and grovelling here. Dear Diana, could you please get this book finished before I lose the will to live. PLEASE. I am waiting with dated breath. I am not getting any younger.
Can’t wait!!!!!
Thank you for this most recent gift – It is all that’s keeping me going until Bee’s is released. Cheers, Richard
Oh I love reading these. I can always visualize the scenes you write like I’m sitting in the room with them. Makes my day! Thank you for always sharing your talent!
Just makes me so eager to read the whole book.. hurry hard, as they say in curling LOL
You brighten my day !!
Linda
Diana,
I love your books, I can not wait to read this when it comes out.
Thank you for your writings and sharing them with us.
Thank you
Nancy
Thank ok for sharing your gifts. Each book, daily lines and various articles are so special and most loved. They make my day glow.
I look forward to seeing the gang come to life with your words.
Jamie seems to have 99 lives! I thoroughly enjoy the daily lines….always wishing for more. Looking forward to the final product.
I’m a very big and longtime fan of your writings. I tried to meet you at the Scottish Games a few years ago, but couldn’t get close due to the mob of your other fans. I just wanted tell you how much I love your writings and that your books have helped me many times over the last few years!!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Thanks, Karen! Much appreciated!
–Diana
I have become addicted to this series. I am now watching Outlander on Starz just waiting for Book 9.
I admire your writing skills and love the way you combine history (I often check your historical events and you seem to be always spot on) and stories of people who have become almost real to me. Sometimes I think of something I should tell them when I’m shopping or doing some mundane thing of the day.
What a gift you have.
Please hurry with the next book and never stop writing them. They’ve become family and I need to know what happens to all of them.
Best,
Barbara
Thanks so much for the teasers. I can hardly wait for you to finish the book so I can see them in the correct context. Thank you!
So looking forward to “Bees”. Loving the excerpts. About to reread “Drums” again before season 4 begins.
Dear Mrs. Diana, I read today the last page of Outlander’s book 8. Tx for your work. You made me dream and live with you for so many days and nights. From the days of first men at today and long in the future, the story-tellers will have a good spot near the house fire. You have your own in mine. Stay warm and serene and tell us another story. We’ll be waiting.
I’m not much of a “fan” person, but I must tell you there are a hand full of contemporary writers I am completely and fanatically enamored with; Stephen King, Neil Gaiman and Ms. Diana Gabaldon, you! Your mind, your writing and the amazingly complex, beautiful world and characters you have created for all us just…I don’t know how to say it in words, or at least not words of my own. I’m not the writer. I get lost in your books, their people and places, I really do feel like I open the book and fall right in. Thank you, thank you so much for this real, warm, rich, dangerous, exciting, exhilarating, loving world where I’ve also been able to learn many things along the way, I can have actual relationships with the characters, (not in a weird way, I do have a very busy, full life), I love most of the characters and actual despise some. Like everyone else, I can’t wait for number 9. I think I’ll get a t-shirt that says just that, “Waiting for No. 9″. Maybe people will look at me funny, thinking I’m waiting for my 9th child or 9th grandchild. Ha ha. I am in awe of your complex world and thanks again for Claire, Jamie, Ian (maybe my favorite), Fergus, Murtagh, Jenny, Lallybroch, Fraser’s Ridge and all the rest.
Hallo Diana,
I have been totally addicted to your books since a friend first recommended Cross Stitch to me back in the day.
I am currently re-reading the series, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done that!
What I really want to say though, is that I was in rather a quandary after Christmas, as I settled down with the box set of Series 1 & 2 of Outlander…my daughter had gifted it to me, and much as I wanted to watch it, I truly believed that nothing could do the books justice (are you aware of the Lee Child series of Jack Reacher books? I love them too, but am totally unable to watch the films as Tom Cruise was cast as Jack, which is just going to ruin my image of him for future reading). However, I started watching episode 1, and within 5 minutes was utterly hooked! Clare, just as I imagined her!! Oh joy!! I was gripped, and no other character disappointed me. I watched the Special Features and was amazed – and thrilled – that you had been the overseeing consultant, meaning the books were brought to life as opposed to a tv company just making a “lookalike” series. And I was so impressed at the lengths the production company went to in regard of the historical accuracy of everything, especially the making of the actual tartans for the kilts. Wow!
Congratulations on keeping so many of us happy for so long, and long may it continue!
Val Woods