Note: This blog entry is outdated and from January, 2020! BEES will be published on November 21, 2021 in the U.S.A. and U.K. More information.
Dear All—
Geez. Spend the day in a car driving from California to Arizona, and all Hell breaks loose…
On the Amazon websites (in the U.K. and various other countries!) there is a page purporting to give a release (or publication) date of October 20th, 2020, for GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE (with a rather gloomy-looking cover) and providing a link for pre-orders—
NO, IT ISN’T TRUE!!! (but I’ve certainly been getting a lot of apologetic email from publishers…)
First off:
1. NO, the publication date for BEES of October 20th, 2020, (or the 15th, as another Amazon site had it) is NOT CORRECT!
As I told you, the U.S. publisher (who decides the pub date) tells me they aren’t even going to think about a pub date until they have the whole manuscript in hand. (Which they don’t, though it’s only a matter of weeks now…)
2. While the Amazon page for BEES popped up on amazon.co.uk (Amazon’s website for the U.K.), amazon.fr (Amazon’s website for France) and amazon.de (Amazon’s website for Germany), and probably a few others I don’t know about, all the announcements pertain to the U.K.’s release of what’s called an “English export edition”:
The English (original) version of the book is allowed to be sold in other countries, by the U.K. (or U.S.; I think both Random Houses in the U.S.A. and U.K. get to do export editions, but maybe to different parts of the market—it’s been a long time since I read the small print in the contracts—I do read a contract before signing it, every time, but I don’t normally need to review them). So all of this kerfuffle surrounds the U.K. export edition—not the translation editions into other languages done by the German, French, etc., publishers.
3. Not only is the pub date not correct (it can’t be, because there isn’t one yet), the cover is not the one that will be on the book. This was an early design, which I didn’t really like.
4. Apparently, all the erroneous Amazon pages were posted accidentally—and automatically—by what’s being described as “a systems glitch.” You know how it’s possible to set up tweets and Facebook posts ahead of time, so they’ll post automatically at a set time? It works something like that. It’s common for a publishing company to set up a dummy page for a book and add information as available, then when there IS a pub date <ahem>, set the page to go live for pre-orders. You can see that the erroneous page is missing a few things—like the author’s name….
5. I’m assured that the erroneous pages have all been taken down. So—apologies for the kerfuffle, but I repeat (again…) —
I’LL TELL YOU when the pub date is known. And it’s not been set yet.
Once a publication date is set, it will be immediately posted here on my official web pages, including on my official GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE webpage, (bookmark it, please) and on my official “home” web page. For those who use social media, of course I’ll post the news on my official accounts there right away, as well.
Thanks!
-Diana
This blog entry was also posted by me on my official Facebook page on January 15, 2020.
so done with the waiting
I am ready to read about my favorite family. Jamie, Clare, Brianna, Roger, Elain, and little Jamie. I love this series of books the history is just like you are really there. Knowing you research all of your books are beautifully written. I write poetry. So hoping it will printed and release date.Shirley
You may not have an answer to this question because it may not be up to you, but do you know if the first printing of your book will include the tall paperback version? I know that a lot of books are printed in hardback first, and I have a feeling that that is up to the publisher; however, all of my copies of the Outlander series are in paperback, and I like my series of books to be the same height on my bookshelf… because I’m weirdly particular about my bookshelf organization haha. I will be reading this book asap when it is published either way; I’m just curious if you know what form it will be in first.
Also, just curious in general which aspects of the publishing process are up to the author and which are in the hands of the publisher. I am studying English and dreaming of being an editor someday.
Happy writing and Merry Christmas.
Best,
LN Stark
Hi,
The first printing of a new book by Diana has always been released in hardcover first in the U.S.A. and BEES will be no exception. This is common for best-selling authors.
Publishers in Canada, the U.K., Germany, and perhaps a few others where her books are bestsellers also publish new books by Diana in hardcover first. It can vary in different countries, however. It is up to the publisher in a particular country or publishing region to decide.
As to paperback versions and when they are released, usually it is a while after the hardcover.
Diana goes over the publishing procedure in her blog essay from 2015, “What Finished Means To An Author,” available at this link:
http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2015/08/what-finished-means-to-an-author/
The publishing process and what is up to the author vs. what is up to the publisher is complex. The publisher does definitely decide on the publication date.
Cheers,
Loretta
Diana’s Webmistress
hope you & yours are well & safe.
For the TV series a couple of things:
Grampian Mountains are the mountains they are using but nothing like the Blue Ridge Mountains where this is supposedly taking place. I have seen both and live on the TN side of the TN/NC state line (30 miles from Boone, NC). The Grampian Mountains don’t look the same from the ground or the air as the Blue Ridge. Given all the money the show is creating maybe they could do a few shots of the Blue Ridge just to be authentic.
Lynchburg VA: I was born in & raised 3 miles from the city and my family was in the area way back so be careful how you depict Sir John’s “home”. There were scattered farms & plantations but it was a ferry crossing about 1757 & didn’t become “Lynchburg” until 1787. All I ask is don’t try to use Popular Forrest or Red Hill as Sir John’s home. Lynchburg was a trading town/transportation hub with a few plantations. (I still own some of the land from the original land grant from Charles the 2nd)
BTW I would really like to read “Bees” before I cock up my toes so please get inspired & finish it.
Hi, Elizabeth,
Thanks for submitting a web comment. Diana is busy working on BEES so I am helping with replies to comments from readers.
Diana does read all comments, including yours, that are submitted to her web blog entries.
About the TV series, it is an adaptation of her books to video, which means that Starz bought the rights from Diana to make the series, and Starz decides the issues such as where episodes are filmed and what mountains are visible. She is an executive producer, which means they ask for her input, but final decisions are made by the producers, director, and writers of the series. So I’d suggest you send your input to Starz and Tall Ship Productions. Both have a large presence on social media such as Twitter and Facebook, including the producers. Or use contact information on the Starz corporate website.
By instructing Diana to “get inspired & finish it,” implies that she is not inspired and not working on BEES, which is not true in any way. Plus, direct evidence of her hard work which you can see and read includes the more than eighty (80) excerpts, aka “Daily Lines” that Diana has released from the new book, which are accessible from her official BEES webpage:
http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/book-nine-outlander-series/
Once Diana finishes writing and researching the book, it will then be up to her publisher in the U.S.A. and publishers in other countries to typeset, design covers, and publish the book. The release date is always first in the U.S.A., and that date is decided upon BY THE PUBLISHER, not Diana. The release date specifies when the book may actually be purchased, or if you walk in a bookstore, you can walk out with one if they have it in stock. Release dates in other countries, languages and formats might be the same day as in the U.S.A., or could be later.
As to whether or not you “cock up your toes” before BEES is released in the country where you live, all I can say is please eat your veggies and think positively! Diana cares about you and all of her dedicated readers, which is why she works so hard every day.
Cheers,
Loretta M.
Diana’s Webmistress
webmaster@dianagabaldon.com
I have enjoyed books 1-8 immensely as well as the DVDs of the TV series but I refuse to wait 10 years between books for any author. Having waited this long, the thread of the story is long gone and I am no longer interested in buying the last 2 books. I can’t believe your publishers are so foolish as to let you procrastinate this long. I doubt that I am alone in my feelings.
Hi, Melissa,
Of course you can decide to do whatever makes you happy.
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD, Book 8 in the Outlander series, was first published in hardcover on June 10, 2014 in the U.S.A. That’s about five and a half years ago, not “ten” years.
OUTLANDER, the first book in the series of major novels, was first published in hardcover in 1991, almost thirty years ago. She began writing OUTLANDER about three years before it was published.
Since BEES will hopefully be published in 2021, it has taken an average of three to four years for her to write the first nine books in the series and for them to be published. Just divide 33 years by 9 books, and you’ll get 3.67 years on average. And yes, BEES has taken longer.
Each of Diana’s major novels in the Outlander series is 700 pages or more, the equivalent of three or more average-sized novels. And her books are chock full of history which she interweaves into her stories, and all that historical research takes a lot of time.
In addition to the nine major OUTLANDER novels, in the past 30 years Diana has written numerous pieces of Outlander and Lord John short fiction, and a Lord John novel.
I’d say Diana Gabaldon has accomplished a heck of a lot in 33 years, with more good things to come!
Happy Holidays,
Loretta M.
Diana’s Webmistress
Nicely said!
Hear hear!!
Actually, Webmistress, that’s six and a half years ago, not five and a half, and it seems it will be seven or more before the new release. It is a long wait for us fans. But, what choice do we have? Looking forward to the new book!
Kim,
I stand corrected! From June, 2014 to December, 2020 is six and a half years, not five and a half.
Thanks for pointing it out!
Loretta
Diana’s Webmistress
Well said Loretta! I can’t believe true fans would respond in such a way. I am longing for the release of Bees so very much but I am also so very grateful for the time and effort that Dianna puts into her work for all of us that I will wait a lifetime for it if I must!
You understand that authors aren’t at your bidding? This book will arrive when it arrives. And, if you’re going to kick up a tantrum, it makes me curious how much of a fan you really are. If she’s taking this long to produce a new book, I’m excited. She could rush it, sure, but that rarely equals a good book. Instead, she’s been working a way at it, and I’m thrilled to see the research and quality. I can’t believe you’re this foolish and anyone who shares your public display is actually a fool.
I agree with you Melissa. I am now in my mid 70s and at this rate won’t live long enough to read the last two books.
I guess I’m just a “glass is half-full” type of person, but if I kick the bucket tomorrow, I am so happy and grateful that I got to read and enjoy Diana’s books and those of my other favorite authors–like Ursula K. Le Guin, Arthur C. Clarke, and Shakespeare, while I was still on the planet.
Be glad you are alive in the great space-time continuum now. Think of all of the individuals who lived in the last 200,000 years of our species’ history and did not get to read anything! Perspective, my dears.
Crankily,
Loretta
Diana’s Webmistress
It is no hardship to re-read books 1 to 8 to pick up the thread again before book 9 comes out! In fact it is a positive joy to be able to immerse yourself in the lives of Claire and Jamie in our Covid-19 riddled times.
I have already ordered my signed copy from The Poisoned Pen. I was really hoping to have it for Christmas, but any time will do. Her books are always worth the wait.
I too have waited patiently for #9. However, rather than complain that it’s not out yet and we’ve had to wait SO long, I have just gone ahead and read the whole 8 again from book 1. I never fail to enjoy them immensely, and I realize each time I read them that there is a new detail or two that I have missed! I have read the whole series 3 times and am on book #4 of the fourth go-round. I LOVE it!
I certainly understand Melissa’s frustration. But, as Loretta points out, in actuality the books on average are just 3-4 years apart in the publishing dates. Not bad, for exceptionally long and well researched books!
As for losing track of the story line, that’s true! How about a short primer, reminding us of what happened in the previous book?
I also have a signed copy of “Bees” pre-ordered and looking forward to getting it in my hands as much as anyone. I also understand that this past year has been incredibly difficult for a lot of people and businesses. Rereading the previous books is a good way to pass the time while we wait for the story to continue. As anxious as I am for this book, I know that it will be worth the wait and I appreciate the attention to detail Diana puts into each and every one of these wonderful stories.
A Happy and Healthy New Year To All!
Hello Diana!
Just wondering: will there be any more content on Phaedre? I always found her character interesting.
Diana, I have been moved and drawn to the prayers and blessings in the series. Would you consider a publication of them in the future?