Archive for 2024

I said I’d post my enchilada recipe today, but time got away from me, in the rush. If there’s no time to make them for tomorrow, there’s always New Year’s! ENCHILADAS My father was always one to recognize both merit and shortcomings. Consequently, while he was often generous with praise, all his compliments came with a “BUT…” attached. “This is wonderful, BUT…” In fact, I remember only three unqualified compliments from him. Thirty years ago, he told me that my swimming stroke was perfect. Twenty years ago, he told me that my children were beautiful. And on Christmas day, two weeks before he died, he told me that my enchiladas were as good as his. (I have witnesses!) Christmas Day was the last time I saw him. But he’ll always be with me, in the pull of water past my arms, in the faces of my children—and in the smell of garlic and chile, floating gently through the air of my kitchen. Enchiladas Recipe For them as don’t know, an […]

Today is the Fourth (and final) Sunday of Advent. The waiting is almost over, but the anticipation is still to be enjoyed. The final candle (since we’ve used the other labels) is Peace. Peace is one of those things that you can’t really define (not that people don’t, but—like love—it has depths and shimmering facets of meaning), but you know it when you encounter it. Hence the Biblical quote, “The peace that passeth understanding.” Peace often comes and finds you in the midst of Things (like realizing you’re leaving for the journey to another city for Christmas in two hours, and you haven’t yet wrapped the presents that you need to drop off at FedEx on the way…), and we often don&rsquol;t realize that this happens because we carry peace with us, all the time. Peace is part of our nature, just as we’re part of nature. Now, I’m a biologist by training, and am also one of those people who (as my father disapprovingly said (manymanymany times), “have your […]

This is the Third Sunday of Advent. People and sources differ as to whether this particular candle should be “Joy,” “Love,” or “Peace,” but the Catholic Church has historically called this day “Gaudete” Sunday—which means “Rejoicing.” Are we rejoicing that Advent is nearly over, and Christmas is coming? Or panicking because we’ve just thought of three people for whom we haven’t yet found presents, and omg, we haven’t touched the Christmas cards!? Oh, wait… yes, yes we did mail the cards! Could be any (or all) of these things; a word like “Rejoicing” covers a lot, but in the end comes down to simple happiness—and I think that this is always because of Love. Love of God, the Love of Christ, and Love of each other. Love that reaches out and gently touches us, Love that inflames and comforts the soul. Gaudete! -Diana [EXCERPT from BOOK TEN (Untitled), Copyright © 2024 Diana Gabaldon] He’d slept like a log last night, though, worn out from his journey, plied with good, hot […]

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. Today/tonight, we light the second candle in our wreath. Customs around the world vary as to which candle carries which meaning and when it’s lighted, but where I am right now, the second candle is called “Joy.” The nature of Joy is elemental. You can’t really plan for it to happen (though you may hope), and often are surprised by its appearance in an unlikely place or time. Joy is a comet—often unexpected in its coming, but the tail of its memory stretches long in a spray of light across dark skies. [Excerpt from BOOK TEN (Untitled), Copyright © 2024 Diana Gabaldon] “What are you thinking?” I asked. “I know it’s about William.” “Oh, aye?” Jamie glanced at me, mouth curled up at one side. “And what do I look like if I’m thinking of William?” “Like someone’s handed you a wrapped package and you’re not sure whether it’s something wonderful, or a bomb.” That made him laugh, and he put an arm […]

What’s on my mind? Well, turkey, natch… but not far behind is <gasp> CHRISTMAS! To wit… I was chatting with Barbara Peters (owner of the fabulous Poisoned Pen bookstore), who tells me that if you plan on giving (or acquiring for yourself <g>) a new, signed/personalized OUTLANDER book (any or all of them) for Christmas, the cutoff dates—this means that orders placed after these dates below can’t be guaranteed to arrive BY Christmas (you’ll certainly get them, just not for sure before Christmas)—are: December 16th, for U.S. orders, and December 3rd or December 4th for foreign orders (owing to longer shipping time). The Pen normally carries ALL my books (also oddities like the new Outlander trivia game—yes, I’ll sign those, too) in all available formats. And yes, I’ll personalize books (there’s no extra charge for that) if you like. [Personalize means I will write a short message, such as ‘To Jill,’, and also sign my name.] Click on the link below to visit the Poisoned Pen’s online store and their […]

Whew… just back from a working cruise down the Danube (and getting up in the middle of each night on the river in order to write a script for the Prequel, needed in two weeks. Luckily, I made it. <g>). So—just in time for a brief excerpt in honor of Jamie’s birthday tomorrow (and a quick “Happy Birthday!” to Sam Heughan, whose birthday is/was today): EXCERPT from BOOK TEN (UNTITLED), Copyright © 2024 Diana Gabaldon [Jamie and Roger sitting outside the malting shed, discussing Jamie’s imminent departure to find Lord John.] “Are you afraid?” he said. Jamie gave Roger a sharp look, but shrugged and settled himself before replying. “Does it show?” “Not on you,” Roger reassured him. “On Claire.” Jamie looked astonished, but after a moment’s contemplation, nodded slightly. “Aye, I suppose it does. She sleeps wi’ me, ken?” Evidently Roger’s expression didn’t show complete comprehension, for Jamie sighed a little and leaned back against the wall of the malting shed. “I dream,” he said simply. “I can mind […]

A Happy and Blessed Easter (or other spring festival/contemplative occasion or feast involving eggs…) to you all! HAPPY EASTER-EGG! [Excerpt from (Untitled) BOOK TEN, Copyright © 2024 Diana Gabaldon] They stopped for the night near a small creek, having passed the afternoon in silence, and made camp and ate, with no more than the occasional grunt of inquiry and acknowledgement while sharing out the last of the cheese, hard-cooked eggs, and soaking the last of the rock-hard journeycake in the last of the cider. Finally, William cleared his throat, and Fraser looked at him, one bushy brow cocked. “We’re following them, aren’t we?” “There’s only the one road,” Fraser pointed out. “I’d prefer they not be following us. And they’ve at least a day’s head start, thank God.” “True. But still.” “Still?” “That prayer,” William blurted. “To Saint Michael. ‘Defend us in battle.’ That wasn’t for the—the dead man and his sons; you said a prayer in Gaelic when we buried them.” “Aye. It’s called “Soul Leading”— ye say it […]

Tonight is the Vigil of Easter, a service where we hear readings from the Bible regarding God’s deliverance of His people (e.g., the flight from Egypt and the path through the Red Sea), the reading of the Passion (the description of Jesus’s condemnation and crucifixion), and the Resurrection. Catechumens (the people who wish to become Catholics and have been taking instruction) will be baptized, and others confirmed. It’s a time of mingled sorrow, hope and joy—the coming of Easter. For the moment, I thought I’d post the following snip from BEES (the chapter titled “Metanoia”), as it’s rather apropos. (Tomorrow, I’ll post a new excerpt as an Easter egg. <g>) [Excerpt from GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE, Copyright © 2021 Diana Gabaldon] A stack of these broadsides had been left on the breakfast table; he’d caught a glimpse of one headline as Germain had gathered them up and tapped the pages tidily into order before putting them in his bag: THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF HENRY HUGHES […]

Originally posted on April 7, 2023. A VERY HAPPY EASTER, RAMADAN MUBARAK, and CHAG KASHER VE SAMEACH! I hope everyone (of whatever belief) has had a wonderful time this weekend/season with family, friends and rejoicing in the spirit of life. I was of two minds about posting this particular excerpt—it is a slight spoiler—but it seemed particularly appropriate for Easter. [Excerpt from UNTITLED BOOK TEN, Copyright © 2023 Diana Gabaldon] In which Jamie and William are crossing a patch of wild land. I’m not telling you where they’re going or why. <g> (NB: Things in square brackets are places where something—like a particular bit of Gaelic—will be filled in later.) And “crined” is not a typo; it’s a Scots word, meaning “shrunken” or “crumpled”. Jamie felt the crawling and slapped a hand hard over his ribs. The slap numbed his flesh for a moment, but the instant it passed, he felt the tickle again—and in several places at once, including his— “[Gaelic curse]! Earbsa!” He ripped the flap of his […]

On March 6th, 1988, I began writing a novel. For practice. I didn’t intend to show it to anybody, and had no idea what it might turn out to be about. I just wanted to learn how to write a book. And I did. <g> So, here are TWO brief excerpts from the tenth offspring of that line, to mark the 36th <cough> anniversary of the beginning of OUTLANDER. [Excerpt from Book Ten (Untitled), Copyright © 2024 Diana Gabaldon] [Excerpt One] How to pack for a rescue operation in which one has no idea where one may be, for how long, or under what circumstances? Clothes… well, the possibility of having to hob-nob with the sort of people who would be disaffected by my normal wardrobe was remote, but couldn’t be totally discounted, either. We might need the good will of someone with influence. I had two gowns that might be called decent, one of which needed mending… but the thought of someone with influence ineluctably switched my mental gears […]