Archive for 2025

OK, this is a) for fun, and b) a brief illustration of how books and film work. Below is a brief excerpt from the first Prequel book (which I‘m thinking of calling A BIRD IN THE HAND, but not set on it yet). NB: I wrote this three or four years ago. The copyright exists from the moment of creation in a concrete form, but is updated to the current year, until the book is published, at which point that year is set as the beginning of the copyright period. That’s why it says “2025”. NB also: Part of my reasons for posting excerpts (as I always have) is that I believe in handing out free samples <g>, rather than depending on a publisher’s notion of good cover art. In this particular instance, I also want to make it clear that there are/will be books that tell this story. EXCERPT from A BIRD IN THE HAND (tentative title): Book One of the [Blood of my Blood?] Prequels Copyright © 2025 […]

What’s on my mind? Hmmm…. Well, I was reading through a chunk of ABFAWGO (hey, at least it’s a pronounceable abbreviation. If you want to call the book BLESSING or WARRIOR, though, fine by me…), and came to this sentence: “I took the bottle and poured a bit more whisky all round; this was clearly going to take some time.” Beastly Microsoft Word naturally popped in with its Helpful Suggestions, to wit: That as I’m making a comparison (it thinks), I should change “whisky” to “whiskier”. Mm.  Hmm… And (obviously), I should change “round” to “rounds”, with the comment, “check whether the noun should be singular or plural.” I mean, “whiskier” is at least mildly funny, though both its assumption that I’m making a comparison (on the basis of the word “more”, I suppose) and its (haha) ‘correction’ are silly. But on what basis (I wonder) did it conclude that the word “round” is a noun? (I mean, it can be, as in rounds of ammunition or rounds of dough or […]

Well, first things first— A Very (slightly ex post facto…) Happy Birthday to Sam Heughan! When he was first cast to play Jamie Fraser, I noted that he was born on April 30th, while Jamie’s birthday is May 1st—one on either side of the Beltane fire. Beltane is the Celtic fire festival that marks the beginning of summer, so plainly a time of good omens. As it turned out, it was indeed a time of good omens for All Things Outlander, so it seems an appropriate time to offer up two bits of (what I assume will be) further Good News. One on either side of the fire, as it were… The newly recorded audiobook of OUTLANDER, recorded by Kristin Atherton (the lovely actress who played the “mature” version of Jenny Murray in Season Seven), was released just yesterday, and I’m pleased to see that so many people already are excited about it and delighted with the quality. (This in no way denigrates the wonderful Davina Porter, who has read […]

A Happy Easter (and peaceful Passover) to everyone! (This was one of those semi-accidental/semi-metaphorical photos—showing how the Light touches our everyday things, and makes even the smallest and most trivial aspects beautiful. So may God touch your life.) Click on my image at right to view a larger version. So… descending to the beautifully trivial <g>—what did y’all make for your feasts? We do Italian food for Easter (Mexican food is for Christmas): I made Drunk Chicken Pasta Salad, deviled eggs and brownies, and our son brought his astonishing spicy lasagna (it’s astonishing that you can get up from the table after eating it, rather than just sinking into a blissful stupor right there…). And at the other (non-trivial) end of things—I woke up from my evening pre-work nap to hear that Pope Francis has died. This is of course a solemn time, but not of mourning: Francis lived a very long and fruitful life, and is now with God who called him to that work, and has now called […]

Well, it’s March 6th. This is my anniversary—not of marriage—but of beginning to write a book. I knew from the age of eight that I was supposed to write books; I just didn’t know how. I have had people ask me whether I regret not getting an English degree and starting writing sooner, instead of <ahem> wasting time on all those science degrees. (Really, people will say anything to someone they see as a Public Figure…) I actually never thought about that for a moment, and in retrospect, the answer is a solid “No”. I use every single thing I know or have learned when I write novels. And with all due respect to people who do get English degrees, take writing courses, etc… if it helped you write, it was the right thing to do. Speaking personally—I actually have a more or less accidental minor degree in English (I have three: English, Chemistry and Music — you had to have one minor to graduate), and the only two classes […]

As part of the Sudden Storm (wasn’t that the title of an old soap opera? Or was it “The Gathering Storm”? My parents both worked in the school system (principal and teacher, though not the same school) and so hired a housekeeper who would be there for the couple of hours between our arrival from school and our mother getting home—her name was Annie Mae, and she was wonderful. She also watched soap operas while ironing, which is how I come to know that…) — <ahem>. Anyway, someone on another site had posted a link to an article from tvinsider, which I gather quoted Matt Roberts as saying that when I say no they (the production people) listen to me and don’t do things that I strongly disagree with. <cough> That’s what caused me to write the Following, just by way of explanation and exegesis, because most people know nothing about the hows and whys of television (there’s no reason why they should, after all). Hence my reply: Dear X— […]