HOST
BKPG Lara:
|
Welcome!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
We thought perhaps you had
vanished into the stones.
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Thank you, thank you!
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, I've just been zigging
on and off the phone with my editor -- -the galleys toTHE FIERY CROSS went back last night
(thank G_d!).
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
That IS good news, Diana
-- what's the word?
|
canesl59:
|
can't wait for Fiery Cross
Diana!
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
That goes without saying.
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Are we still looking at
November 6?
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Well, that's a good omen,
Diana
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yep, Nov. 6 --- hence the
Mad Rush on the galleys.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
I surely hope we don't
have to wait longer.... I CAN'T!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Did you finish it?
That's the big question. Did you finish it?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I had to
correct/turnaround galleys for a 500,000 word book...inTHREE DAYS.
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
I'll get it just in time
for my anniversary!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Egad!!!!
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
So if I sound a lit-tle
spacey...
|
Ebdmom:
|
If anybody could do it, it
would be YOU, Diana
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Well, Diana.. I don't know
why you're exhausted!
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
My dh will just be
thrilled!
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yeah, I got it done ---
just a matter of small clarifications.
|
BBWIP4H:
|
How did you get the
idea for Clair and Jamie?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Essentially, I just wanted
to write a book for practice. I thought a historical novel would be the easiest kind to
practice with... and then saw a rerun of "Dr. Who" with a minor Scottish
character with a kilt,... and well, one thing leads to another.
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
Ah, a Dr. Who
inspiration too, I love it!!
|
canesl59:
|
Boy that's some book for
practice Diana
|
Ebdmom:
|
And we're so thrilled that
one thing led to all things Outlandish.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Why aren't you at
home working on Fiery Cross?
|
BLJ39:
|
The books are
wonderful...this is my first time reading them...
|
BBWIP4H:
|
My first time too --
I love them
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
Will we see young Ian
again?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, we'll see Young Ian
again.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
I LOVED Ian!!!
AND, of course, Jamie!
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
yea!
|
CShank1246:
|
We are all trying to cast
a movie but can't come up with an actor for Jamie. Do you have any ideas?
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
AHA --- I have the perfect
candidate for Jamie
|
CShank1246:
|
Tom Baker
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, not Tom Baker ---
PatrickTroughton. A real old "Dr. Who."
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
His name is RobertTaylor
--- he plays the priest in last year's Ballykissangel on BBC America.
|
CShank1246:
|
Claire is great, maybe
CharlizeTherone
|
MooShooLizard:
|
No, not Charlize!
|
canesl59:
|
How long is the new book
Diana?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
980 pages. Plus
prologue.
|
canesl59:
|
Yes Diana!!! love them
long
|
Laurenkmh:
|
Better put in for another
day off.
|
DubbyLee:
|
May I say that my
husband is as anxious for your new book as I am.
|
KET2567:
|
Will Brianna go back to
the future with her husband?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Will Brianna go back?
I ain't gonna tell you. I never give away plot points in advance of a book.
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Will FC be similar in tone
to Dragonfly --- since it is the second book in the American trilogy?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, I don't think it's
quite similar in tone --- though we do have a war going on --- the War of the Regulation.
|
BLJ39:
|
Diana
...Are Claire & Jamie a part of your "real" family?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Well, they're part of me.
Don't know if that counts.
|
HOST
BKPG Zia:
|
And they are part of my
household too!
|
KASHPA24:
|
It counts, DG, part of me
too
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Did you do your own
research, Diana?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I do my own research;
I wouldn't know how to tell anyone else what to look for.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Diana: Do you still
work with online writing groups?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I don't "work
with" online writing groups. I hang around in the Compuserve Writers Forum, where I
"lead" (haha) a section called "Research and the Craft of Writing."
It satisfies my teaching gene. I've been hanging around with the Compuserve Litforum
for some fourteen years now --- it split into LitForum, Writers, and a few others.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Where did you get your
historical information, Diana?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Where did I get historical
information? Er...from the library, mostly.
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
I have some students
thankful for your story telling when they are to read historical fiction
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
And a few forays to
Scotland, perhaps? And a few forays to Scotland, perhaps?
|
canesl59:
|
How long did it take you
to write your first book?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
It took me about eighteen
months. Nowadays, it takes 2-3 years.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Much to the sorrow of your
many fans, Diana
|
canesl59:
|
Well it's well worth the
wait.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
When you began the
publishing process, where did you go in AZ?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I didn't go
anywhere in AZ. I got an agent in New York --- that's where all the major publishing
houses are.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
And you got an agent in
New York right from the start?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I got an agent in NYC
on the basis of my first query letter.
|
KET2567:
|
Are you still going to
write mysteries?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I have a contract for
two mysteries.
|
CShank1246:
|
Do you write under any
other names???
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, I don't write under
any other names. Goodness, what for? It takes me long enough to write books under
one name.
|
Ebdmom:
|
Are you open to bribes to
go ahead and finish this series before the mysteries???
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No; books have their own
rhythm; they come when they're ready.
|
Ebdmom:
|
Alright, I guess the kids'
college funds are safe for now.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
What did you do before you
found Scotland to write about?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I was a scientist. I
have assorted degrees in Zoology and Ecology, and I was an Assistant Research Professor in
the Center for Environmental Studies at ASU.
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
Do you have the series
outlined already? Do you have the series outlined already?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, I don't work with
outlines at all.
|
HOST
BKPG Zia:
|
You manage to be very
consistent in all the books, Diana.
|
CShank1246:
|
Do you write for x number
of hours a day or have a kind of schedule?
|
MooShooLizard:
|
And do you just sit
down and "go" so to speak when you begin a book?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I write where
I can "see" something. I have a loose kind of schedule, but it flexes a lot ---
I have kids.
|
KET2567:
|
So, Jamie has been to the
future then?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, of course Jamie hasn't
been to the future.
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
His background is sooo
confusing!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
I thought Jamie HAD
gone through??
|
KET2567:
|
I'm just curious as
to the "ghost" in Outlander. Will that be explained
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I'll explain
the ghost --- last thing in the last book, though.
|
KASHPA24:
|
Just finished the tapes,
knocked my socks off.
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Kash--I hope you got
the UNabridged tapes?
|
MooShooLizard:
|
I would give
ANYTHING to get my hands on the tapes!!
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
You can rent
the UNabridged ones from Recorded Books --- it's something like ten bucks a month, I
think.
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Diana... will the
unabridged tapes EVER come out in CD form???
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I really hope they'll do
them on CD.Those suckers take up a lot of room!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Who narrates the
unabridged version?
|
KASHPA24:
|
Davina Porter, Roz:
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
I'm using the tapes
as a re-read since our library got them
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
LOL, Diana - especially 900+ pages
|
canesl59:
|
I got them at a book
store here in Albuquerque New Mexico
|
HOST
BKPG Zia:
|
Hearing the Accents would
be wonderful on audio tapes.
|
KASHPA24:
|
Zia, that's what knocked
off my socks
|
Archangels03:
|
the library also has
unabridged.
|
Mystic3841:
|
I would only want the
unabridged
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
The abridged reader is
fine. But consider...the abridged tapes are four cassettes per book. The
Unabridged are 32 cassetted for OUTLANDER-- which is the shortest of the books.
Figure how much you're missing!
|
Ebdmom:
|
I just found a site
tonight that has the abridged on mp3
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Who does the recording?
Does he/she read with the accent?
|
BBWIP4H:
|
It's a she - she's great
|
BLJ39:
|
I
am going to buy the CDs after I read all the books
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, both readers are
excellent--but Davina (the Unabridged reader) is just fantastic!
|
BBWIP4H:
|
I've only heard Davina
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Davina is AWESOME!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Is Davina
"Scottish"?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--Yes, Davina is half
Scottish--and her husband is Scottish.
|
Archangels03:
|
Davina's voice sounded
very much like Claire's voice in my head.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Diana -- do ye have e'n a
drab o' Scots blood in your veins?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, not Scots at
all. What sort of name do you think "Gabaldon" is, anyway?
|
KASHPA24:
|
mine too Arch
|
canesl59:
|
do you ever do any book
signings in New Mexico Diana
|
KASHPA24:
|
DG, please come to
Pittsburgh!!!!
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
How about MO, Diana?
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Diana...any chance Chicago
is your way when FC comes out?
|
BBWIP4H:
|
Then Michigan
|
Laurenkmh:
|
Boca Raton, FL
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I usually end
up in Albuquerque on book tours.
|
Ersike:
|
When
are you in NY Diana?
|
CShank1246:
|
Please come toTampa!!!!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, do you still live
in Scottsdale year-round?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
They've given me just a
tentative itinerary so far, but yes,Chicago is on it!
|
BLJ39:
|
Diana...do
you ever come to Long Island, NY
|
Archangels03:
|
chicago....YES!!!
|
canesl59:
|
how can i find out
if or when you will be here
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I put tour and appearance
details on my web page, as soon as I have them--www.dianagabaldon.com.There's a
possibility that I may be doing a German book-tour in February this year, but no dates as
yet.
|
canesl59:
|
thanks
I'll keep a lookout
|
CShank1246:
|
can we write
somewhere for signed copies of the books?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, you can order
signed copies from me, if you want to. Information's on the web page.
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
Which clan is
Gabaldon?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
"Gabaldon" is
Iberian --- via New Mexico. My father was born in Belen, just outside of Albuquerque
--- that's why I always go there; lots of family. My mother's side of the family is from
Yorkshire, England, and Germany, though.
|
Archangels03:
|
Diana
do you have time to just read??
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I read
all the time, whether I have time or not.
|
Ersike:
|
What
Authors do you like to read books by Diana?
|
CShank1246:
|
Who is your favorite
author, or some of them anyway? Can you give us a couple of recommendations
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Oh, tons of
favorites--there's a whole list in the OUTLANDISH COMPANION.
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
But off the top of my
head--Reginald Hill, Dana Stabenow,...
|
KET2567:
|
Love Dana Stabenow.
Your recommendations are on the money
|
KET2567:
|
Diana, you have
great taste in books---Laura Kinsale
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, do you keep a
"cheat sheet" on dates, names, etc while you write?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, I don't usually keep
any kind of notes, until close to the end--then I'll sort of draw up a kind of flow-chart
of scenes, so I see where the holes still are (I don't write in a straight line; I just
glue things together).
|
CShank1246:
|
Will the companion be out
in paper soon?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I don't know; they haven't
said anything about releasing OC in paper-- which I suppose means it's still selling in
hardcover!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, when you
"found" the idea for the first book, how long did it take you to write it?
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Did you do it in your
spare time around your job or were you home?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
It took me about eighteen
months to write OUTLANDER. I did it while holding a full-time job as a university
professor, a part-time job freelancing for the computer press, and with three kids under
the age of six. I don't sleep, (or I didn't), and I don't do housework. It took me about
eighteen months to write OUTLANDER. I did it while holding a full-time job as a university
professor, a part-time job freelancing for the computer press, and with three kids under
the age of six. I don't sleep, (or I didn't), and I don't do housework.
|
Archangels03:
|
I'll never complain of
being tired again.
|
Ersike:
|
My
God, what an accomplishment.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
So, you're saying that if
you're inspired with a book, it makes you write it???
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I'm saying that if you
want to write, you make time--because if you don't make it, you don't have it.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
And how many re-writes
were involved in Outlander?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
I don't write all the way
through and then rewrite; I just fiddle endlessly with each scene; by the time it's done,
I will have been through it hundreds of times--but it's the way I want it, and I don't
touch it again until the final assembly part.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Some authors say that
certain characters "move in and take over" -- did this happen to you?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Characters? Yeah,
most of them do. I just listen.
|
CShank1246:
|
Do you have help with
historical and medicinal research
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
No, I don't have help; I
do my own research --- though that of course involves asking people who know things.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Do you know about the
herbs/medicines yourself, Diana?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--yes, I know a lot
about herbs and medicine now-owing to a lot of research.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
What (if I might ask) is a
"query" letter?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
A query letter is what you
use to approach an agent or publisher.
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
It's very short--a page,
two at most--and just explains what it is that you've written. With luck, the agent
or publisher will a) perceive that you can write, and b) like the idea/description of your
project. If they do, they'll ask to see more--or, as in my case, offer to represent
you.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, do you send a copy
of that letter to several agents?
|
Ebdmom:
|
Verra clever, those agents
were
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
You were very
fortunate to be picked up on the first query letter, D
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I've been HUGELY
lucky. Moo--you can send a query letter to several agents at once. Some people do, some
don't--they're afraid that several will answer, and THEN what? Yes, I've been HUGELY
lucky. Moo--you can send a query letter to several agents at once. Some people do, some
don't--they're afraid that several will answer, andTHEN what?
|
MooShooLizard:
|
And what was it about time
travel that "grabbed" you, Diana?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--nothing. It was
an accident. When I introduced Claire into the story, she wouldn't shut up and act
like an 18th century woman--just kept making smart-ass modern remarks, and took over and
started telling the story herself. So I said, "Well, it doesn't matter what
bizarre thing you do here--nobody's ever going to see this. OK, go ahead and be
modern--I'll figure out how you got there later!"
|
KET2567:
|
I'm very glad you did I'm
very glad you did
|
Volibal99:
|
lol...it
worked! I love Claire lol...it worked! I love Claire
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
LOL, Diana -- so you're
not all that good at prophecy, huh?
|
LRozek:
|
My favorite
character is Jenny
|
MooShooLizard:
|
It was truly magic, Diana.
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--I'm a Catholic;
we aren't allowed to practice divination.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
What a gift you have!!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
LOLOLOL
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Thank you, Moo!
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
IT really made them a
family for the first time!
|
KET2567:
|
Jamie and Claire are the
most memorable couple
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Well, I thought it was too
bad that Jamie didn't see his own children born--though he should get to see his grandson.
|
Mystic3841:
|
They are Ket
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Will we be seeing new
members of the "travelers" in FC???
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Out--I don't know. Out--I
don't know.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Are you too modest to tell
us how many total books of the series have been sold?
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
It was memorable!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, does the newest
concentrate on "now" or "then" most?
|
CShank1246:
|
Was the historical Jack
Randall like you depicted him?
|
Archangels03:
|
I'm catholic also.
have they given you he for any of the material?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Arch--Er...no. Why
should they?
|
Archangels03:
|
the wonderfully explicit
love scenes of course the wonderfully explicit love scenes of course
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
ARch--Hey, the
Catholic Church thinks sex is a sacrament-- as long as you're married, and J&C are.
|
KASHPA24:
|
DG, so Claire won't get
pregnant for her change?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--I'm not modest at
all. But I don't actually know. Something like seven million,last time we
tried to estimate--but that was a while ago.
|
HOST
BKPGTX:
|
that is outstanding Diana!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
pretty danged impressive,
Diana -- for a book you thought no one would ever read
|
canesl59:
|
that must be an amazing
feeling Diana
|
HOST
BKPG Lara:
|
Sounds like nearly
as many books as Mcdonald's has sold hamburgers.... incredible!!!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
What a wonderful feeling
that must be to have so many people love your work!
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Have we heard the
"last" of the fire...or is there more in FC?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Oh, you'll hear more.
I don't know quite what you'll hear, though.
|
LRozek:
|
All of your
female characters are strong...I love reading your stories specifically for that
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Well, I just don't like
silly women.
|
KET2567:
|
How old is Claire and
Jamie now in the new book?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Jamie turns 50 in this
book--so Claire must be 54/55
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, is the new book a
"now" or a "then"?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--then.
|
Booknplays:
|
I'm glad he finally aged!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Oh Diana, I'm so happy to
hear that!! You do a GREAT "then"!
|
KET2567:
|
Diana, you do bring
history alive....I have learned a lot. A BIG reason why I read historical fiction
|
canesl59:
|
I love
historical novels, especially anything to do with Scotland or Ireland.They are such
romantic places
|
BBWIP4H:
|
I hated history until I
read your books
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
If you were
leading a reading group to prepare for FC...ahem.... what points from Drums should I focus
on??
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Out...gee, I dunno.
FC takes up right where DRUMS leaves off -- at the same Gathering. You might
have 'em re-read the last couple chapters, I suppose. Everything else should be
adequately referenced in FC itself; I try to make the books able to stand alone, as far as
is possible.
|
Ebdmom:
|
Is In Medias
Res going to be the first chapter??
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, In Medias Res is the
first Section; I think the first chapter is titled "Happy the Bride the Sun Shines
On." (This being part of an old Scottish proverb--the other half is "Happy the
corpse the rain falls on."
|
Ebdmom:
|
Thanks...Oh
my--never herad that saying before..
|
Mystic3841:
|
Diana, I was at the
Libray looking up scotish Clans and found out there really is a clan Fraser, I'm assuming
you knew this?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Mystic...Um, yes.
After twelve years of writing historical novels set in and about Scotland, I sort of
picked up the odd bit of knowledge here and there. By accident, you know.
|
Mystic3841:
|
ah good I
thought so
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Is writing recaps
difficult for you? Trying to bring new readers up to date?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--Well, it's part of
the integral structure of the book. Sometimes it's more difficult to work in than others,
but it's all part of the challenge of discovering the structure.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Diana - that reminds me -
has the series been translated into several languages?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--Yes--nine,
I think, last time I checked. Besides English, I mean.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, was Jaime molded
after your own husband?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--Well,
my husband is very tall, with red hair and a good sense of humor. Moo--Well, my husband is
very tall, with red hair and a good sense of humor.
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Diana... is the ABC mini
series thing dead in the water for the time being??
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, IS there talk of a
movie/miniseries?
|
Mystic3841:
|
I still think Liam Neeson
would be great as Jamie,in a possible movie I still think Liam Neeson would be great as
Jamie,in a possible movie
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--Oh, more than talk; a
production company bought an option to OUTLANDER -- but that just gives them the right to
try to get someone to do a miniseries. I ain't holding my breath about it. Moo--Oh,
more than talk; a production company bought an option to OUTLANDER -- but that just gives
them the right to try to get someone to do a miniseries. I ain't holding my breath
about it.
|
KET2567:
|
Will you
have a hand in casting for any version on film?
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Would/do you have any
control in it?
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Hey, those options aren't
bad, are they?
|
Booknplays:
|
My group and I have been
trying to imagine a movie of the books. but we all decided that
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
KET--No, I wouldn't have
anything to do with casting.
|
Booknplays:
|
There is NO living man
qualified to play Jaime!!!
|
LRozek:
|
CD
I agree whole heartedly
|
KET2567:
|
IS there
an actor you think could play Jamie?
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
It would have to be 16
hours long to get it all in
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--we wrote a good deal
of control into the contract-but there's a limit to what one can control. The
director making the movie really need to have the say-so, if it's going to be a good
movie.
|
Archangels03:
|
Could you see Alex
Kingston (from ER) as claire?
|
KASHPA24:
|
Arch, i can
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
But we could run a
contest, Diana --
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Arch--Yeah,
I suppose so.
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
I could see her if I had
to
|
KET2567:
|
I
picture EmmaThompson for some reason
|
Mystic3841:
|
so do I Ket
|
Archangels03:
|
I also thought
Nicole Kidman.
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
There
are 'parts' of different people that might go into making a good lead...Sean
Connery…just for the voice.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, do you have ideas
for who should play the leads?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--No. See, I can
see Jamie and Claire. So it's like asking, "What actor should play your
husband?" It's not like there's anyone who looks like him; just that any number
of superficially resembling people might be able to play him.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
We could cast your
husband, Diana -- that would solve it!
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--My husband doesn't
look like Jamie. Roz--My husband doesn't look like Jamie.
|
KET2567:
|
nothing
beats the imagination, eh?
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
that's so
true, KET
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Well, all I can do
is write books. And if you read the books, you know what Claire and Jamie look like.
Simple.
|
CShank1246:
|
Diana, I just want
to say thanks for all the great hours of reading
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
CS--Thank you!
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Do you spend a lot of the
time during the year on tour, Diana?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--I only tour when a
new book's out--which means only once every 2-3 years--and then only for 3-4 weeks (though
there are always tours in other countries--UK, Australia, Germany, etc.).
|
BBWIP4H:
|
Do you need a
personal assistant to travel with you?
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Or two? ;)
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
Can I volunteer?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
BB--Thanks , but they give
me an escort who meets me in each new city (different escorts in each city, I mean).
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Are your children old
enough to travel with you -- in school??
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz-- If you noticed
the tall, red-haired young woman behind me at the Poisoned Pen--that was my oldest
daughter, presently a sophomore at Stanford. The others are 17 and 15.
They don't travel with me, though--book tours would be abysmally boring for anyone
accompanying an author.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Now that you finished the
latest... what's next?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--Now I clean up my
office, do the six engagements I have on the calendar between now and November, get ready
to book-tour--and in the interstices, maybe go back to work on the first of the
contemporary mysteries.
|
GRANNANNE6:
|
DS, someone
mentioned your "splitting" FC. what is that about? Is it in 2 books?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
GRANN--Well, it just got
too big to fit in one book, is all. As it is, AFTER splitting it, the resultant
FIERY CROSS is a hair over half-a-milliong words.
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Does that mean...two
more Outlandish books to come after FC??
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Yes, I think there are two
more OUTLANDER novels. But then... I thought there was only one, to start with.
|
GRANNANNE6:
|
DG, and the rest of FC is
in another book? To be finished when?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
GRANN--Geez, how would I
know? Books have their own timetable.
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Is the series on Master
Raymond still under consideration too???
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
OUt--Yes, I still plan to
tell Master Raymond's story--he's an interesting person.
|
KET2567:
|
Master Raymond is a very
interesting person indeed
|
HOST
BKPG Zia:
|
Master Raymond is so
mysterious.....
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, this is NOT fair!
You already KNOW how it all comes out! HAHHAA
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--Well, I know
how this book comes out.
|
MooShooLizard:
|
YOU are a sneaky little
devil, Diana! ; )
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--This is my trademark.
Well, we sort of find out a little more with each successive book.That's just how it
works. Moo--This is my trademark. Well, we sort of find out a little more with
each successive book.That's just how it works.
|
Booknplays:
|
Any chance of Jaime coming
to NOW?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Book--Certainly not.
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
If he can go at all,
"it" seems a tad tacky
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Is it true that only
women can survive the stones?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--I would guess not;
after all, Roger's there, isn't he?
|
Zazzpurrs:
|
Gee, if Jamie
could time travel, what happens if they travel at the same time?? they could
miss each other!!
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
Roger survived!
|
HantayoClair:
|
Jamie
could handle anything
|
HOST
BKPG Zia:
|
At an antiques on the road
type program, I saw a portrait of a man from the Carolinas, with red hair, named Frasier..
from 1700s...made my heart skip...
|
MooShooLizard:
|
Diana, does the new book
deal with Jamie/Claire or more with Bri/Roger?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--It's Jamie and
Claire's story--but Roger and Brianna do have a major part in it.
|
HantayoClair:
|
Asking again, where
is the Pictish cross?
|
TheOutlandish1:
|
Pictish cross is the
crossroads where ghosts can appear before the solstices
|
HOST
BKPG Zia:
|
LOL!
|
HantayoClair:
|
Ty Out
|
MooShooLizard:
|
And you said that you
picked the story up when you left it off before?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Moo--Yes, it begins the
next morning, at the Gathering.
|
CDawnsEarlyLight:
|
Was the Bonny Prince
Charlos so wishy washy in your research findings?
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
CD--Oh, yes; I was very
scrupulous about him. He really was a weak drunk.
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Gang -- we're coming
up on the hour -- and we need to thank our guest for being so gracious --
|
KET2567:
|
Diana been doing an
excellent job of keeping up with the questions
|
KASHPA24:
|
DG, thank you so very
much! you are definitely my favorite author!!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
Diana - it has been such a
pleasure having you here - I'm sure your fans are waiting breathlessly for November 6
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Roz--Thanks so much for
having me! I've been having a wonderful time!
|
HOST
BKPG Lara:
|
Diana, you have done
incredible job!! Can hardly believe how well you did answer questions,
and how graciously you accepted the praise here.
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Well, I'm thrilled to hear
that y'all like the books--and I do hope you'll enjoyTHE FIERY CROSS as well!
|
HOST
BKPG Roz:
|
That's a foregone
conclusion, Diana!
|
HOST
BKPGTX:
|
Thanks so much for
hosting, Zia, Roz, Lara, and thanks all of you for coming to chat!Thanks again Diana!
|
Diana Gabaldon:
|
Thanks and goodbye, all!
|
