April 1, 1999
Location: Book Central@ AOL
EDITED VERSION
Note: This is an Edited, Combined Chat Log from TWO chats which Diana Gabaldon had at Book Central/Cafe Booka for the Outlander Reading Group on April 1, 1999.
There were over 80 people in the room and a lot of side discussion, I tried to focus on definite Q's and A's of the Entire Chat.
8 pm ET 4/1/99: First Chat
DGabaldon: I'm here! Hi, all <waving>!
DGabaldon: My pleasure! Sorry for the confusion over times...
Long Duration of Clapping, cheering, waving, etc.
DGabaldon: the galleys for the COMPANION went back to
DGabaldon: the publisher yesterday--I have No Brain Left. <g
Deana2899: oh no, don't tell us it's being postponed or something!
TABBAK: Let's get started!
DGabaldon: No, No--pub date is June 11, they tell me.
TABBAK: Okay, I'll ask for the first 10 queue...if you have a question, please type ? and if you have a comment
TABBAK: please type !
TABBAK: THEN WAIT TO BE CALLED ON
TABBAK: NOVLFrench...Your comment?
NOVLFrench: I just wanted to say thank you because of how
NOVLFrench: your series has fired my imagination. I love
NOVLFrench: your work and am waiting with bated
NOVLFrench: breath until the next book is out. ga
DGabaldon: Thank you! I'm thrilled that so many people seem to like the books.
DGabaldon: Not anything _I_ ever imagined happening. <g>
TEACUP 147: ??
Nancalee: tara?
Nancalee: diana?
Jenco56: oops - did everyone on stage freeze up?
FLPORCH: ?
DGabaldon: Who, me? No, I was just being polite. <g>
Deana2899: I guess we were all being polite and the result was complete silence
Deana2899: we're never this well behaved<g>
DGabaldon: Er...well, it's just me, you know. <g>
TABBAK: Okay, Scotlass?
ScotLass76: Weell, I love your work Diana
ScotLass76: It's had an impact on my life
DGabaldon: Many thanks! I'm always impressed at how friendly
DGabaldon: and kind everyone is--to all the other readers, not just me! ga
ScotLass76: Such deep detailed imagery
TABBAK: I'm totally lost...(figures!) y'all help me..who's next?
DGabaldon: I was telling my husband at lunch, there's a saying, "God
DGabaldon: is in the details." <g> I don't know as I'd claim _that_, but
DGabaldon: I do just see lots of stuff. ga
TABBAK: LOL!! I'd vote for it!
TABBAK: Becky?
Becky2856: what I'd like to know, Diana, is this:. in Outlander one line really hit me
Becky2856: the line where when Claire and Brother Anselm are in the chapel and when Claire
Becky2856: asks what to do Brother Anselm says, nothing...just be....
Becky2856: that line really hit me because we have adoration in our parish...
Becky2856: what i would like to know is if your faith has carried you through the rough times in your life too???
DGabaldon: Well, thanks. I'm glad that struck you. We have Adoration, too;
Becky2856: does that make sense?? ga
DGabaldon: I go every Sunday night at midnight. Of course, some times
DGabaldon: are more spiritual than others, since my partner is a
DGabaldon: professional psychic, and occasionally he feels the need to tell me all
DGabaldon: about what he's "seeing." <g> Very nice guy, though.
Becky2856: LOL....somehow I knew you went too
Becky2856: thank you
DGabaldon: As for faith in general, yes.
DGabaldon: Actually, that's why the chat had to be rescheduled tonight;
DGabaldon: I'd forgotten about the Holy Thursday services, until I
DGabaldon: walked into church on Sunday and saw everyone waving
DGabaldon: palms around! ga
TABBAK: Deana?
Deana2899: Okay..this is a question that has had me on both sides of the fence, usually one every other day..
DGabaldon: Oh, that sounds interesting. <g>
Deana2899: can you tell us more about who the Alex BJR is calling out the name of while he's torturing Jamie is?
Deana2899: I waiver between thinking it's his brother, and ALex Macgreggor
DGabaldon: Well, it _could_ be Alex MacGregor--you recall him? Or his
Deana2899: depending on who is convincing me of their view on it<g>
DGabaldon: brother. I'm not sure I know myself which one it was--but we
DGabaldon: _will_ find out more about the Randall family (you recall,
DGabaldon: there's one brother left, whom we haven't met yet <g>),
DGabaldon: and Jamie still has (or perhaps Jenny is keeping itfor him)
Deana2899: ahhh..lol..another one of those lovely ambiguos answers
DGabaldon: MacGregor's Bible--we may yet find Alex's mother. ga
JaneE2059: will the brother be more like Alex or BJ? <VEG>
DGabaldon: Oh, Edward Randall is quite his own man. <g>
TABBAK: FLPORCH?
FLPORCH: When you first started writing Outlander at point did you figure out
FLPORCH: that it was goign to take you six books to tell the whole story. ga
DGabaldon: Oh. Well, to start with, I just wanted to write _one_ book..
DGabaldon: for practice. <G>
DGabaldon: But when I finished it and sent it to my agent, I told him..
DGabaldon: "I think there's more to the story, but I thought I should stop
DGabaldon: while I could still lift it." <G>
DGabaldon: _He_ told the publishers who offered for it that there was more..
DGabaldon: and they all said, "Oh, trilogies are hot right now, do you
DGabaldon: think she could do three?" To which my agent (he being
DGabaldon: a very good agent) replied, "Oh, I'm _sure_ she could!"
DGabaldon: So they gave me a three book contract. Only then I got
DGabaldon: halfway through DRAGONFLY and realize I couldn't possibly
DGabaldon: cram the whole American Revolution into one more book...
DGabaldon: Anyway, about two years ago, is the _short_ answer. <g> ga
FLPORCH: Lucky us you did not stop at one
TABBAK: VAXMIN?
Vaxmin: At what point did you visit Scotland?
Deana2899: wow, you were thinking that far ahead already while writing
DGabaldon: Oh, _I_ could, but these publishers have very limited imaginations,
DGabaldon: you know.
DDDEYO2: If Diana wrote a 2000 page novel, I woudl read it!
DGabaldon: I reckon you _have_ (read it), considering that there are something
DGabaldon: like 3600 pages in the four books so far. <g>
Vaxmin: Yes, at what point did you visit Scotland?
DGabaldon: After I sold OUTLANDER, but while I was writing DRAGONFLY.
DGabaldon: I couldn't very well tell my husband I had to go to Scotland to
DGabaldon: do research, while I wasn't telling him I was writing a book. <g> ga
TABBAK: Muireann?\
Muireann: Have there been any dates set for your book tour for The Companion?
DGabaldon: Yes, actually there are. Just a minute...
DGabaldon: Had to run across the room and grab the letter from the publicist...
DGabaldon: <puff, pant> OK..
DGabaldon: July 6 - Seattle; July 7, San Francisco, July 8, San Francisco
DGabaldon: (this means _around_ San Francisco), July 9 - Los Angeles..
DGabaldon: July 10-12 - Albuquerque (only one day of that will be book
DGabaldon: events; I'm meeting my family there and going to the opera
DGabaldon: in Santa Fe), July 13 - Denver; July 14 - Cincinnati/Dayton
DGabaldon: July 15 - Dayton, July 16 - Boston, and then...local events
DGabaldon: here in Arizona. Fairly short by book tour standards, but
DGabaldon: I'll be doing a Canadian tour just before this, too. ga
RedcardSC: If Outlander was made into a movie, who would you case as Jamie?
DGabaldon: Oh, I wouldn't. Cast anyone as Jamie, I mean. <g.
DGabaldon: I've never seen any actor who looks like him. ga
TABBAK: Teacup?
TEACUP 147: Someone already asked my question and I got my answer...but do you plan a book tour in FL any time soon?
DGabaldon: _I_ don't plan book tours. <g> The publicists at the various
DGabaldon: publishing houses do. What you do if you want an author
DGabaldon: to come to your city, is talk to the managers of all the
DGabaldon: bookstores you can; they talk to the sales reps, and the
DGabaldon: sales reps tell the publicists where they most want authors
DGabaldon: to go. ga
TABBAK: Novl French?
NOVLFrench: I have two questions Is the character of Jamie
NOVLFrench: components of people you have known? Is
NOVLFrench: Roger going to be writteb as a stronger
DGabaldon: Well, my husband is 6'4" with red hair, and a very good
DGabaldon: sense of humor. <g>
DGabaldon: As for Roger, he'll come further into his own, now that he's
DGabaldon: in the New World--I mean, there's just not a lot of heroic scope
DGabaldon: in Oxford or 1968 Inverness, no matter _how_ great a guy is. <g>
DGabaldon: Yeah, at the moment Roger is sort of wondering whether he
DGabaldon: can really bring himself to kill someone in cold blood--and
DGabaldon: wondering how he _can't_.
DGabaldon: Well, see, these books are Jamie and Claire's story; Roger
DGabaldon: and Bree are important mostly _because_ they're important
DGabaldon: parts of Jamie and Claire's life--they aren't meant to take
DGabaldon: over the show, but they are real characters in their own right. ga
NOVLFrench: thank you again
TABBAK: MacGreggor?
MacGreggor: I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to my aunt at the Scottsdale games. She is the one who was in
MacGreggor: a wheelchair and asked you to sign a card to a friend saying Let's do lunch!
DGabaldon: Oh, that was your aunt? Well, give her my regards. <g>
MacGreggor: She loves your work - I addicted her well
DDDEYO2: !
TABBAK: DLeexyz
Dleexyz: i have a trilogy question--first, are you as adept with witty repartee as your characters?
DGabaldon: No, I think rather slowly. <g> That's why I write books--I can
DGabaldon: take my time. ga
Dleexyz: second, would it be appropriate for ian to use an apishamore while he is with the indians?
DGabaldon: I dunno--what _is_ an apishamore?
Dleexyz: i found out it is an objibway indian word for trail blanket, usually of buffalo hide <G>
Dleexyz: didnt know if the mohawks used buffalo hides...?
DGabaldon: Well, given that he's living with the Mohawk rather than the Ojibway,
DGabaldon: probably not, then. <g>
DGabaldon: Quite possibly they did; but I don't reckon they called them
DGabaldon: apishamores. ga
Dleexyz: just thought it was a good new word to use maybe...<G>, and finally
Dleexyz: a question from the "clan"...any particular significance to the black thumbprint on rogers wrist--
Dleexyz: is it from jamie/ian fight or the indians?
DGabaldon: Just that Jamie has a strong grip. <g>
Dleexyz: and dirty fingers, no?
Dleexyz: thanks diana, ga
DGabaldon: I figure it was a bruise rather than smudge, myself. ga
Dleexyz: we were trying to figure that out last week
TELAV428: Slow typer here! Diana, do all of these characters clammer for your attention? I certainly clammer to read your books..
DGabaldon: Yes, they talk to me pretty much all the time, but
DGabaldon: not all at once. <g> It's usually only one specfici
DGabaldon: voice I "hear" or one viewpoint that I'm seeing from. ga
TABBAK: Scotlass?
ScotLass76: My b/f wanted me to ask you about Claire
DGabaldon: Yes? What about Claire?
ScotLass76: Where did you get the idea for her as the first-person character?
DGabaldon: Well, I wanted an Englishwoman, because I thought that
DGabaldon: had the potential for considerable conflict, given the historical
DGabaldon: timing. <g> But when I started writing a scene with this
DGabaldon: Englishwoman, she just announced who she was, and promptly
DGabaldon: took over and started telling the story herself, making all
DGabaldon: sorts of smart-ass modern remarks. At this point..
DGabaldon: I said, "YOU don't sound like a historical person!" So I strugged with
DGabaldon: her for a couple of pages, but I couldn't beat her into shape
ScotLass76: That's like an alternate ego, right
DGabaldon: and make her talk like an 18th century person...
DGabaldon: so I shrugged and said, "Phooey, I'm not going to fight with
DGabaldon: YOU all the way through this book. Go ahead and be modern
DGabaldon: and I'll figure out how you got there later!" ga
TABBAK: LOL! BYTHEHEX?
BYTHEHEX: You're very spiritual and have a friend who's a psychic. Do you believe in the paranormal? Any experiences?
DGabaldon: Well, yeah, within limits. <g> I walked into a ghost in the
DGabaldon: Alamo once, but that's the only really striking thing I can
DGabaldon: think of. ga
DGabaldon: As for the Alamo ghost, I didn't see him either--I just walked
DGabaldon: into him. <g>
DGabaldon: Well, I just crossed this spot on the floor, and there he was. <shrug>
SS0563: Are you planning on going into detail of Randall family and will this take you beyong six books?ga
DGabaldon: We'll meet the Randalls and find out more about both their
DGabaldon: background and their future (i.e. Mary Hawkins and her baby)
DGabaldon: in the sixth book, I think.
DGabaldon: Yes, I do have another series in mind--but it belongs to Master
DGabaldon: Raymond, not the Randalls.
NAIL MAMA: Will the 6th book be the last?
DGabaldon: The sixth book will be the last of Jamie and Claire's series;
DGabaldon: I have a "prequel" under contract that deals with Jamie's
DGabaldon: parents and the 1715 Rising, though.
Namkcub1: Will Bree and Roger have any more children?
DGabaldon: I sort of don't think birth control in the 18th century was
DGabaldon: all that reliable. <g>
DGabaldon: Yes, we'll certainly see more of Stephen Bonnet (I quite
DGabaldon: like him myself)--after all, he knows (or thinks he knows)
DGabaldon: that Brianna's baby is his. ga
Becky2856: Okay....Diana, I just wanted to say that I've loved your books from day 1
DGabaldon: Thank you!
Becky2856: in hardcover.. LOL....and got my sister hooked besides...
Becky2856: and just wanted to say thank you for giving me something to escape to and dream about
Becky2856: I'm a history major with emphasis in the 1700s.....and I find your detail and descriptions
Becky2856: just fascinating. Thanks so much for writing for us. ga
DGabaldon: Well, thank _you_ for reading them and loving them. <smile>
TABBAK: Aelis?
Aelis10: Okay, here goes...
Aelis10: As a budding writer in awe of your work <g> I'd love to know: Do you plot these books formally beforehand, or
Aelis10: are you a seat of the pants writer?? :) ga
DGabaldon: No, I don't plot them; they wouldn't be any fun to write
DGabaldon: if I knew what was going to happen. <g>
DGabaldon: No, no outline as such--it's just that as the story goes on,
DGabaldon: I _do_ know a few particular things that will happen--but
DGabaldon: I don't know how, and I don't know when. They just kind of
DGabaldon: give me a foothold on the story; a place to work from. ga
Nancalee: Did Geilis intend bodily harm for Bree, or Royal rewards?
DGabaldon: Well, we'll know more about what Geillis intended, probably,
DGabaldon: when we learn the details of the Fraser Prophecy. <g>
*****Diana Gabaldon Left and Returned for a Second Chat 3.5 hours later!
12:30 am ET 4/1/99**** 2nd Chat
DGabaldon: Yeah, it's been a loooong week. Up to my chin in galleys
DGabaldon: until last thing yesterday--and then my editor called
DGabaldon: to tell me she'd lost the picture of the Highland cow,
DGabaldon: and did I think the photographer had a negative she could
DGabaldon: scan. <g> Photographer being in Germany...
DGabaldon: I said I didn't think so, but I rummaged quick and found
DGabaldon: another one and FedExed it, so don't worry--you'll get
DGabaldon: to see the cow in the COMPANION. <g>
DGabaldon: No, my editor is delightful; I wouldn't dream of fish-whacking her. <g>
BkCnBree9: Diana...my father used to be on Compuserve, and he read some of OUTLANDER before it was published
DGabaldon: Who is your Dad, Bree9?
BkCnBree9: I don't recall his Screen name..but his name was Bill
DGabaldon: Not Bill G*****d, was it?
BkCnBree9: yes
DGabaldon: (We mostly didn't/don't use screen names over there)
DGabaldon: Was it _really_? Whoa! Bill G*****d is the guy I was
DGabaldon: having the argument with about what it feels like to be pregnant..
DGabaldon: that in turn caused me to post the first little bit of OUTLANDER
BkCnBree9: really?
TABBAK: Wow!
DGabaldon: online and tell everyone what I was doing. <g>
BkCnBree9: he enjoyed your work
DGabaldon: So, tell him it's all _his_ fault!
BkCnMaxy: My Goodness Anne...we hold you
BkCnMaxy: responsible for ALL of this NOW!
DamselflyR: Thank God for Bree's father! (both Brees!)
DGabaldon: Give him my regards, while you're at it. <g>
BkCnBree9: Thanks..but he died a few years ago
DGabaldon: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Bree! He was a lovely man.
BkCnBree9: thank you, Diana
BkCnBree9: My mother will be pleased that you said that
Llrex2: I mean, was the miscarriage planned?
DGabaldon: Was that planned? Geez, by who?
DGabaldon: You mean, did I intend for her to lose the baby? Goodness,
DGabaldon: how could I intend something like that? No, it just happened.
.
Frigga4F: In Voyager Gillis mentions that she has met one other person from the future.
Frigga4F: Will we learn who that is? Hints?
DGabaldon: Yes, you'll learn who. I can tell you, if you want. <g>
DGabaldon: I don't know as it will help you any <g>--it's Master Raymond.
Janulon: In reading Drums, I LOVED especially the dialogue between Brianna and Lord John
DGabaldon: Yes, Bree and Lord John kind of hit it off together very well. I
DGabaldon: just listen to them; I hardly have to work when they're talking.
Janulon: When Bree said," I just love the way you talk" I thought you were giving your self a well deserved pat
DGabaldon: No <g>, _I_ liked the way he talked. <G>
Skyblue712: How is the mystery coming along and do you have any idea yet when it will be published?
DGabaldon: Mystery is coming well--or it was before I had to drop
DGabaldon: everything and do galleys.
DGabaldon: For those who don't know what galleys are--this is the
DGabaldon: typeset manuscript of a book--the pages look just like
DGabaldon: the printed pages, but they aren't bound. Last chance
DGabaldon: to fix things!
DGabaldon: No kidding--and _zillions_ of tiny details to fix and pin down,
DGabaldon: besides ten billion typos per page to catch (hopefully)
DGabaldon: and fix.
Llrex2: Is this the galley for the novel or the Companion?
DGabaldon: It's a _beautiful book, though. Yes, these are galley
DGabaldon: proofs for the COMPANION; production on it is
DGabaldon: terribly late--the book will be on shelves in two months!--
DGabaldon: hence huge rush, time-crunch, general panic and nonstop
DGabaldon: FAXes, telephone calls and Emails.
DGabaldon: Well, the galleys left my hands late yesterday; nothing more
DGabaldon: _I_ can do. All up to the book designer, etc. now.
DGabaldon: The production people are just wonderful, though; they
DGabaldon: always do a marvelous job.
DGabaldon: I like Fergus, too. <g> Though I notice that Geraldine
DGabaldon: James evidently forgot who he was between DIA and VOYAGER;
DGabaldon: he has a _Scottish_ accent on the abridged VOYAGER tape!
BkCnBree9: silly woman..Geraldine..to forget that
Litening89: What is the difference between abridged and unadridged (is that right)?
DGabaldon: The difference between abridged and unabridged is about
DGabaldon: thirty hours of tape. <g> Really. The abridged version of
DGabaldon: each book is 6 hours (on four cassettes)--that's maybe one-_fifth_
DGabaldon: of each book. The unabridged OUTLANDER runs 32.5 hours,
DGabaldon: the unabridged DRAGONFLY something like 37 hours.
DGabaldon: VOYAGER and DRUMS will be out later this year in the unabridged.
DGabaldon: Unabridged tapes are _wonderful_; the reader--Davina Porter--
DGabaldon: sounds _just_ like Claire. <g> They're expensive (naturally,
DGabaldon: I suppose), but you can rent them for a month for $10-15,
DGabaldon: I think.
BkCnMaxy: Many of the larger libraries have them too
KierstynP: Hi there. I remember reading that you 'found' Jamie in a historical text.
KierstynP: Did you also 'find' Claire somewhere?
DGabaldon: As for "finding" Claire--no, she just marched in an took over. <g>
DGabaldon: I didn't "find" Jamie prior to writing him, for that matter--just
DGabaldon: in the process of writing, later --much later--I did come across
DGabaldon: mention of the Dunbonnet, whose real name _was_ James Fraser.
DGabaldon: Well, _I_ thought it was pretty odd. <g> That sort of thing always
DGabaldon: happens when I'm kind of the right track with a book, though.
Deana2899: makes it even harder to remember they're fiction; )
Janulon: Dear author, I am wondering about you frequent use of the word savages in Drums
DGabaldon: "Savages" is just what the common reference would have
DGabaldon: been in the 18th century. It's common and usual in most
DGabaldon: writings of the period that refer to Native Americans (not
DGabaldon: being so all-fired enlightened and politically correct back then,
DGabaldon: you know <g>).
CathySharb: I know you HATE this question - but - any rough guess when book 5 will be done?
CathySharb: people keep asking!
DGabaldon: Well, rough, sure. <g> It won't do you much good, though,
DGabaldon: since my rough guess would likely be nowhere near reality,
DGabaldon: in the end. <g> Let's see, though...
DGabaldon: I _hope_ to finish the mystery by the end of the year (while
DGabaldon: putting along on FIERY CROSS). Then I _hope_ to finish
DGabaldon: FIERY CROSS sometime next year. As to when it comes out
DGabaldon: after that, though--it's up to the publisher. They could
DGabaldon: decide they _had_ to get it out right away and do it in four
DGabaldon: or five months--or they could sit on it for a year before even
DGabaldon: beginning production. <shrug> Your guess is probably
DGabaldon: as good as mine.
DGabaldon: They generally _do_ opt for 'get it out quick." <g>
DGabaldon: Well, I'm hoping that you may enjoy Thomas Kolodzi and friends
DGabaldon: too. <g>
KrisRRT: !=Bree and Lord John...ewwww! I haven't gotten that far in DOA, but I'm not sure I like him ?= about the skull
DGabaldon: Ewww? You don't like Bree and Lord John? Somebody was
DGabaldon: just saying how much they liked that particular interaction.
DGabaldon: Oh, the skull. <g> Yes, indeedy. The gentleman with the
DGabaldon: silver fillings.
KrisRRT: Bree, YES, Lord John...ummmmm
KrisRRT: you said you didn't have to work, they did all the talking! GA
DGabaldon: I'm very fond of Lord John. Unfortunately, he's just suffered
DGabaldon: a severe shock--he _is_ gay, Llrex--when he found himself
DGabaldon: on a dock in Wilmington, between William and Brianna.
JewelSea: The excerpts I've read of the mystery are promising! :-)
Janulon: OF COURSE it doesn't REALLY matter . . .but. . . do you know who the father of Brees and Rogers Jemmy is?
DGabaldon: Do I know? Yes. <g.
JLM418: Will we find out about Jamie's "ghost" that appears in the very beginning of Outlander, which Frank saw before
JLM418: Claire went back?
DGabaldon: Yeah, you'll find out about the ghost. Last thing in the last
DGabaldon: book, but you _will_ find out. <g>
DMReach: Hi DG! What is underpainting in writing?
DGabaldon: Oh, underpainting? Hm, kind of complicated to explain in this venue,
DGabaldon: but it's essentially all the little bits--the body movements,
DGabaldon: attitudes, incidental details--that the reader doesn't consciously
DGabaldon: notice, but that provide a deep, rich background that makes
DGabaldon: the writing very vivld.
DGabaldon: Sorry--"vivid." I sneezed. <g>
DGabaldon: Well, you'll probably like the COMPANION, then--it has
DGabaldon: LOTS of details!!
DGabaldon: I could _talk_ about underpainting for an hour, believe me.
Cinnam9825: Are all 4 books now on audio tape? GA
DGabaldon: All four are available in the (severely) abridged versions; only the first
DGabaldon: two are out in the unabridged--but VOYAGER unabridged
DGabaldon: will be out in May (they tell me), and DRUMS later this
DGabaldon: year.
ESERLER: Hi! Which "Alex" was BJR referring to when he had Jamie in Wentworth? His brother? Or Alex MacGregor?
DGabaldon: I'm not sure I know (yet) which Alex he meant. I'll find out
DGabaldon: more about Black Jack in the sixth book, I think, when we
DGabaldon: meet the _third_ Randall brother and hear more about the
DGabaldon: family.
GBlush: I understand you wrote OUTLANDER before travelling to Scotland; how did your imagination compare to the real
GBlush: place? pretty accurate?
DGabaldon: Luckily, Scotland was just like I had been imagining it; the
DGabaldon: only thing I couldn't get from research was the smell. <g>
GBlush: Thank You! ga
JHerna6198: In DOA we learn that Bree studied engineering, will she have and opportunity to use thse skills?
DGabaldon: Yeah, I reckon she will--and to be frustrated at the lack of
DGabaldon: opportunity for using them!
JHerna6198: sorry about the spelling, nervous
DGabaldon: Don't worry JH--typing and spelling are two different skills, but
DGabaldon: you can't tell the difference in here. <g>
JHerna6198: thanks!
BkCnBree9: I really like Bree and Lord John...I wish John would find a permanent companion. GA
DGabaldon: I like John, too, but I don't know exactly how his story will
DGabaldon: turn out. He's not going to have an easy time of it in the
DGabaldon: Revolution, though, I'm afraid.
DGabaldon: No, no. I don't imagine Lord John feels like _that_ about
DGabaldon: Bree. <g>
DGabaldon: Well, I just can't tell. He's very robust and self-reliant--but he
Emeli2: <g>
DGabaldon: does need people. Have any of you--speaking of Lord John--
DGabaldon: seen the short story I did for him?
DGabaldon: Oh, the short story--it's called HELLFIRE. It's available in print,
DGabaldon: in a UK Anthology titled PAST POISONS: An Ellis Peters
DGabaldon: Memorial Anthology of Historical Crime <gasp>. It's also
DGabaldon: available electronically from an e-publisher called Dreams
DGabaldon: Unlimited -- www.dreams-unlimited.com.
Emeli2: Did you EVER expect your book to have such an effect on so many people, as you were writing Outlander?
DGabaldon: And no, Emeli, I _never_ expected this kind of thing. Ever. <g>
AnamCailte: Will we ever find out when/if Frank knew all
AnamCailte: about Jamie before he died? There is the debate
AnamCailte: that he knew that Jamie survived
DGabaldon: We'll find out more about Frank and What He Knew, for
DGabaldon: sure. I can't say exactly what, though.
AnamCailte: good. I keep seeing that book on the hutch in
AnamCailte: the kitchen about the Revolution and thinking
AnamCailte: Frank was tracking Claire and Jamie
AnamCailte: through history! :o)
Deana2899: you absolutely killed me at the end of Drums with that whole deal with the headstone.
DGabaldon: Well, Brianna does note to Roger at one point that her father
DGabaldon: (Frank) took considerable pains to teach her both to ride and
DGabaldon: to shoot--odd skills, don't you think, for a man from the 1960's
DGabaldon: to think of giving his daughter?
TABBAK: CNewby?
CNewby: Does Claire ever "grow" penicillin?
DMReach: When and where will you post your book tour for "Companion?"
DGabaldon: I'll give Rosana the book tour details probably tomorrow; she's
DGabaldon: usually able to put them up pretty fast, but since it's the Easter
DGabaldon: weekend, maybe not 'til next week.
Deana2899: think you could, uh, toss in a random excerpt too while yer at it??<g>
DGabaldon: Yeah, actually I could; I have a fairly cute little one going,
DGabaldon: in which Jamie tangles with a horse named Gideon. <g> That
DGabaldon: would be suitable.
DGabaldon: Yeah, I'll give that one to Rosana when it's finished.
Rn96: I read how you have been inspired by everyday events to come up with story ideas like the ice crystals. Any
Rn96: other ideas you could share?
Deana2899: great!:)
DGabaldon: Gee, I don't know. Ideas are just...everywhere.
Vaxmin: You said that Claire marched in and took over. Any other characters surprise you that way?
DGabaldon: Anything at all can trigger a scene--or some days, nothing does,
DGabaldon: but you write anyway.
DGabaldon: Yes, some characters are mushrooms; they just pop up and
DGabaldon: there you are. <g> The onions and the hard nuts take more
DGabaldon: work.
CathySharb: onions?
DGabaldon: The mushrooms include Mother Hildegarde (and her dog Bouton),
DGabaldon: Murphy the seacook, Fergus, Marsali, and both the Ians.
DGabaldon: Well, I went to a parochial elementary school. <g>
Janulon: After Jamie discovered acupuncture in Voyager, I began to want to sail in an old ship. Did you, for reseach?
DGabaldon: Um, yes--if you count the COLUMBIA at Disneyland. <g>
DGabaldon: Which is, actually, a reasonably good replica of the original,
DGabaldon: which sailed in 1796 or so--so it isn't far off.
Jmhflog: About the big meeting between Jamie and Bree...was that one of the scenes that just "appeared" or was it one
Jmhflog: that required some "work?"
DGabaldon: No, that was work--though as usual, once I _started_ working,
DGabaldon: they had their own ideas about it. I mean, I didn't _plan_
DGabaldon: for her to find him peeing on a tree!
DGabaldon: Oooookay. What _is_ this question. <g>
ScotLass76: Do you know about the best Author site?
TABBAK: It concerns Richard and the Um...wet spot.
DGabaldon: Author site? No--I hardly ever cruise the Web.
ScotLass76: And if so, How do you feel being #1 on it
DGabaldon: I am? Oh. Well, in that case, maybe I should go look. <g>
DGabaldon: Which site is this? <g>
ScotLass76: www.freevote.com/booth/fav_author
DGabaldon: Really? Thanks! I'll go check it out!
DGabaldon: Yeah, I can tell a lot of you guys go there. <g>
Muireann: Why did you pick NC for J&C to settle in? I'm from the Randall County area, I'm curious.
DGabaldon: Actually, I didn't really "pick" North Carolina--that's where
DGabaldon: the majority of the Scottish Highlanders _went_, after
DGabaldon: Culloden. I just followed them.
Muireann: Ah, thank you.
OrGaidheil: funny thing they were highlanders
DGabaldon: That's why they liked NC--mountains.
DunBon54: just wanted to let you know that Ivew read the excerpt from Excalibur... wonderfully written, as usual!
DGabaldon: Oh, good--EXCALIBUR is out of print, but that excerpt will
DunBon54: will it be included in one of the Outlander books?
DGabaldon: be in the COMPANION, yes (with the minor error about Lot
DGabaldon: and Abraham corrected!)
DGabaldon: That excerpt--it was published as a short under the title "Surgeon's
DGabaldon: Steel" is really part of the sixth book--it takes place
DGabaldon: after one of the Battles of Saratoga.
Sapora: dg--love your books--and i ask this question with the utmost respect-- :) Since im going to have to wait for
Sapora: more of your book to come out---I know you recomend sarah donatis book--any
Sapora: thing else taht could ever be as good as your books?:)
Sapora: its a horrible thing to ask I know---but I must know :) We all value youropinion--
DGabaldon: <g> Well, depends what you like. However, I _do_ have
DGabaldon: an appendix in the COMPANION, called THE METHADONE
DGabaldon: LIST, that has a number of my personal recommendations.
DMReach: Have you researched how much of a connection between the Highlander's independent spirit and the connection to
DMReach: our Revolution? I find that link intriguing.
DGabaldon: Yes. Oddly enough, the Highlanders mostly ended up
DGabaldon: fighting on the _wrong_ side of the Revolution (the British
DGabaldon: side, I mean). FIERY CROSS sort of explores and explains
DGabaldon: why.
BkCnMaxy: ?...Will you be borrowing Sara Donati's
BkCnMaxy: Nathaniel character in the 6th book?
DGabaldon: Nathaniel? Er...no. Never occurred to me. I sort of don't
DGabaldon: borrow other fictional characters. Got too many of my own
DGabaldon: already. <g>
DGabaldon: Oh, that. SOMEone was asking me during the informal checkout
TABBAK: ::::innocent eyes::::
DGabaldon: session yesterday whether I preferred Jean-Claude or Richard,
DGabaldon: from the Anita Blake books. <g>
DGabaldon: I said on the whole, I preferred Richard, but mostly in his
DGabaldon: post-shifting form--he's rather plain vanilla as Mr. Science
DGabaldon: Teacher. So SOMEone said they..er...had thought about
DGabaldon: embracing him while he was shifting....
TABBAK: <---SOMEone is NOT me...nope!
DGabaldon: ......
DGabaldon: .......
DGabaldon: ...talk about a WET SPOT!!
BkCnMaxy: Who else was in the room....TARA....LOL
DGabaldon: These are a series of books (nine, I think) by Laurell K. Hamilton.
DGabaldon: Very weird, very gory, very sexy, very good!!
DGabaldon: The whole Methadone List is in the COMPANION, as
DGabaldon: one of the Appendixes, but I gave Rosana a piece of it,
DGabaldon: to post on my web site.
AnamCailte: what do you think Jamie would think of
AnamCailte: ~~them? JC and Richard? <g>
DGabaldon: He'd approve of Richard, and he might _like_ Jean-Claude,
DGabaldon: man to man, but he wouldn't let Claire associate with him. <g>
TABBAK: That's okay.. I'll associate with him! <G>
DGabaldon: Well, both of them have what Jamie has--that sense of hyper
DGabaldon: responsibility for "his" people. But Jean-Claude takes unfair
DGabaldon: advantage of women.
AnamCailte: but Richard doesn't do anything with his
AnamCailte: women hardly.. would Jamie understand
AnamCailte: that?
DGabaldon: Jamie? Who was a virgin when he married?
SasnchWnch: lol good point
DGabaldon: Yeah, he'd understand Richard's values. <g>
CathySharb: but knew how to kiss!!!!!!
DGabaldon: We gather Richard does, too. <g>
AnamCailte: and Richards fear of himself?
DGabaldon: Jamie would understand that, too--after Wentworth.
Hsdss: diana also gave Jen's place a snip it of the LIST... you can read it at
Hsdss: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/7119/diana-methadone.html
BkCnBree9: Diana...do you know if any of your characters will have another cameo in Sara's sequel? GA
DGabaldon: No, I'm sure they won't. Sara asked me if I'd let her mention
DGabaldon: them in WILDERNESS (she's a friend; I saw parts of the ms.
DGabaldon: while she was working on it)--not to appear as themselves (I
DGabaldon: wouldn't let anyone do that), but to be mentioned by one of
DGabaldon: _her_ characters, as though they were real historical people. We thought
DGabaldon: it would be kind of a cool literary in-joke. <g> But once is
DGabaldon: a joke; don't need to repeat it.
DGabaldon: It _was_ a good book, wasn't it?
OrGaidheil: excellent
FLPORCH: My favorite part out of all the books is when Jamie and Claire are talking in the arbor
FLPORCH: when the first meet again after she lost the baby
DGabaldon: Yes, I liked that one, too.
FLPORCH: Do you have a favorite part from all the books
DGabaldon: No, it varies. I have several favorites in each book--but my
DGabaldon: main favorite is always the book I'm working on. <g>
Cinnam9825: have you scheduled any of your Book Tours in the Boston area? GA
DGabaldon: _I_ don't schedule book tours; the publicists from the various
AnamCailte: LOL
DGabaldon: publishing houses do that. But yes, the Delacorte publicist
DGabaldon: _is_ sending me to Boston in July--I'll be there on the 16th, it
DGabaldon: says.
DunBon54: Id just like to commend the way that you handled the African slaves in Voyager.. very humane and nicely done..
DGabaldon: Thank you! I did do a lot of research on slavery, especially
DGabaldon: in the Caribbean.
DunBon54: it shows, too!
Crawfordea: Oh lordy! I just want to say how much I love the books, and am enjoying re-reading them all. Even turned on
Crawfordea: DH to reading them also.
DGabaldon: Thanks! My own editor says, "These _have_ to be word of mouth
DGabaldon: books; they're too weird to describe to anybody!"
SUSANSZ: ?will Joe Abernathy or his son Lenny become directly involved in Claire or Bree's 18th century life?
DGabaldon: No, so far as I know, neither of the Abernathys is a traveler.
ESERLER: Back to "Alex"? Will Jamie ever get the Bible back to Alex's mother? Also, what happened to Hugh Munro's
ESERLER: family and his promist to take care of them?
DGabaldon: He might. I think Jenny's keeping it (the Bible) for him. As
DGabaldon: for Hugh Munro's family, yes, he's been supporting them--along with
DGabaldon: all his tenants--from the income from Lallybroch, his
DGabaldon: smuggling ventures, etc. Now, of course, he has to
DGabaldon: worry about paying alimony to Laoghaire. <g>
DGabaldon: Publishers generally only do promotion on _new_ books. You
DGabaldon: should see quite a few COMPANIONs out in June--and
DGabaldon: they'll likely be paired with "dumps" and other displays
DGabaldon: of the four novels. Or at least I hope so.
DGabaldon: Dumps are those cardboard bin-thingies that you put
DGabaldon: paperbacks in, that stand around in the aisles for people
DGabaldon: to trip over. <g>
MoorLass: Sorry...I was late.....when is your next book in the series expected to be out?
DGabaldon: Next book...well, at a wild guess, I'll finish it sometime next
DGabaldon: year. It's up to the publisher when they bring it out after
DGabaldon: that, though.
SUSANSZ: ill Bree have more children?
DGabaldon: As for Bree and more children...well, I don't think birth control
DGabaldon: was all that reliable in the 18th century, and Roger isn't the
DGabaldon: right religion for the rhythm method. <g>
Rn96: I'm glad you're a nite owl,Diana. You can get more writing done!
DGabaldon: I'm still here, but I think I've worn you guys out.
DMReach: How did women deal w/ feminine hygiene back then?
DGabaldon: Feminine hygiene? You mean menstrual periods? Rags.
DGabaldon: Aka "cloths". They saved them, washed them, and used
DGabaldon: them over and over again.
DGabaldon: Yes, a woman would just take her personal cloths along, and
DGabaldon: do her best to rinse them out as needed.\
DGabaldon: We'll sort of deal with that in the first chapter of FIERY CROSS,
DGabaldon: in fact. <g>
ScotLass76: what was it like in the beginning
DGabaldon: What it was like in the beginning? When? For me, you
DGabaldon: mean? I wrote OUTLANDER for practice, got an agent
DGabaldon: before I finished the book, he sent it to five editors, three of
DGabaldon: them made offers, we got a three-book contract...and
DGabaldon: THEN things got out of hand!
DGabaldon: but you _can_ get published.
CathySharb: Are you ready to move on from Jamie and Claire?
DGabaldon: Yes, there will be a prequel--in the fullness of time. <g>
DGabaldon: That's the book about Jamie's parents and the 1715 Rising.
HorizonOG: Whose bones were under the tree in Drums?
DGabaldon: Whose bones? Otter-Tooth's. Of course, we may
DGabaldon: find out who he _really_ is, later on. <G>
HorizonOG: That's what I thought. Somebody said earlier it was Geillie -- but she died in a cave!
DGabaldon: We don't know who he is yet--but he did have silver fillings,
DGabaldon: which is sort of a Clue. <g>
BkCnBree9: When will we see the last of Laoghaire, Diana?
Llrex2: Will Jamie ever meet Willie in battle?
DGabaldon: Will Jamie meet Willie? For sure. <g> In battle? Gee,
DGabaldon: I don't know.
DGabaldon: I know what you mean; I just don't know what will _happen_.
Llrex2: You know, Jamie on the American side; Willie fighting for those damn Brits.
Janulon: I miss Young Ian already. Will we hear much from him and his Mohawk family?
DGabaldon: Well, the Mohawk _did_ fight in the Revolution, so I sort
DGabaldon: of think we'll see Young Ian again, yes.
DGabaldon: Yes, he likes living with the Indians. Not everybody was
DGabaldon: happy to see him go, though! You should _see_ my mail!
BkCnBree9: Diana..what about Laoghaire...when will we see the last of her? <VEG>
DGabaldon: Laoghaire strikes me as one of those very durable characters;
DGabaldon: I'd bet on her lasting all the way through, even with life
DGabaldon: being as chancy as it was in the 18th century.
OrGaidheil: Will Laoghaire show up in America to terrorize all the Frasers?
DGabaldon: No, don't reckon she'll emigrate--but you never can tell.
About Jenny...
DGabaldon: She doesn't. Relations are rather strained at the moment
DGabaldon: between Jamie and his sister.
DGabaldon: No, but Ian was her baby. She's upset.
AnamCailte: what about Ian? how does he feel about
AnamCailte: his son's new people?
DGabaldon: Ian is a man; he's much more inclined to let his male children
DGabaldon: be men, too. He might miss Ian, but he'd be pretty resigned
DGabaldon: to his younger children leaving home and likely not coming
DGabaldon: back--people often didn't, back then.
Janulon: Perhaps if Jenny were waare of the vast similarities (historically) between Highlanders and Indians she might
DGabaldon: True. She may find out more about these--too bad Young Ian
DGabaldon: isn't a very good correspondent. <g>
BkCnMaxy: Diana...what about Lallybroch...will it
BkCnMaxy: ever be resided in again...in the 20th
BkCnMaxy: century???
DGabaldon: I wouldn't be surprised; the place was vacant when Roger
DGabaldon: visited it, after all. <g>
Llrex2: Will we see more of Jamie and his grandkids? I missed hearing about him as a father.
DGabaldon: Yes, Jamie gets on very well with kids. Of course, he's had
DGabaldon: a lot of experience as an uncle.
DMReach: I'm worried about thet title "The Fiery Cross."
DGabaldon: Oh, I can tell you about the title. <g>
DGabaldon: In the ancient days, a Highland chief who meant to go to war
DGabaldon: would make a cross from wood, and set it on fire. The flaming
DGabaldon: cross was then extinguished with sheep's blood, and then
DGabaldon: sent round the glens and corries, with a couple of clansmen,
DGabaldon: as a sign to the rest of the clan, to fetch their weapons and
DGabaldon: come to the gathering place, prepared for battle.
DGabaldon: Very passionate. <g> One friend objected to the title
DGabaldon: because she said it reminded her of the KKK and she
DGabaldon: thought a nice book should have a better title. I coughed
DGabaldon: politely and asked if she had any idea where the KKK--
DGabaldon: who were frequently descended from the original Highland
DGabaldon: immigrants, _got_ that idea?
DMReach: Was that ritual co-opted for some reason by the Klan?
DGabaldon: Besides, I said, I don't write nice books anyway, so it didn't matter. <g>
AnamCailte: there is the new title Diana... Fiery
AnamCailte: Cross:No Wusses <g>
DMReach: So clansmen are related to Klansen then?
DGabaldon: Um...Klan? Why ought they to have called themselves that, pray?
Title of Book 6...
DGabaldon: No, I don't know about book six yet. Ideas, but nothing for sure.
TABBAK: I still like King, Farewell, Diana. If they don't get it..oh well!
Nancalee: do we ever hear about how Roger got the jewels fromBonnett?
DGabaldon: I don't know; we'll have to wait and see what happens when
DGabaldon: Roger and Jamie find Bonnet.
CathySharb: I don't think Bonnet's as 'interesting as Black Jack"
DGabaldon: Well, we've seen relatively little of BOnnet, too. He sort of
DGabaldon: grows on you. Like fungus. <g>
OrGaidheil: But is BJR REALLY dead?
Llrex2: Watch your back, Bonnet.
Nancalee: wwill Geillis's familytree be in there?
DGabaldon: Geillis? No, her family tree isn't in there--I have NO idea
DGabaldon: where she came from. Yet. <g>
Deana2899: but, since Geillis was a real person..did Gillian Edgars become her after you found Geillis, or was she her
Deana2899: all along?
DGabaldon: Oh, Gillian was Gillian before she became Geillis--but I don't
DGabaldon: know whether she was anybody else before _that_. We know
DGabaldon: she was a few other people afterward. <g>
Deana2899: well, meaning in relation to the actual person..wasn't there really a Geillis who was a witch?
CathySharb: aren't we all other people along the way?
DGabaldon: Yes, there was--in 1590-something.
Deana2899: oh..wrong time period then..had wondered if she tied in there somewhere
DGabaldon: And yes we are; see "The Gabaldon Theory of Time Travel",
DGabaldon: sub-section on disjunct identity!
JHerna6198: The excerpts we've been reading seem to jump around. Do you always write that way? Not in chronological order?
DGabaldon: Yes, I do always jump around when I write; I never do write
DGabaldon: in order--I don't use outlines, so I have no idea what the order _is_
DGabaldon: until I start messing around with the pieces.
JHerna6198: How do you tie everything together?
Janulon: With mayonaise.
DGabaldon: Geez, you think _I_ know? I just keep writing, and things
DGabaldon: kind of stick together.
BkCnRed: I just read "White Mare's Daughter" , Diana --
BkCnRed: your recommendation on the cover caught my eye
DGabaldon: Red--did you like WHITE MARE'S DAUGHTER?
BkCnRed: Oh yes indeed! That was a page turner!
DGabaldon: Oh, good. Judy's _very_ good.
DGabaldon: I think WHITE MARE was intended as part of a trilogy, but
DGabaldon: I'm not for sure; I haven't seen Judy for some time.
BkCnRed: that'd be a great trilogy
Nancalee: did geillis have any other children besides what's his name withDougal?
DMReach: Time travel - Tolstoy had something to say about who affects events in history.
BkCnBree9: lol Tara
Deana2899: I wasn't wondering till you asked it Nancalee..couldn't let it go after that<g>
TABBAK: (I'm not...I have to pee!<G>)
Nancalee: thanks deana
BkCnRed: Do you know if she plans to contine the
BkCnRed: story?
AnamCailte: AGAIN Tara???? <g>
CathySharb: what book is this?
DGabaldon: You know, guys, we should really wrap it up--we don't
Litening89: Real quick. . . I saw that there are reading groups for Outlander and others, how do I get to them?
OrGaidheil: Are all the people able to go TTS decendant from one individual?
DGabaldon: want TABBAK to er...have to worry about any more wet spots!
BkCnBree9: LOLL
AnamCailte: LOL
JHerna6198: It's still early!
TABBAK: LOL!!!
Nancalee: want tara to wet her pants
BkCnRed: LOL!!!
Llrex2: LOL
Sue3027: lol!
JHerna6198: lol
Nancalee: whooboy!
BkCnMaxy: This group is used to doing the pee pee
BkCnMaxy: dance...LOL
DGabaldon: OrG--I don't know. They might be. <g>
SasnchWnch: lol
Llrex2: Of course, we've been talking about Jamie...
OrGaidheil: We'll see *g*
RMBECB: I was wondering if you personally know anyone like Jamie?
DGabaldon: Well, my husband is 6'4", with read hair and a sense of humor. <g>
Llrex2: But would he break into a prison to save you from a ruthless villain?
DGabaldon: He wouldn't let anyone _take_ me from him, in the first place. <demure smile>
Sue3027: Good answer!
DGabaldon: Gotta go soon, guys. It's past midnight, and I got kids
DGabaldon: And a Happy Easter, and Hag Sameach to all of you!
BkCnMaxy: If anyone else needs group info...Send
BkCnMaxy: Tabbak and I an email at AOL.
DGabaldon: Thanks to Maxy, TABBAK, Nan and Red for running this show!
Nancalee: no no THANK YOU
TABBAK: It was great! \
BkCnMaxy: ::::blushing::::
BkCnRed: we'd run this show anytime you'd like to
BkCnRed: come join us!
DGabaldon: Loved it, guys! Sleep tight!
Copyright, Franklin Spier Inc. 1999, All
Rights Reserved
