May 18, 1997

DGabaldon:: Hi, guys!

BC Maxy: I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DIANA GABALDON!!! DIANA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING....

DGabaldon:: Thanks. [g] No problem with the questions--after all, I wrote the books; other folks may not read as thoroughly as I do. [g]

BC Maxy: PUT YOUR FEET UP AND LISTEN TO THE APPLAUSE

DGabaldon:: Sorry--had to go turn off the IM's--I can't talk to ten people and you guys all at once. [peeking out from under rock] Is it OK to come out now? [g]

BC Maxy: DIANA ...TAKE A SIP OF DIET COKE....AND LETS CUT DOWN ON BANTER LADIES....

DGabaldon:: [slurp!]

Question: Where do you get your inspirations from?
DGabaldon:: Oh, I just stare at a wall until things start to happen [g] No, really, you get inspirations from everywhere, and everything.

Question: First, thank you for your input on my research paper. (it got an A and I will post someday) Now, will we see anymore of Rabbie McNabb?
DGabaldon:: Oh, good! Congratulations! As for Rabbie MacNab--I don't know, at the moment. I suppose we might.

Question: I've been curious about something since I read "Drums of Autumn". When did you decide to add the other part of the Fraser clan in the story? The clan crest, the leaping stag vs. the Strawberries. Was this always a part of the master plan, or did you just recently research this and want to add it?
DGabaldon:: I didn't know there were two parts. [g] I have a lady who's obsessed with the strawberries in Tennessee, and keeps peppering me with strawberry-strewn notepaper, sweaters, serving platters, you name it... but I did know about M. Frezeliere--he's mentioned in one of my Highland Clans book. I just hadn't found a suitable spot to stick that stuff in. Not room for everything I know, after all. [g]

Question: Will we get a replay of Jamie & Randall's last encounter in "Fiery Cross", or book six?
DGabaldon:: No.

Question: Have you ever been affected by a book as "Outlander" has affected so many of us?
DGabaldon:: Well, I dunno. [g] Judging from the effects...um. Er...I can't think of any, offhand. [g]

Question: Just wondered if you get your ideas and run with them, or if some of them stall somewhere along the line?
DGabaldon:: Well, I work in little bits and pieces, and sometimes I start something and it just doesn't gel for me. If so, I just save it in a file, and start with something else (another scene, I mean, not another book). I may come back to it later, and it will come together--or I may just salvage phrases or images from it and use them somewhere else.

Question: There are two grimoires mentioned in the books...one Claire steals and gives to Roger before going back to Jamie and one Roger gets from Fiona. Are these the same or different books?
DGabaldon:: I don't remember Claire stealing a grimoire anywhere--let alone giving it to Roger.

Question: Will we ever see any more of Hamish?
DGabaldon:: Oh, I think so. [g] Book Six, probably.

Question: Did you enjoy history in high school? I want to "turn on " the kids. Your characters are great! Very close to the feeling Well, some I enjoyed and some I thought was boring--depended on the teacher. [g] ok what made the difference?
DGabaldon:: It helped if the teacher cared; if he or she found it a 'live' subject, rather than a collection of dates and facts.

Question: What was Geillie's motive in helping Claire at the witch trial?
DGabaldon:: Geillie--well, it may have been a sense of altruism for a fellow time-traveler (after all, Geillie had good reason to think she might be able to escape burning, which indeed she did). Or merely an instinct for contrary behavior [g]. or perhaps a sense of obligation.

Question: I was wondering about the Outlandish companion. What will it include? (FYI - I made the timeline on the web as a companion for myself and the group but am curious about what you are you planning)
DGabaldon:: The "Outlandish Companion" will include family trees, clan maps, lists of characters (and which books they appear in), timelines (yes, I'd love to look at yours!), annotated bibliographies, glossaries of Scots and Gaelic words (with pronunciation guides), synopses of the first four books, trivia on how I came to write various pieces, information on which characters are historical, which are fictional, and which are Real People [g]...essays on Historical Fiction and Political Correctness (the two don't go together!), and whatever else I can think of. Oh--if the publisher will spring for artwork, we'll do things like drawings of Claire's rings and Ellen's bracelets, and photos of the Highlands around Lallybroch. [g]

Question: Is there a chance the "Outlander" series could go further after #6?
DGabaldon:: I don't think so. But I'll know for sure after I've written the sixth book. [g]

Question: Since we started re-reads during weekly book groups, some of us are still wondering... Who hit Jamie with the axe? Will we ever find out for sure?
DGabaldon:: Yeah, I think you'll find out. Depends how it fits with the story, though, as to where you may find out. [g]

Question: I just wanted to thank you for MANY hours of enjoyment and pleasure. The audio help in rush hour.
DGabaldon:: My pleasure! Did you hear that Recorded Books is releasing an unabridged commercial version of "Outlander"?

BC Maxy: DIANA...DO YOU KNOW WHEN?

DGabaldon:: Call 1-800-638-1304 for information and orders--but they told me they thought it would be available this August! I'm excited! [g]

BC Maxy: ME TOO!!!

Question: Now that Brianna has learned the date of her parents deaths, will we have to face losing Jamie and Claire?
DGabaldon:: Boy, you think I know? [g] Or put it this way--if I did know, would I tell you? [g]

Question: Which of the series, to date, has been the easiest to write, the most difficult, and how long did it take to write "Outlander"??
DGabaldon:: They're all about the same overall; all have difficult parts and easy parts. It gets a little more difficult as I go on, because I'm handling so much story complexity, and trying to structure each book to stand alone, as well as to interlink with the others. That's challenging and time-consuming-- but really, really interesting!

Question: Diana, I believe the "stolen grimoire" referred to earlier is the notebook of Geillie's that Claire purloined from the institute
DGabaldon:: Oh, that. No, it isn't the same book Fiona later gives Roger; it's just a notebook full of Geillie's early jottings and ideas. Her real grimoire is the cloth-bound book Fiona finds among her things.

Question: Will Claire and Jamie ever return to Scotland? BTW, I'm looking forward to the Companion!
DGabaldon:: Yes, I think so, though I don't know when or how.

Question: Travis McGee was probably one of the best protagonists in this century, How did John D. McDonald influence you?
DGabaldon:: By showing me how to handle both consistency and evolution in a continuing character--and showing me how to use pacing; the intermix of quick action with fairly quiet contemplative periods.

Question: Are you like Claire?
DGabaldon:: Well, I don't swear. At all. [g]

Question: Everything seems to "mean" something. Do you "plan" coincidences, or take something that was casual and build on it? I'm thinking of bonnet's story that was first referenced on page 7. Thanks.
DGabaldon:: Er...well...they just sort of fall into place as the book grows. You do know I don't plan books ahead of time, or write in a straight line? I just do small bits and pieces, and eventually they sort of start to fit together. At the same time, sometimes I'll see an entire chain of "events" concerning some character of situation. But not always. I made them up.

Question: What does Dougal whisper to Jamie before his death?
DGabaldon:: Stay tuned for Book Six....[g]

Question: You've said before that each book has a "shape". What shape is Drums?
DGabaldon:: It's shaped like a stem on a rose bush--a long, arcing central stem, with smaller twigs--each with a bud [g]--coming off it--and then a final inflorescence, with a big whorl of bright crimson petals.

Question: It seems that Geillis is younger than Claire in 1968...but are they the same age in 1745 and beyond? thank you for wonderful readings.
DGabaldon:: She's a little older than Claire in 1745; she was 22 (or so) when she went back from 1968, but she came to a time earlier than 1745--maybe 1735--and has been aging normally there.

Question: You mentioned another series, will it also be time travel?
DGabaldon:: Not the mysteries; those are straight (well, as straight as I get [g]) contemporary stories. Master Raymond's series involves time-travel, though.

Question: This is off the book questions completely, but something a lot of us here at Book Central really want to know. Have you had a chance to read the Inlander Tale? And if so, could you tell us your reaction? We don't want a writing critique, though. [g] We know it's bad.
DGabaldon:: No, I haven't read it. [g] No time.

Question: In "Outlander", Claire sees the Comte St. Germaine's grimoire. How did Geillie get it if he still had it?
DGabaldon:: I don't know. Swiped it? [g] I mean--if she swiped his original book, he'd likely make another.

Question: Ian is using Ottertooth's journal as note paper. When does its importance become noted and by whom?
DGabaldon:: You only know he's using the journal because I told you. (Just so people don't start combing "Drums" for the reference! It's not in there.) As to who notices--well, I reckon Ian knows, doesn't he?

Question: You've said you wrote "Outlander" as practice, but did you mentally have entire series plotted especially the Jamie's ghost thing in "Outlander"?
DGabaldon:: Oh, no. I never plot things out in advance; what would be the fun of writing a book if you knew what was going to happen? I didn't realize for a long time who the ghost was. It was only after people started asking about him that I realized what he was doing there.

Question: DO you plan to set your mysteries in the current day? I LOVE mysteries, esp. with female protagonists!!
DGabaldon:: Yes, the mysteries are contemporary. Set in Phoenix, with flashbacks to Philadelphia.

Question: Will Jenny and Ian ever come to the colonies (United States)?
DGabaldon:: Oh...yes and no.

Question: I just want you to know that we truly appreciate you husband dressing up for us and you in People Magazine. He is a very special person. He now has thousands of women in love with him for doing that for you. Please tell him thank you, from all of us.
DGabaldon:: Well, I'm very fond of him. [g]

Question: Practical question: How did you find your agent?
DGabaldon:: I was introduced to him by one of his clients, who was an acquaintance of mine on the CompuServe Literary Forum.

Question: Did Geillie know who Claire was when they met in 1745, from the newspaper clippings or seeing her as she left?
DGabaldon:: No, she didn't know.

Question: Just wanted to say that I love hearing you say you write without an outline....that's how I do it and it seems to work!
DGabaldon:: Well, it's whatever works; I know lots of writers who do need outlines, and that works fine for them--just not for me. Or many others. [g]

Question: As an English teacher, I am wondering if you have any ideas on motivating JR/SR high school students to write?
DGabaldon:: As to motivating students...ah...no, can't say I do. My kids all write for recreation. I guess I'd just give them the opportunity to write about anything they liked, but that's not very helpful, I'm afraid.

BC Maxy: DIANA...I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING SOME OF YOUR TIME WITH US...

DGabaldon:: Well, you're more than welcome. Nice of you to ask me.

Copyright Franklin Spier, Inc. 1997.

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