Diana Gabaldon's Blog, page 2

Second Sunday of Advent

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...

Signed Christmas Gifts From the Pen!

What’s on my mind? Well, turkey, natch…

but not far behind is 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 ) 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:

De...

“Did he speak?”

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. ). 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 immine...

EASTER EGG! “A Battle’s Not A War”

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 journey...

The Vigil of Easter

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 mome...

“Ticks and Things…”

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 patc...

Two Excerpts to Celebrate March 6th

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.

So, here are TWO brief excerpts from the tenth offspring of that line, to mark the 36th 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 ...

Asteroid 28890 Gabaldon

MANY thanks to the Lowell Observatory (in Flagstaff, Arizona) for including me in their wonderful “I (heart) Pluto” Festival this weekend!

Everyone had a wonderful time, including State Representative Justin Wilmoth, who is introducing a bill to the Legislature declaring that “Pluto is the State Planet of Arizona.” (As the Representative noted in his remarks, “No other state has discovered a planet!”)

(Yes, we know that Pluto is dismissed as a “planetoid” by the uninformed; (most of) the good ...

An Excess of Eyes

Well. First, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! I hope you all had plenty of chocolate, and a nice day filled with warm breezes and spring flowers!

Weirdly enough, today was also Ash Wednesday—some of you will likely have seen the occasional person going about their business with a smeary black thumbprint in the middle of their forehead; this is the application of ashes, which Catholics take as a sign of the beginning of Lent, a season of penitence and preparation for Easter.

The combination of Ash Wedn...

Prequel TV Series Begins Production

Annnnndddd….ACTION!

The Outlander Prequel tv series, “Blood of My Blood” (aka “BOB” for short…) is underway!

Filming began on January 22nd (and I”m liking everything I’m seeing!), with Episode 101, and here is a quick look at four main characters:

Curious about Jamie’s parents? Click here to read “A Bird In The Hand,” the first excerpt I released from my prequel novel.