Diana Gabaldon's Blog, page 32
October 1, 2010
Appearance CORRECTION!
My original tour/appearance schedule for Sept./October has me appearing at the "Waterfront" Borders in Scottsdale on Oct. 3. I'm afraid I _won't_ be doing that one--the Borders corporate office wasn't able to get things together to approve doing it in time, so it will be rescheduled for (probably) sometime in November.
So please don't show up there on Sunday!
However...I _will_ be appearing at Changing Hands bookstore (in Tempe) at 7 PM on October 6th, if any local folk still need their books signed!
So please don't show up there on Sunday!
However...I _will_ be appearing at Changing Hands bookstore (in Tempe) at 7 PM on October 6th, if any local folk still need their books signed!
Film Rumors
Well, evidently there was an article in yesterday's New York Times, regarding (among other things) the possibility of Katherine Heigl playing Claire in a film version of OUTLANDER. It's not like there haven't been all kinds of rumors about everything you could imagine, over the last ten years or so--but this seems to have stirred up a lot of folk, many of whom asked me to post something on the matter.
Had a quick glance at several assorted articles on the subject (to which folk have been sending me links). All of said articles contain the usual amount of careless inaccuracy that you usually see. You really shouldn't get excited about any details mentioned in that sort of piece--like "Scottish heroine," for instance.
OK, this is what I know about this:
On Tuesday, I had lunch in San Francisco with the two main people connected with Essential Entertainment, who have the film option for OUTLANDER. They told me that
1. They have a new scriptwriter, and hope to have the new script by the end of the year (so, no, Randall Wallace is no longer the writer on the project). I believe the scriptwriter has not officially signed a contract yet, so I ought not to talk more about that, save to say that I thought the concept they outlined to me was interesting and _could_ make a good adaptation.
2. They said that Katherine Heigl's mother is a huge fan of the series, and had given the books to her daughter, who likewise became a fan and was deeply interested in the possibility of playing Claire. (Mind, this has been the case with several other actresses in the past. None of those possibilities came to anything.)
3. As one of the gentlemen said to me, "If she signs (to do the film), the film gets made." I.e., having a recognizable "name" star would assure the necessary financing, etc.
4. They did ask me what I thought of her. I've never seen her act, so have no opinion on that--but I did ask whether the presumption was that she'd play Claire as an Englishwoman (in which case, the question is not only, 'can she act the part,' but can she do an English accent?). They assured me that Claire _is_ English and stays English.
5. _I_ said to them, "and if you have a recognizable female star, that would give you more latitude in casting Jamie?" To which they replied that it would, one of them adding that he thought Jamie would have to be an unknown, as he (the gentleman in question) had been looking for years and hadn't seen anyone suitable among the Usual Suspects.
6. Now, I do (after years of saying, "enh?") actually have a candidate for Jamie--a very good, tall, red-headed, _young_ SCOTTISH actor named Allan Scott-Douglas. I don't, of course, have any official say at all when it comes to casting, but I did mention Allan to the film people, who were very interested.
And...that's pretty much it. I wouldn't rule Ms. Heigl out, without seeing what she can do, and if her recognizability makes a film possible, well....fine. Let's see.
I do note that there's a _rash_ of articles about this out today--all based on the NYT piece, evidently, with more or less stupidity and inaccuracy in the details of their descriptions. But the fact that there _is_ a rash kind of makes me wonder who's organizing this mini-PR blitz--Ms. Heigl's people, the film people, or...?
That's all I know about it, though.
Had a quick glance at several assorted articles on the subject (to which folk have been sending me links). All of said articles contain the usual amount of careless inaccuracy that you usually see. You really shouldn't get excited about any details mentioned in that sort of piece--like "Scottish heroine," for instance.
OK, this is what I know about this:
On Tuesday, I had lunch in San Francisco with the two main people connected with Essential Entertainment, who have the film option for OUTLANDER. They told me that
1. They have a new scriptwriter, and hope to have the new script by the end of the year (so, no, Randall Wallace is no longer the writer on the project). I believe the scriptwriter has not officially signed a contract yet, so I ought not to talk more about that, save to say that I thought the concept they outlined to me was interesting and _could_ make a good adaptation.
2. They said that Katherine Heigl's mother is a huge fan of the series, and had given the books to her daughter, who likewise became a fan and was deeply interested in the possibility of playing Claire. (Mind, this has been the case with several other actresses in the past. None of those possibilities came to anything.)
3. As one of the gentlemen said to me, "If she signs (to do the film), the film gets made." I.e., having a recognizable "name" star would assure the necessary financing, etc.
4. They did ask me what I thought of her. I've never seen her act, so have no opinion on that--but I did ask whether the presumption was that she'd play Claire as an Englishwoman (in which case, the question is not only, 'can she act the part,' but can she do an English accent?). They assured me that Claire _is_ English and stays English.
5. _I_ said to them, "and if you have a recognizable female star, that would give you more latitude in casting Jamie?" To which they replied that it would, one of them adding that he thought Jamie would have to be an unknown, as he (the gentleman in question) had been looking for years and hadn't seen anyone suitable among the Usual Suspects.
6. Now, I do (after years of saying, "enh?") actually have a candidate for Jamie--a very good, tall, red-headed, _young_ SCOTTISH actor named Allan Scott-Douglas. I don't, of course, have any official say at all when it comes to casting, but I did mention Allan to the film people, who were very interested.
And...that's pretty much it. I wouldn't rule Ms. Heigl out, without seeing what she can do, and if her recognizability makes a film possible, well....fine. Let's see.
I do note that there's a _rash_ of articles about this out today--all based on the NYT piece, evidently, with more or less stupidity and inaccuracy in the details of their descriptions. But the fact that there _is_ a rash kind of makes me wonder who's organizing this mini-PR blitz--Ms. Heigl's people, the film people, or...?
That's all I know about it, though.
September 30, 2010
Eeee!
Guys, you did it!
I'm thrilled beyond measure to report that THE EXILE debuts at
#1
on the New York Times Graphic Books Bestseller List for Oct. 10!
THANKS SO MUCH, from me and Hoang!
I'm thrilled beyond measure to report that THE EXILE debuts at
#1
on the New York Times Graphic Books Bestseller List for Oct. 10!
THANKS SO MUCH, from me and Hoang!
September 28, 2010
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS!!
Here's where (and when) I'll be this week! Hope to see y'all there!
Tuesday, Sept. 28th, 7 PM
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Contact: Karen West, 415-927-0960 x238/ kwest@bookpassage.com alison@bookpassage.com
*This will be a talk & signing with illustrator Hoang Nguyen.
Wednesday, Sept. 29th, 7 PM
San Diego Independent Booksellers Coalition Event
Location: Gillispie School
7380 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
Contact: Susan McBeth (Warwick's), (858) 454-0347/ warwicksevents@yahoo.com
*This will be a talk & signing hosted by Warwick's, Mysterious Galaxy, and The Book Works.
Thursday, Sept. 30th, 7 PM
Vroman's
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Contact: Jennifer Ramos, 626-449-5320 x250/ jramos@vromansbookstore.com
*This will be a talk & signing.
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2 PM
Barnes & Noble
5130 E. Broadway
Tucson, AZ 85711
Contact: Valerie Burnside, 520-512-1166
*This will be a talk & signing.
Tuesday, Sept. 28th, 7 PM
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Contact: Karen West, 415-927-0960 x238/ kwest@bookpassage.com alison@bookpassage.com
*This will be a talk & signing with illustrator Hoang Nguyen.
Wednesday, Sept. 29th, 7 PM
San Diego Independent Booksellers Coalition Event
Location: Gillispie School
7380 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
Contact: Susan McBeth (Warwick's), (858) 454-0347/ warwicksevents@yahoo.com
*This will be a talk & signing hosted by Warwick's, Mysterious Galaxy, and The Book Works.
Thursday, Sept. 30th, 7 PM
Vroman's
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Contact: Jennifer Ramos, 626-449-5320 x250/ jramos@vromansbookstore.com
*This will be a talk & signing.
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2 PM
Barnes & Noble
5130 E. Broadway
Tucson, AZ 85711
Contact: Valerie Burnside, 520-512-1166
*This will be a talk & signing.
September 27, 2010
Yes, I WILL have CD's on the West Coast!
In answer to a number of folk who've asked--yes, indeedy, I _will_ have OUTLANDER:The Musical CDs available at the signings this week in San Francisco (well, I think it's actually Corte Madera, but close), Los Angeles (Pasadena), and San Diego.
I have permission from Mike and Kevin to sell them at a special "event" price of $15, which is a good bit less than either the PayPal or Amazon price (also, no waiting [g:]). Depending on the bookstores' preferences, I'll likely be selling these ...
I have permission from Mike and Kevin to sell them at a special "event" price of $15, which is a good bit less than either the PayPal or Amazon price (also, no waiting [g:]). Depending on the bookstores' preferences, I'll likely be selling these ...
September 26, 2010
PROGRESS! OUTLANDER:The Musical now on Amazon!
I'm pleased to report that—thanks to the good offices of Ann Behar, at my literary agent's office—we now have an Official AMAZON.COM account for the OUTLANDER: The Musical CD!
We hope this will be more convenient for those of you who a) don't have or don't want to use PayPal, and b) are on this side of the Atlantic—since you won't have to wait a week or two for your CDs to be shipped from Scotland!
Apparently a few people have indeed found it more convenient—or are doing their Christmas shoppin...
We hope this will be more convenient for those of you who a) don't have or don't want to use PayPal, and b) are on this side of the Atlantic—since you won't have to wait a week or two for your CDs to be shipped from Scotland!
Apparently a few people have indeed found it more convenient—or are doing their Christmas shoppin...
September 23, 2010
Thank you! And if you don't want to read excerpts, stop NOW...!
Dear All--
Many thanks to the dedicated (that sounds so much better than, say, "obsessed," let alone "clinically deranged") souls who did so much in championing me to the first place in the National Book Festival's Favorite Author poll!
I would not, of course, want to be accused of bribery, even _ex post facto_, so I won't say this is a reward for such a gallant effort [g:] But as I've been reading these excerpts from Book Eight at the various events this week, I thought it was only fa...
Many thanks to the dedicated (that sounds so much better than, say, "obsessed," let alone "clinically deranged") souls who did so much in championing me to the first place in the National Book Festival's Favorite Author poll!
I would not, of course, want to be accused of bribery, even _ex post facto_, so I won't say this is a reward for such a gallant effort [g:] But as I've been reading these excerpts from Book Eight at the various events this week, I thought it was only fa...
September 18, 2010
Never Been Viral Before...
...but the fabulous Nikki has done it! Don't think it'll last [g:], but her terrific book-trailer at http://www.youtube.com/user/voyagesof... has had 2750 clicks in the last day and a half---causing YouTube to ask whether we want to take ads for our "viral video." [g:]
We don't, but we surely do appreciate all the clicks! (And we hope you'll enjoy the book as much as the trailer...!)
We don't, but we surely do appreciate all the clicks! (And we hope you'll enjoy the book as much as the trailer...!)
Methadone Thumbnails
Quickie here (things are hotting up as we get closer to The Exile release): Barnes and Noble asked me a little while ago to give them three book recommendations for a guest feature. In case you need something to read over the next three days [g:]...
http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5...
http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5...
September 16, 2010
New Interview - New Book-Trailer!
Boy, it's been an eventful day, so far!
First the fabulous Nikki Rowe, who manages my YouTube Channel with such flair and grace, puts up a wonderful new book-trailer video for THE EXILE (featuring several new art samples!).
AND she also deftly snares a brand-new video interview I did for NovelsAliveTV (whom I met at DragonCon earlier this month)!
HERE is a link that will take you to both.
Don't say we don't try to keep y'all entertained....[g:] Hope you enjoy them!
First the fabulous Nikki Rowe, who manages my YouTube Channel with such flair and grace, puts up a wonderful new book-trailer video for THE EXILE (featuring several new art samples!).
AND she also deftly snares a brand-new video interview I did for NovelsAliveTV (whom I met at DragonCon earlier this month)!
HERE is a link that will take you to both.
Don't say we don't try to keep y'all entertained....[g:] Hope you enjoy them!
