January 7, 1997 at AOL Live
Transcript of Diana Gabaldon Chat :
AOLiveMC4: I'm Jim JMF (AOLiveMC4) and that's Jill L E (AOLiveMC9), your
hosts for this evening.
AOLiveMC4: Everybody, let's give a big welcome to Diana Gabaldon! Welcome to
AOL Live!
DGabaldon: Thank you! Happy to be here---thought I'd never get in! There
must be a few people here, hum? <g>
AOLiveMC4: Diana, are you ready for the questions from our audience?
DGabaldon: Yes, I think so.
AOLiveMC4: Here's our first question for tonight:
Question: Do you plan to continue the series of novels about Claire and
Jamie Fraser? (I have yet to read "The Drums of Autumn").
DGabaldon: Oh, yes! I told the publisher, halfway through VOYAGER, that I
was never..going to be able to cram the American Revolution into one more
book. <g>
DGabaldon: As it is, I think I got up to about 1770 by the end of DRUMS.
There are actually two more books in Jamie and Claire's story...plus a small
prequel volume, dealing with Jamie Fraser's parents.
Question: Diana, by now you know I'm in love with Jamie Fraser...is there
any part of Jamie's character that you don't like?
DGabaldon: Er...<thinking>....no, I don't think so (and my husband's not
even looking over my shoulder!).
Question: Hi! I'm such a fan! I was an English major in college and very
much view your writings as more of a historical fiction/romance genre. Does
it bother you that you're categorized as only a romance writer?
DGabaldon: Yes, indeed. I _like_ romances, but I don't write them--luckily,
my agreement with the publisher was that they would market the books
initially as romance (for lack of any _real_ category for them <g>), and if
the books became "visible" (publisherese for "hit the NYT list")..then they
would reposition and remarket the books as Fiction..making them safe for men
to read. <g>
DGabaldon: Luckily, VOYAGER _did_ hit the NYT list in hardcover, they _did_
recover and reissue the first three books, and DRUMS is being marketed simply
as Fiction. I'd be stuck to know what else to call 'em, myself. <g>
Question: I have always wanted to write a book. But the big problem is that
first line. How do you get started?
DGabaldon: Well, you don't necessarily have to start with the first line,
you know. I not only don't write with an outline, I don't write in a
_straight_ line. I write wherever I can "see" something. I just make sure to
keep on writing--every day if possible.
AOLiveMC4: Here's a question that many of us wonder about:
Question: With the Kids etc. how do you do it?
DGabaldon: Well, the stock answer is that I don't sleep, and I don't do
housework. <g> This is actually more or less true. I do most of the "real"
writing--putting words on screen--late at night. My best working hours are 11
PM - 3 AM. But I _do_ have a nice person who comes round and keeps us from
being condemned by the County Health Inspector, too. <g>
Question: We see so much of Frank and Jamie in Brianna, why don't we see any
of Claire?
DGabaldon: Who doesn't? I suppose that's a matter of personal
interpretation--for myself, I'd think she's very much her mother's daughter;
determined and more than a little blunt. <g>
Question: As your books make the move from the romance department of most
bookstores to the fiction dept. do you find that you are gaining more male
readers? See you in Atlanta!
DGabaldon: Yeah, I do. In fact, when I do book tours in Canada, I find that
the people who come to signings are about evenly divided, male and female.
This is partly because there are a lot of Scottish men in Canada <g>, but
also because Canadian bookstores don't have separate "romance" sections, so
there's no...er...stigma (so to speak) attached to the books there. I do now
find many more male readers here in the US, too.
Question: Which book is your favorite and why?
DGabaldon: The one I'm working on--or have most recently finished--is always
my favorite; I'd like to hope I'm getting slightly better with practice. <g>
Question: Will Diana be appearing on any television talk shows? How about
radio?
DGabaldon: Kind of depends how well the book does. It's much harder to get
that sort of coverage for fiction writers, as opposed to nonfiction, because
there isn't all that much to talk about, if neither the host nor the audience
has read the book yet!
DGabaldon: Still, Delacorte has a _wonderful_ publicist, and she has
arranged quite a few radio and print interviews for the upcoming tour--and we
do small cable-TV appearances here and there, too. Not up to the Oprah level
yet, though, <g> I'm afraid!
Question: After you wrote "outlander" did you know where the story was
going?
DGabaldon: Sort of. As I said, I don't write with an outline. I didn't know
when I _began_ OUTLANDER where the story was going. <g> Still, once you've
begun with a set of characters, and the historical times in which they live,
you can begin to see certain patterns or directions. But I sort of write
books by Braille--feeling my way along.
Question: The prologue to "Drums" is inspiring a lot of talk. Which two
lines did your daughter allow you to borrow??
DGabaldon: Durn, and I don't have the book to hand, so I can't quote
exactly. It was the bit about, "Your conscious mind says, 'No, it isn't,' but
the older, darker part whispers, 'Yes, but it _could_ be!'" That bit.
Question: Claire is a smart cookie, Did she get her personality from you?
DGabaldon: <cough> Well...no. Having been raised in a strict Catholic
household, I'm unable to curse at all--I say "Damn!" only under strong
provocation. Claire's a good deal more uninhibited than I am. <g>
Question: Will Diana consider to speaking to groups upon request?
DGabaldon: Yes, I love to speak to groups. I'm limited a bit by other
commitments--I'm booked solid from now 'til late April--and reluctance to
leave home more than necessary--but yes, I do certainly take requests. <g>
Question: I love your books. What do we have to look forward to in the
upcoming novels???
DGabaldon: Geez, you think _I_ know? Well, let's see....we _will_ eventually
get to the American Revolution, I can promise that much. <g> And we haven't
seen the last of Ian _or_ his dog, Rollo. Let alone John Gray and Willie. But
I don't know as I should tell you any more details--some people like to be
surprised. <g>
Question: What are your real life models for your characters of Claire,
Fergus, Mother H, and Master Raymond?
DGabaldon: Uh...there aren't any. I was going to say that I don't use real
life models, but that's not strictly true; I did--with VOYAGER--begin writing
in friends of mine as interesting cameos. I use their real names--and do it
with their permission, I hasten to add! In VOYAGER, (Father) Barry Fogden,
Margaret Campbell, and the dog Ludo are all real friends of mine. <g> As for
DRUMS, the mountain man, John Q. Myers, is a dear friend and fellow writer.
His physique, by the way, is rendered faithfully (hernia aside). <g>
Question: Are there still plans for a companion to the "Outlander" series?
DGabaldon: Oh, yes. I haven't suggested it formally to the publisher yet
(thought we'd better wait and see how this book does first!), but I've begun
work on it.
Question: Do you think with the passing of time Claire has softened her
feelings toward Lord John Grey?
DGabaldon: Yes, she's realized a) that he doesn't pose either a physical or
emotional threat to Jamie, and b) that his feelings are both sincere and
deeply honorable. She doesn't _like_ it, exactly, but she's compelled to
respect him. And while she does feel some jealousy of Willie (on Brianna's
behalf), she realizes what a valuable thing John has done for Jamie by
raising the boy so well.
Question: What is "Drums of Autumn" about and what is the setting? Is it
anything like the Outlander trilogy?
DGabaldon: DRUMS OF AUTUMN is the fourth book in the OUTLANDER
...er..trilogy. <g> Actually, <deep breath> it's sort of a double
trilogy--OUTLANDER ,DRAGONFLY and VOYAGER are the first, or "Old World"
trilogy, dealing with the Jacobite rebellion, the breakdown of the clans,
etc.
DGabaldon: DRUMS and its two successors are the "New World" trilogy, in
which we explore not only the continuing lives of our characters, but also
the social upheavals and remarkable adventures of the American Revolution and
the second half of the 18th century.
Question: Why is one of your future books named "The Firey Cross"?
DGabaldon: Well, it's named THE FIERY CROSS, actually. <g> The title comes
from an ancient Scots custom; when the chief of a clan meant to go to war, he
would make a wooden cross, set the arms on fire (they didn't _stay_ on fire,
but were charred), and then have this carried through the glens, as a signal
to the clansmen to gather at the castle or the rock or wherever, weapons
ready to go to battle.
AOLiveMC4: Here's an eager advice-seeker asking this next question:
Question: I love to write books, but I'm a kid. Do you have any tips?
DGabaldon: Yes. The same I'd have for anyone who wants to write. 1. Read.
and 2. Write. You read, because that's how you gain the critical judgment you
need to evaluate your own work, and how you learn techniques of writing. You
write, because that's the _only_ way anyone ever really learns how. Good
luck!
Question: Is there a connection between Fergus' son's name and his unknown
father?
DGabaldon: I did wonder whether anyone might spot that. <g> There might be.
I don't know whether we'll find that out officially or not--but there might
be.
Question: Have you visited Culloden and If so is there a clan stone for
Fraser?
DGabaldon: Yes, and yes. I hadn't been to Scotland when I wrote OUTLANDER,
but went while writing DRAGONFLY. So all the scenes of Culloden are
"eyewitness", so to speak--all accurate.
Question: Diana: Is Fraser Ridge near Fayetteville, NC?
DGabaldon: Well, some distance (quite a bit of distance--maybe 150 miles) up
into the mountains beyond. But Fayetteville is what used to be called Cross
Creek, yes.
Question: Ms Gabaldon, can you tell us how you researched the Scottish
culture for your books? Did you live in Scotland?
DGabaldon: No, as I said, I'd never been there when I wrote OUTLANDER. On
the other hand, I _was_ a research professor. <g> And I _did_ have a
university library to hand. I used books--lots of books--and also collected
tapes of Scottish folk music. In addition, I used my online contacts to pick
up miscellaneous bits of information. Mostly books, though.
Question: Will you be adding more excerpts from "The Fiery Cross" and "King,
Farewell" to your web page?
DGabaldon: Yes, I likely will. I write slowly, though--and book tours are
_very_ distracting!--so it may be awhile before I put up anything new. I also
want to be careful not to put up so much that it might be a spoiler for
readers of the books later.
Question: Will we enjoy Brianna and Roger's romance as much as Jamie and
Claire's?
DGabaldon: That's kind of up to you, I reckon.
Question: Can we go back? Did you intend Jamie to be Claire's love in
"Outlander?" Perhaps the handsome uncle?
DGabaldon: Well, when I first wrote Claire, I had no idea _what_ was going
to happen. It could have been Dougal. It could have (at one point, before I
found out what he was _really_ like!) have been Black Jack. Turned out to be
Jamie, though, which I approved of. I'm partial to red hair. <g> Subj:
Question: Diana, has the success of the series surprised you and what do you
think of so many people's almost fanatic quest to find the latest book?
DGabaldon: Yes, I'm a trifle surprised--but _very_ gratified! <g> In fact,
earlier this afternoon, the publisher had called me to tell me that--thanks
to all present for your efforts!--DRUMS is #1 on the Ingram's hardcover list,
#1 on the Waldenbooks Hardcover Releases list, #2 on the B&N list--and will
definitely be on the Wall Street Journal list tomorrow and on the USA Today
list Thursday--though they didn't yet know the placement on those lists.
So--to all of you <g>--a huge THANK YOU!!!
AOLiveMC4: The show is nearing the end, so there's time for one final
question for our guest.
Question: In one of your dedications you thank your husband for the "raw
material?" Want to explain???
DGabaldon: Well...my husband is six-foot four with red hair. <g>
DGabaldon: Oh...you want to know more? <G> Well, he asked, when he finally
read OUTLANDER. "Yes," I said. "It's true--you're Jamie Fraser's model--from
the neck down." <VBG>
AOLiveMC4: Diana, thank you so very much for taking time out of your day to
appear tonight on AOL!
DGabaldon: My pleasure! Thanks for inviting me!
AOLiveMC4: And we're all so happy for the success of your books on the
charts!
DGabaldon: Thank you very much!
AOLiveMC4: And a special thanks to the audience for joining us. Have a good
evening. Until next time, AOL!
OnlineHost: Copyright 1997 America Online, Inc. All Rights: Reserved.
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More about this Event:
01/07 Author Diana Gabaldon (Coliseum)
Diana Gabaldon
Diana Gabaldon holds a master's degree in marine biology and a Ph.D. in
ecology, and spent a dozen years as a university professor before turning to
write fiction full-time. Her publishing history includes scholarly articles
and comic book stories for Walt Disney, as well as the award-winning novels
"Outlander," "Dragonfly in Amber," "Voyager," and "Drums of Autumn." She
lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband, three children, and a large
number of animals.
Copyright 1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. All rights
reserved.
