AOL, April 2000

The following is an abridged transcript of an America Online chat that was conducted in April 2000. Be forewarned that there may be Spoilers for upcoming books in the text of the interview. You may find that some of the information is outdated. Updates on the publication of books, tours, etc. are more current on the pages of this site that are devoted to those topics.

Question: well first diana i want to say thank you for bringing much joy from your books and these online pals i have made...and what brings you joy (besides family) with the writing..the process or the finished product...and do you have a continuity log of some sort to keep track of everything?
DGabaldon: Not a log, just a sense of the shape of the book, and how much of what I know happens is already on the page. No, I don’t know where everything is, or everything that happens, but once I’ve written something, I don’t forget it. You were asking what I have more joy in, the writing, or the final book? Gee, both. On the other hand, the final book sort of doesn’t require any effort from me, and the writing definitely does. [g] I don’t know...I love the writing, because it’s full of discovery, but it IS hard work

Question: My question has to do with Voyager and Claire’s decision to return to Jamie and leave Bree? While I would have down the very same thing, I didn’t get a good sense that it was an agonizing decision for Claire. Was it?
DGabaldon: Sure. She went to the hillside, not knowing for sure whether she could bring herself to go or not--and didn’t even make the final decision until she found Bree and Roger there, and Bree insisted that she must go.

Question: Hi Diana... After you started Outlander and realized you were going to publish it was 1800 Scotland always your ending point? Or did you think it would end before that?
DGabaldon: Well, to start with, there was only one book. I just told my agent that I could see more stuff, and so there was more story--but I didn’t know much definite about it. He told the publisher that there was “more" and they said, “Trilogies are popular right now, do you think she could write three?" [g] To which he gravely replied that he thought I could--and they gave me a three book contract. I thought then that it would end with three books---but it didn’t. [g] So the short answer to your question is no.
Question: So you had no ending point in mind at all?
DGabaldon: No. I never do. 1800 is just a guess, you know. [g]

Question: Tell us about your family growing up. Were your parents “storytellers” or is this just a gift that came to you naturally.
DGabaldon: My father was a great storyteller--he’s where I got it, though the gift for English language came from my mother.
Comment: You obviously have a great sense of humor...It’s one of the things I enjoy most about your writing.
DGabaldon: Well, I can’t take any credit for that--I was born with it. [g] Well, it’s good that you like it, because I don’t think I can stop. [g]

Question: Hi, Diana..thank you for these books. I’ve read that when you wrote Outlander you hadn’t planned on having it published, but after it was, did you expect the ‘cult’ following that there is now?
DGabaldon: No, I had no idea how it would be received--or whether anyone at all would buy it. I’m kind of impressed, actually. [g] Someone did write to tell me that her pastor had read my books and thought I was “a Satanic child.” Evidently it didn’t stop anybody at her church from reading the books, but they did quit talking about them in front of the pastor! [g]

Question: Is Jamie inspired from a real life man?
DGabaldon: Well, as I said in the Companion, my husband is Jamie’s body-model--from the neck down. [cough] And he has red hair because my husband does, and that’s what I like. I figured since it was my book, why shouldn’t I have a man who was my idea of sexually attractive? [g]

Question: Would you ever write a childrens book? You know you could!!
DGabaldon: A children’s book? You know, people ask me that all the time, and I never have figured out why. The answer is no, though.

Question: Will Brianna find out that she has a brother, and will we learn more about Ottertooth?
DGabaldon: Oh, good, I do happen to know the answers to those questions. [g] Yes, and yes.

Question: I apologize if this question has been asked before. Sometimes when reading the stories it seems as if the characters are almost real. So the ? is do they ever say or do anything that you don’t expect?
DGabaldon: Yes, JH--characters always do things I don’t expect. Just like real people--cuz they are. [g]

Comment: I loved how realistic the story is that you write, but I just wish that it wouldn’t be considered a romance. I’ve got lots of men to read it though [g]
DGabaldon: The funny thing is that in the countries where it isn’t marketed as a romance, the books sell even better--as in, more weeks on the Bestseller list, etc. [g]--than they do in the US. My royalties from Germany are about four times what they are in the US, in spite of the fact that Germany is about the size of the state of California. I’m hoping to convince the new publisher (we haven’t changed companies; just that the company “reorganized,” and now a new publisher is in charge) that they should make a big point of “repositioning” the books--beyond just putting “FICTION” on the spine instead of “HIS ROM”.
Comment: I found them once under political science, really
DGabaldon: LOL! Actually, I’ve found them under “History” (nonfiction)-- in Foyle’s bookshop, in London. [g]

Question: While I adore Bree and Roger, I much prefer J&C. Will The Fiery Cross concentrate more on J&C or on both?
DGabaldon: Yes, Fiery Cross is more J&C’s story--but there’s no denying that Roger and Bree have a big part in it. [g]

Question: How is your mystery coming along?
DGabaldon: Oh, the mystery. Well, it’s coming really well, but I’ve sort of put it officially aside for the moment, so I can concentrate on Fiery Cross, which has reached critical mass, and is really cooking. I want to finish FC, and then my plan is to turn right around and work completely on the mystery while FC is going through production. It’s in good enough shape--and production takes long enough--that I hope I can finish the mystery before the galleys come shooting back at me.

Question: Does Claire, or Bree for that matter, ever miss their underwear?
DGabaldon: Bree occasionally feels a breeze. [g] Claire seems to consider it fairly convenient, most of the time. Claire’s been busy brain-washing people about toothbrushes--and I expect may do better than a frayed twig by the next book. I have seen early 19th century toothbrushes, made of pig-bristles. So they did exist.

Question: Is it possible that Jamie will discover he has another child? I can think of at least one other “relation” he had.
DGabaldon: One other? [thunderstruck] Who oh, one other true relation. [g] Yes, Mary MacNab. No, I don’t think he gave her a child. I mean, really, the man may be Virile with a capital “V”, but he really can’t go around impregnating every woman on the first try. [g]

Question: It will be interesting to see how Bree and Willie react to the news
DGabaldon: Oh, it is. [g] Interesting, I mean. Though I don’t believe Willie will find out the truth in this particular book. In fact, I know he doesn’t.

Question: Will Bonnet come looking for “his” child?
DGabaldon: Oh, yes. Why do you think Roger buys a sword? [g]
Question: Is this where Jamie Kills him????
DGabaldon: Mmmmm.......nope.
Question: Does Bonnet know?
DGabaldon: Does Bonnet know what? That Brianna’s baby is his?
Comment: yes
DGabaldon: He certainly thinks so, because she told him so, when she visited him in the dungeon under the warehouse.

Question: Will Bree and Rog, get to home, and will everyone live happily ever after
DGabaldon: Goodness, you think I know?!?

Question: Your stories are filled with strong and independent women. Do you think Claire would have been well accepted
DGabaldon: Depends on who she was talking to and their particular prejudices or opinions. [shrug] There have always been strong, independent-minded women,in all periods of history.
Comment: I must agree and Jamie is a much stronger man for being able to appreciate her strength.
DGabaldon: Well, by and large, people who are“whole” within themselves have a much easier time accepting independence in their mates. It’s insecurity, as much as anything else, that makes people want to force dependence.
Comment: Her time with Frank must have been horrible.
DGabaldon: Well....Frank accepts her independence, too, though--reluctantly [g], but he does both accept and support it
Question: Why no? When she knew he was un-faithful!
DGabaldon: Er...like he didn’t know she’d been unfaithful? Gotta have some fairness about these things, you know. [g]
Question: Well she had sort of an excuse?
DGabaldon: Yeah? Like what? Her heart was elsewhere? If my husband came home and told me he’d had an affair because his heart was elsewhere, I’d cave his head in. You know what the first line of Fiery Cross is? “I woke in the dark predawn, with the feel of my first husband’s kiss on my lips.”
Comment: But claire’s amorous adventures were out of her control.
DGabaldon: To some extent, sure. But she did have the choice to go back to the husband she’d sworn to love and honor-and she didn’t. She remembers that. There was guilt on both sides, between her and Frank. But there was, eventually, forgiveness, too.
Comment: I agree!, not really about the forgiveness though
DGabaldon: Well--as both Jamie and Brianna could tell you [g]--forgiveness is an ongoing process, not a finish-line.
Comment: I guess it was good hearted of Frank to accept Bree.
DGabaldon: A bit more than that--loving Bree as his daughter was his form of redemption.

Question: Will Jenny and her family immigrate to America?
DGabaldon: Yes and no. [g] Stuff for the sixth book, though, not FC.

Question: How exactly do you begin a book? I have such a hard time writing the first sentence, What do you do?
DGabaldon: Well...I just write something. Anything. See, I don’t plan them out ahead of time (I do know some things that will happen, but not when or how), and so I don’t know where the beginning is. Usually, I don’t know the beginning until after I’ve written a scene, when I look at it and say, “Aha! That’s IT!”[g]

Question: Do you keep a journal? i can’t
DGabaldon: I keep a journal, but it’s nothing to do with the writing. It’s just a plain record of what work I did during the day. I started keeping it when we moved to Philadelphia after I finished my PH.D. coursework, but before I wrote my thesis. Only time in my life I’ve ever had writer’s block [wry g]. Keeping the journal broke it, because I’d do something during the day, just so I could record it at night in my journal.

Bunikin: Is it the job of the individual bookstore to request you to do signings?
DGabaldon: What happens when I do a book-tour is that the publicist will talk to all of the sales reps and ask them where they think I’d be particularly well received, and/or which stores they’d get major brownie-points from for producing me. [g] Then they set up the itinerary, and start booking media interviews in whatever cities they have planned. So if you want me to come to your city, the thing to do is talk to the manager of the biggest bookstore (or of several bookstores!) in the place and have them talk to the BD sales reps. Bear in mind that I only do tours when I have a new book out. [g] Other than that, I do come to do conferences, Highland Games, or other special events in various places, and if I’m going to be in a place anyway, the publicist will usually schedule some bookstore appearances, too, though.

Llrex2: I’m sure you’ve been asked this before, but given similar circumstances, would you leave your daughter (despite the fact that she’s deserting you to go to college) and follow your hubby to another time...
DGabaldon: IF my daughter were already launched on her own life, then yes, I could probably bring myself to leave her to go to my husband. If she were still a young child, though, no, no way.

Question: Does Ottertooth end up being related to Ian in anyway
DGabaldon: Not so far as I know. [g]

Question: When you describe Jamie and Jenny, and I see the picture of you, is Jamie a combination of your features and your husbands coloring. I bet he looks like one of your kids!
DGabaldon: well, I did give Jenny my face. [g] Bar eye-color, of course. But no, Jamie doesn’t look anything like my kids. [g]

Question: You are incredibly loyal to Frank despite the fact that Jamie is Claire’s true soul mate. Even thinking Jamie dead wouldn’t their marriage just be a ghost of the relationship she had with Jamie? Why do you stay so loyal to Frank?
DGabaldon: why do I stay so loyal to Frank? [g] Because I know the man. I expect Claire’s relationship with Frank was much different than that with Jamie, and not nearly such a meeting of souls and bodies [g]...but not without value, either.
Comment: True Diana. I love your thinking. I think it would be so hard to accept the alternative when you have experienced Jamie.
DGabaldon: But she thought Jamie was dead. If she’d known he was still alive, that would have been a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.

Question: Will Rogers Great-Great GreatGrandmother immigrate back to Scotland?
DGabaldon: Boy, I don’t know. Somebody in his family tree evidently did, but I don’t know who it was.

Question: Is Jamie as real to you as you so brilliantly portray him to be in the books?
DGabaldon: I can see him. Which is lucky, all things considered. [g]