Episode
One, A Breath of Snow and Ashes
In this first episode Diana discusses the Outlander novels and how they
came to be - including the influence of Dr. Who, kilts, why Claire Randall is
a modern woman - and glimpses into the story of A Breath of Snow and Ashes.
Episode
Two, What Draws a Reader In
Diana shares what people like about her books, what they tell her they like, and
how she uses that knowledge.
Episode
Three, On Writing: The “Kernel
Process”
Diana doesn’t write with an outline and she doesn’t write in a straight
line, but she does write every day.
Episode
Four, Ghosts
Diana talks about meeting two ghosts in her life and having at least one in her
books.
Episode
Five, Sex Scenes
The dialogue of a sex scene, with an example from A Breath of Snow and Ashes
read by Diana.
Episode
Six, The Lord John Stories
The popular “spin-off” series was an accident, says Diana, but one she
-- and readers -- embrace.
Episode
Seven, Fans and Tours
Diana offers a glimpse into being on the road, meeting fans, giving talks, and
the importance of room service the world over.
Episode
Eight, Author-Reader Roundtable Discussion
Diana has a wide-ranging discussion with a group of readers about ghosts, dreams,
time travel and more in the world of her books.
Episode
Nine, The Writing Process
(added 9/21/07)
In the first of five episodes on the craft of writing, Diana
discusses the writing process she engages in to create her bestselling Outlander
novels and explains the concept of “chunks”
and “kernels”.
Episode
Ten, Research (added
9/21/07)
Diana talks about the importance of research when writing
historical fiction and methods she uses to gather details, factoids, and resources.
Episode
Eleven, Raising Continents
(added 9/21/07)
In this third episode on the writing process, Diana explains
the concept of “Raising
Continents”
in order to build the shape of a book.
Episode
Twelve, Characters (added
9/21/07)
Fans often ask Diana, “Where
do you get the characters for your books?”
Episode
Thirteen, How A Book Is Made
(added 9/21/07)
Once a book is finished, that is only the beginning of the
story. In this final episode on the writing process, Diana explains how a book
is made once the manuscript is finished.
Episode
Fourteen, The Character Lord John Grey
(added 10/3/07)
In this episode, Diana discusses her new novel, Lord John and the Brotherhood
of the Blade, and why she considers her title character, Lord John, a mushroom.
Episode
Fifteen,
A Glimpse Into My Busy Day (added
10/18/07)
From her dark chocolate Milky Way for breakfast to her three kids
and endless errands, Diana gives a play-by-play of her typical schedule and shows
why a “good
day” is any day when you get words on the page.
Episode
Sixteen,
My History and Experience with the Web (added
10/18/07)
Diana discusses her early presence on the web, including her first
website in 1994, and the flurry of fan websites and forums that now grace the
Internet.
Episode
Seventeen,
Male Readers and My Novels
(added
11/3/07)
In this session, Diana explores how her male and female readers
interpret her books differently and the audience her stories have found among
U.S. troops abroad.
Episode
Eighteen,Writing
and Clarity
(added
11/3/07)
With her hardcovers reaching nearly 1,000 pages per book, Diana
emphasizes the importance of euphony and offers aspiring writers steps on how
to maintain clarity for their own work.
Episode
Nineteen, New
Projects and Publications (added 11/19/07)
Listen as Diana reads excerpts from some of her upcoming novels, including a snippet
from her untitled seventh novel in the Outlander Series and her thoughts and plans
for book eight.
