She wrote a passionate love story and frolicsome adventure that took my breath away and fed my imagination, inspiring me to finally seriously look at my own journey as a writer. Diana Gabaldon is the author of the “Outlander” series … a yummy group of historical novels which begin with the title of the same name and now totals six wonderful tomes.
The setting is eighteenth century Scotland though it begins in 1945 post-war Britain and starts as a adventuous and unexpected time travel incident through standing stones. It eventually makes it way to the British West Indies and onto colonial America.
This is just out and out fun reading … books you lose yourself in and fall in love with . She is a master story teller and I adore her characters … her scenic descriptions … her interweaving of plot lines … the very hot love scenes (big grin and wink!) … the heartbreaking sad ones … the deeply moving scenes and yes … even the all too realistically cruel ones.
Thank you Diana, for sharing your talent with me and come party with us as we schmooze and visit the nights away.
Donna – Mystic Guardian


10 comments
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January 6, 2007 at 11:49 am
Heather Blakey
When I ran a monthly Salon it was the sharing of books that was a joy. So many things to add to the bookstand. Not enough hours in my day. Sigh!
January 6, 2007 at 2:04 pm
imogen88
I have heard she is a great read. Good to hear a recommendation.
January 6, 2007 at 2:46 pm
lorigloyd
Yes, and what’s amazing is that she has advanced degrees in marine biology and ecology and was a college professor in these disciplines for many years. She had never been to Scotland when she started writing these stories. She is an inspiration for people considering a career change into writing or the arts.
Great book rec too.
January 6, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Anita Marie
I was working a Walden’s Bookstore when ” Outlander ” first came out and for SOME REASON the Publisher classed it as a ” Romance Novel “.
The Fantasy and Sci-Fi fans on staff were at a loss over that because in their opinion it was a top drawer fantasy novel.
Anyway,they’d move this book to the Fantasy and Sci-Fi section and this is why.
Men were coming in and telling the sales staff that they were there to look for ’some book’ called Outlander for their WIVES.
It was like some weird invasion….suddenly these men and teenage boys wearing Dungeon and Dragon t-shirts were buying books for their ‘girlfriends’ and once we figured it out…well, it was funny to put a few of the Outlander books back into the Romance section just so we could watch them sneak back there to get a copy.
Anita Marie
January 6, 2007 at 3:52 pm
mysticguardian
This is wonderful, Anita!!!! Yes, they had some challenges deciding on the genre… because it crosses many!!! Unfortunately, the publishers demand that you pick “one.”
I’m dealing with this myself now as I and a friend complete a novel. We’re still working on identifying the genre, because it crosses many! It’s essentially a science fiction-thriller, but can also be called paranormal romance, fantasy, erotica, metaphysical-spiritual and intrigue!
But anyway, “Outlander” is just totally amazing and I can understand why the men wanted their ladies to read it!!
It’s wonderfully hot in parts!
Thanks for the inside look at the book world!
Donna
January 6, 2007 at 4:18 pm
traveller2006
I thoroughly enjoyed the earlier ones in this series but have to admit I really struggled through the last one – it was as if she was trying to find material with which to pad out xxx number of pages (sorry)
January 6, 2007 at 4:43 pm
mysticguardian
No apologies necessary!! That’s been a complaint about her later novels that I’ve heard along the way. Certainly my favorites are her first three: “Outlander”, “Dragonfly in Amber” and “Voyager” …. but I love the Revolutionary War so the others were also fascinating to me.
January 6, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Anita Marie
Hi Donna,
If I were you I’d stick with the ” Thriller ” catagory for your novel.
This is why:
Catagory lables have been narrowed down to
Fantasy = Hobbits and Chicks in black leather killing vampires ( if you write about this stuff that’s okay but if you don’t it can hurt you )
Horror= Gore, gore gore and screaming girls ( sad day for those of us who were inspired by the likes of Poe and King and Le Fanu etc etc and were forced to give up the tag )
Mystery= well, that has been limited yet
Good Luck on the novel and I liked your blog!
Anita Marie
January 7, 2007 at 10:50 am
soulsister
Oooh book recommendations!!! I love ‘em!! And what an interesting discussion to follow. What a wonderful idea to hold a virtual Salon!!!
March 15, 2007 at 1:00 am
sammiam
Best series of books ever. I have read all, more than once, which is very unusual for me. I just get so lost in her world, oh and I have just a teensy, tiny crush on Jamie…