November poll results, and a little news

November Poll Results

Here are the results of the November poll:

What do you think about the new graphic novel, THE EXILE?

• 19.0% - I liked seeing a different perspective on familiar events from OUTLANDER.
• 17.4% - The artwork is uneven. Difficult to tell the male characters apart.
• 17.4% - I missed the depth and complexity of Diana's usual writing.
• 15.2% - I loved it! The artwork is gorgeous and the story is entertaining.
• 11.4% - I was disappointed by the story, the artwork, or both.
• 4.9% - I want to see more graphic novels based on the OUTLANDER books.
• 4.9% - I didn't like it.
• 4.3% - I'm not interested in graphic novels.
• 1.6% - I wish the book had been longer.
• 0.5% - The artist did a good job in conveying emotion.
• 3.3% - Other

There were 184 votes in this month's poll. I didn't vote in it myself, but I would have gone with "I loved it!", because I thoroughly enjoyed THE EXILE, despite all the nitpicking over the artwork.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated, and I hope you'll take a moment to vote in the December poll. With the holidays approaching, I thought it would be a good time to revisit one of the very first poll topics I used, back in 2008: What is your favorite gift from the OUTLANDER series? (I tried to include most of the memorable ones, but if I left out one of your favorites, please leave a comment and let me know!)

New Diana Gabaldon web site coming soon!

As some of you may have heard, Diana Gabaldon's official web site has been completely redesigned, and will be unveiled sometime in the next few days.

No, I don't know when! Soon, though.

Diana has been busy this week typing up content for the web site, and I'm sure she'll announce the launch of the new site on her blog and on Compuserve as soon as it's ready. In the meantime, keep checking www.dianagabaldon.com. I will, of course, post an announcement here as soon as I see for myself that the new site is up and running.

Before you ask, no, I haven't seen any of it in progress. <g> But I am delighted to hear that it's being revamped, because I think the existing site is very poorly designed and organized. I hope to see a vast improvement with the new one. I'll post my impressions here, in detail, as soon as the site goes live and I've had a chance to absorb everything.

Diana's plans for 2011

It sounds like Diana is determined to spend much of 2011 staying home and writing, which is great news for all of us! Here's a comment she posted on Compuserve the other day (it's in the discussion of "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows", so don't click on the link if you haven't read the story yet and you're sensitive to spoilers!):

I won't take any other anthology offers that involve delivery next year (unless it's something Really Irresistable, because I'm working on SCOTTISH PRISONER and Book Eight _and_ the OC II, and thus trying as hard as possible to keep everything else off my calendar for 2011.

The OC II is, of course, the second volume of the OUTLANDISH COMPANION, covering THE FIERY CROSS, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES, AN ECHO IN THE BONE, the Lord John books, and who knows what else. <g>

I'm sure Diana is relieved not to have to travel so much in the coming year. She really did spend quite a lot of 2009 and 2010 on the road! And I have to say, as wonderful as it is to see Diana in person at one of her book-signings or other public appearances, I think it will be much better for all of us, in the long run, if she can stay home for a while and get back to a regular writing routine.