Release dates

[UPDATE 9/9/2011 11:23 am: If you are looking for CURRENT information on release dates for Diana Gabaldon's books, please see the Release Dates FAQ. Thanks.]

There have been a lot of questions on Compuserve, Facebook, and various fan sites lately about when Diana's next book(s) will be coming out. We don't have a lot of information. To the best of my knowledge -- and keeping in mind that I have NO inside information whatsoever! -- this is where things stand right now:

1) Book Eight

Diana says it takes 2-3 years to write one of the "big books". (Why does it take so long? Look here for the explanation in Diana's own words.) She only started working on Book Eight in 2010, so it will be a while.

We might see Book Eight in 2012 or 2013, but we are only guessing! Keep watching Diana's blog and website for further updates. And if I find out anything more specific, I will certainly post it here.

2) LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER

Diana has said that she's hoping to finish writing SCOTTISH PRISONER sometime in the spring of 2011, with a possible release date of Fall 2011. When she was asked the other day on Compuserve if the release date for SCOTTISH PRISONER had been decided on yet, Diana had this to say:

Nothing quite so formal--but my UK editor says they're scheduling the book for November. That being so, the US will almost certainly release it at their usual time, which is late September. (Always assuming it's finished up in a timely manner. <xxxxx <--crossed fingers>)

Keep in mind that it's the publisher, not Diana, who determines the release date for her books. As Diana commented today on Compuserve:

Basically, book-publishing dates are chosen by some secret process that defies rationality. <g> I think they do it by sacrificing pigeons in Times Square and reading the entrails, myself.

Again, keep watching Diana's blog and web site for further updates. I'll post here as soon as I have any more specific information.

3) "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies"

This novella was completed in 2010, but we still have no information on a possible release date. The name of the anthology is DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS, and it's edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, the same people who brought us WARRIORS and SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH. I will post here as soon as the release date for DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS is announced.

4) WARRIORS paperback and audio versions

Amazon.com is now showing the unabridged audio version of WARRIORS (the anthology containing Diana Gabaldon's Lord John story, "The Custom of the Army") as being available for pre-order, with a release date of March 29, 2011.

It appears that the mass-market paperback edition of WARRIORS will be split into three volumes. From what I can tell, it seems that WARRIORS 3, due out in August 2011, will be the one that contains "The Custom of the Army", but I have not yet been able to confirm that. I'll post here with more information as soon as it becomes available.

5) THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, Volume 2

We have very little information about the OC II, other than the fact that Diana has been collecting a lot of things to put in it. <g> Last I heard, she was still hoping this book would be released in 2011, but we are really only guessing. If I find out anything more specific, I'll post it here.

6) OUTLANDER 20th Anniversary Edition



This is a special hardcover edition of OUTLANDER, to be published July 5, 2011. Look here for the details.

7. ECHO mass-market paperback edition



The mass-market (small size) paperback edition of AN ECHO IN THE BONE will be published on May 24, 2011.  Look here for the details.

And that's it. For the most part, what this boils down to is....



(That's "wait and see" in Gaelic. One of Diana's favorite phrases.)