Diana Gabaldon Explained

Diana Gabaldon
Birth Date:January 11, 1952
Birth Place:Williams, Arizona, US
Occupation:Novelist, professor
Period:1991–present
Genre:Speculative fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, historical mystery, historical fantasy, scientific literature
Children:3 (including Sam Sykes)
Spouse:Doug Watkins
Parents:Tony Gabaldon (father)

Diana J. Gabaldon (;[1] born January 11, 1952) is an American author, known for the Outlander series of novels. Her books merge multiple genres, featuring elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and science fiction/fantasy.[2] A television adaptation of the Outlander novels premiered on Starz in 2014.[3] [4]

Early life and education

Gabaldon was born on January 11, 1952,[5] in Williams, Arizona, United States, the daughter of Jacqueline Sykes and Tony Gabaldon (1930–1998), an Arizona state senator from Flagstaff for sixteen years and later a supervisor of Coconino County.[6] [7] [8] Her father was of Mexican ancestry, and her mother was of English descent.[9] [10]

Gabaldon grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona.[9] She earned a bachelor of science in zoology from Northern Arizona University, 1970–1973; a master of science in marine biology from the University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1973–1975; and a PhD in behavioral ecology from Northern Arizona University, 1975–1978.[9] [11]

Career

Gabaldon was the founding editor of Science Software Quarterly in 1984 while employed at the Center for Environmental Studies at Arizona State University.[12] During the mid-1980s, Gabaldon wrote software reviews and technical articles for computer publications, as well as popular-science articles and Disney comics.[11] She was a professor with an expertise in scientific computation at ASU for 12 years before leaving to write full-time.[11] [13]

Novels

In 1988, Gabaldon decided to write a novel for "practice, just to learn how", and with no intention to show it to anyone.[14] As a research professor, she decided that a historical novel would be easiest to research and write,[14] but she had no background in history and initially no particular time period in mind.[9] Gabaldon happened to see a rerun episode of the Doctor Who science fiction TV series titled "The War Games".[15] One of the Doctor's companions was a Scot from around 1745, a young man about 17 years old named Jamie McCrimmon, who provided the initial inspiration for her main male character, James Fraser, and for her novel's mid-18th century Scotland setting.[9] [14] Gabaldon decided to have "an Englishwoman to play off all these kilted Scotsmen", but her female character "took over the story and began telling it herself, making smart-ass modern remarks about everything."[14]

To explain the character's modern behavior and attitudes, Gabaldon chose to use time travel.[14] Writing the novel at a time "when the World Wide Web didn't exist", she did her research "the old-fashioned way, by herself, through books."[9] Later, Gabaldon posted a short excerpt of her novel on the CompuServe Literary Forum, where author John E. Stith introduced her to literary agent Perry Knowlton.[14] [16] Knowlton represented her based on an unfinished first novel, tentatively titled Cross Stitch. Her first book deal was for a trilogy, the first novel plus two then-unwritten sequels. Her US publishers changed the first book's title to Outlander, but the title remained unchanged in the UK. According to Gabaldon, her British publishers liked the title Cross Stitch, a play on "a stitch in time"; however, the American publisher said it "sounded too much like embroidery" and wanted a more "adventurous" title. When her second book was finished, Gabaldon resigned her faculty position at Arizona State University to become a full-time author.[11]

, the Outlander series comprises nine published novels. The ninth installment, Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone, was published on November 23, 2021.[17] Gabaldon also published The Exile (An Outlander Graphic Novel) in 2010. The Lord John series are additional books in the Outlander series rather than a spin-off series,[18] centering on a secondary character from the original series. Gabaldon announced in September 2021 that she is working on the tenth Outlander series book, which is possibly the last.[19]

Personal life

Gabaldon lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband Doug Watkins, with whom she has three adult children.[10] Her son, Sam Sykes, is also a fantasy writer.

Gabaldon is a Roman Catholic.[20] [21]

Bibliography

Outlander series

The Outlander series focuses on 20th-century nurse Claire Randall, who time travels to 18th-century Scotland and finds adventure and romance with the dashing James Fraser.[2] Set in Scotland, France, the West Indies, England and North America, the novels merge multiple genres, featuring elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and science fiction/fantasy.[2]

Main series

Short works

Related

Lord John series

The Lord John series is a sequence of novels and shorter works that center on Lord John Grey, a recurring secondary character in Gabaldon's Outlander series. The spin-off series currently consists of five novellas and three novels, which all take place between 1756 and 1761, during the events of Gabaldon's Voyager.[40] [41] They can be generally categorized as historical mysteries, and the three novels are shorter and focus on fewer plot threads than the main Outlander books.[41]

Novellas

Other works

Scientific works

Professor Gabaldon's research works included:

Adaptations

The Outlander series has been released in unabridged (read by Davina Porter) and abridged (read by Geraldine James) audiobooks. Several of the Lord John books have been released in audiobook form, read by Jeff Woodman.

A television adaptation of the Outlander series premiered on Starz in the US on August 9, 2014.[3] Gabaldon made a cameo appearance as Iona MacTavish in the August 2014 episode "The Gathering".[42] Gabaldon is a paid consultant for the show,[43] and wrote the screenplay for the 2016 season 2 episode "Vengeance Is Mine".[38]

In 2010 Gabaldon adapted the first third of Outlander into , illustrated by Hoang Nguyen.[44] [45] [46] The same year, a 14-song cycle based on Outlander was released under the title .[47] [48] [49]

Reception and awards

Gabaldon's Outlander won the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991.[50] A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005) debuted at #1 on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best-Seller List[51] [52] and won the Quill Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror.[53] In 2007, The Montreal Gazette noted that Gabaldon's books "are in demand in 24 countries in 19 languages", and that the author "continues to churn out one bestseller after another."[11] By 2012 her novels had been published in 27 countries and 24 languages.[6]

Lord John and the Private Matter reached No. 8 on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best-Seller List in 2003.[54] In 2007, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade debuted at #1,[55] and the Hand of Devils collection reached No. 24 on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best-Seller List.[56] The Scottish Prisoner debuted at #6 on The New York Times E-Book Fiction Best-Seller List in 2011,[57] and the novella A Plague of Zombies was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for the “Best Short Mystery Story” the same year.[58] Reviewing the Lord John series, Publishers Weekly said that "Gabaldon's prose is crisply elegant"[59] and that she "brings an effusive joy to her fiction that proves infectious even for readers unfamiliar with her work or the period."[60]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How is Gabaldon pronounced?. DianaGabaldon.com. 1990. December 10, 2018. My name is pronounced GAB-uhl-dohn (long o)..
  2. Reese. Jennifer. Book Review: Lord John and the Hand of Devils (2007). Entertainment Weekly. November 27, 2007. October 30, 2013. October 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011020739/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20162421,00.html. live.
  3. Web site: Starz's Outlander Gets First Poster, Premiere Date . Philiana . Ng . . May 8, 2014 . June 14, 2014.
  4. Outlander renewed for second season . Entertainment Weekly . James . Hibberd . August 15, 2014 . August 15, 2014.
  5. Web site: Flagstaff's Famous Faces. Arizona Daily Sun. December 14, 2023. January 10, 2024.
  6. Web site: From science to fiction. Northern Arizona University. May 2012. July 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131111165845/http://nau.edu/News/Articles/2012/05/From-science-to-fiction/. November 11, 2013. dead.
  7. Web site: Science, Fiction: Historical romance novelist finds mystery in biology and literature, too . November 30, 2000 . PhoenixNewTimes.com . M.V. . Moorhead . November 21, 2013 . October 15, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131015080939/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2000-11-30/restaurants/science-fiction/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Death Resolution: Senator Tony Gabaldon . January 1998 . AZleg.state.az.us . November 21, 2013.
  9. Web site: Santa Fe author ready to release new book . August 26, 2009 . Eckman-Onyskow . Bev . . November 11, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073342/http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_13204389 . November 12, 2013 . mdy-all .
  10. Web site: Official site: FAQ - About Diana . DianaGabaldon.com (Internet Archive) . October 13, 2013 . November 11, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131013221104/http://www.dianagabaldon.com/resources/faq/faq-about-diana/ .
  11. Web site: Donnell . P. . From Academia to Steamy Fiction . . October 6, 2007 . October 30, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140121052654/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/books/story.html?id=0babdff5-8182-4519-89c0-163fa579a9c7 . January 21, 2014 . mdy-all .
  12. Editor's Note . Diana J. . Gabaldon, PhD . . I . 5 . . 82, 107 . 1984 .
  13. Web site: Official site: Bio . DianaGabaldon.com . January 9, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214151/http://www.dianagabaldon.com/about-diana/bio/ . October 4, 2013 . mdy-all .
  14. Web site: Official site: FAQ - About the Books. DianaGabaldon.com. August 20, 2014.
  15. Web site: The "Dr. Who" Connection . Gabaldon . Diana . May 11, 2010 . DianaGabaldon.com . August 20, 2014.
  16. Hemmungs Wirten. Eva. Global Infatuation: Explorations in Transnational Publishing and Texts. The Case of Harlequin Enterprises and Sweden. Uppsala University. Section for Sociology of Literature at the Department of Literature, Number 38. PDF. November 11, 2013. 1998. 91-85178-28-4. 56.
  17. News: Hand . Elizabeth . Review Diana Gabaldon's 'Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone': Worth the wait? . Washington Post . November 30, 2021.
  18. Web site: The Outlander Series . Diana Gabaldon . 3 March 2024.
  19. Web site: Outlander Author Diana Gabaldon Has Started Work on Book 10. September 30, 2021.
  20. Interview: Diana Gabaldon . Linda . Richards . January Magazine . June 1999 . November 27, 2014 .
  21. ...I try to avoid describing myself by any sort of label, so to speak. I'm a Roman Catholic and a Libertarian, but that's as far as I'd go in description . Interview: Diana Gabaldon . . September 2014 . November 27, 2014 .
  22. Web site: Official site: Written in My Own Heart's Blood . DianaGabaldon.com . February 9, 2014 . June 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140209075921/http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/written_in_my_own_hearts_blood/ .
  23. Web site: Official site: "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" . DianaGabaldon.com . April 18, 2013. September 16, 2014.
  24. Web site: Songs of Love and Death edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois . . John . DeNardo . January 14, 2010 . September 18, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208165054/http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/01/toc_songs_of_love_and_death_edited_by_george_rr_martin_and_gardner_dozois/ . February 8, 2012 .
  25. Web site: Fiction Affliction: Diagnosing November Releases in Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance . Suzanne . Johnson . . October 27, 2010 . September 18, 2014.
  26. Web site: Pocket Releases Songs of Love and Death . GeorgeRRMartin.com . November 24, 2010 . September 18, 2014.
  27. Web site: Not A Blog: Love. Death. Sex. Heartbreak. . Martin . George R. R. . George R. R. Martin . GRRM.livejournal.com . March 31, 2010 . September 18, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150214161048/http://grrm.livejournal.com/143800.html . February 14, 2015 . mdy-all .
  28. Web site: Official site: 'A Trail of Fir . DianaGabaldon.com . September 16, 2014.
  29. Web site: Official site: The Space Between (Novella) . DianaGabaldon.com . November 20, 2013.
  30. Web site: Official site: Virgins (Dangerous Women) . DianaGabaldon.com . December 7, 2013 . September 18, 2014.
  31. Web site: Dangerous Women Arrives on Tor.com . July 24, 2013 . November 19, 2013 . Tor.com.
  32. Web site: Fiction Book Review: Dangerous Women by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois . . October 7, 2013. November 23, 2013.
  33. Web site: Martin . George R. R. . Not A Blog: A Dangerous Delivery . GRRM.livejournal.com . January 23, 2013 . January 23, 2013 . For those who like to lose themselves in long stories, the Brandon Sanderson story, the Diana Gabaldon story, the Caroline Spector story, and my Princess and Queen are novellas. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130125162256/http://grrm.livejournal.com/310198.html . January 25, 2013 . mdy-all .
  34. Web site: Official site: The Outlandish Companion – Volume One . DianaGabaldon.com . January 3, 2017.
  35. 15 June 2010. Diana Gabaldon; The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel. Library Journal. Library Journals. 135. 11. 53. Gale Academic Onefile.
  36. Web site: Official site: The Outlandish Companion – Volume Two . DianaGabaldon.com . January 4, 2017.
  37. Web site: The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two. Goodreads. June 12, 2016.
  38. Web site: Outlanders' stars thrill to the writer's presence on set . . Yvonne . Villarreal . June 9, 2016 . June 15, 2016.
  39. Web site: Outlander Author Diana Gabaldon on What Claire and Jamie Would be Doing During Quarantine. May 4, 2020.
  40. Web site: Official site: Lord John Grey Series . DianaGabaldon.com . October 12, 2013 . October 29, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012004959/http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/lord-john-grey/ .
  41. Web site: Official site: Chronology of the Outlander Series . DianaGabaldon.com . October 12, 2013 . October 29, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012161942/http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/chronology-of-the-outlander-series// .
  42. First Look: Outlander author Diana Gabaldon cameos on Starz series . Amy . Wilkinson . Entertainment Weekly . August 27, 2014 . September 1, 2014.
  43. Web site: Cordova . Randy . Diana Gabaldon returns with new Outlander book . . June 25, 2014 . July 31, 2014.
  44. Web site: The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel . Casey . Brienza . GraphicNovelReporter.com . September 21, 2010 . September 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062923/http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/reviews/the-exile-an-outlander-graphic-novel . September 24, 2014 . dead .
  45. Web site: Fiction Book Review: The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel . . August 23, 2010 . September 16, 2014.
  46. Web site: Official site: The Exile (graphic novel) . DianaGabaldon.com . September 16, 2014.
  47. Web site: PROGRESS! OUTLANDER:The Musical now on Amazon! . DianaGabaldon.com . September 26, 2010 . July 30, 2014.
  48. Web site: Outlander the Musical . DianaGabaldon.com . October 26, 2013 . July 30, 2014.
  49. News: Stage Tube: First Listen of Jill Santoriello's Outlander Musical . BroadwayWorld.com . July 16, 2012 . July 30, 2014. Tube . Stage .
  50. Web site: RITA Awards: Past Winners . October 31, 2013 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20150714074216/https://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=535 . July 14, 2015 . dead .
  51. Web site: Best-Seller Lists: Hardcover Fiction . . October 16, 2005 . October 31, 2013.
  52. Web site: Garner . Dwight . Inside the List. The New York Times . October 16, 2005 . October 31, 2013.
  53. Web site: The Quill Book Awards: 2006 . TheQuills.org . January 8, 2007 . November 11, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070108151537/http://www.thequills.org/2006.html .
  54. Web site: BEST SELLERS: October 26, 2003 . The New York Times . October 26, 2003 . December 3, 2013.
  55. Web site: Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction. The New York Times . September 16, 2007 . November 13, 2013.
  56. Web site: Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction. The New York Times. December 16, 2007 . November 13, 2013.
  57. Web site: Best Sellers: E-Book Fiction. The New York Times . December 18, 2011. November 13, 2013.
  58. Web site: Official site: A Plague of Zombies . DianaGabaldon.com . October 12, 2013 . October 30, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012041249/http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/lord-john-grey/novellas/a-plague-of-zombies// .
  59. Web site: Fiction Book Review: Lord John and the Private Matter . Publishers Weekly . September 15, 2003 . November 23, 2013.
  60. Web site: Fiction Book Review: Lord John and the Hand of Devils . Publishers Weekly . September 10, 2007 . November 23, 2013.

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