The American presents the ninth part of its saga, a success with 50 million readers that also inspired a TV series
The wait is over. The ninth book in the literary saga ‘Outlander’ by American writer Diana Gabaldon (Arizona, age 70) arrives after seven years. The epic story that inspired a successful television series is now completed with ‘Tell the bees that I left’ (Salamandra). The adventures of combat nurse Claire Randall and her mysterious journey back in time to the 18th century continue. A woman with two different men in two different lives. The presentation of the work took place yesterday in Madrid, the first time in the Spanish capital.
More than 50 million readers are fascinated by this saga, which will have ten episodes. A story led by a woman full of fantasy, romance and fiction whose original setting is the Scottish Highlands. In the last book he goes to the Revolutionary War in the United States. He does not rule out a next visit to Spain, although he has doubts about how to link it. “I’m closed to nothing,” Gabaldon jokes when asked about this possibility.
The narration has had a strong impact, which has been enhanced by the television series available on digital platforms. The production concluded its sixth season in May this year. It is a “successful” adaptation, in the opinion of the author, who is delighted with the success of her on-screen plots. “There are always limitations because it’s impossible to take an entire book into the audiovisual world, but I like the realism it gave to the lyrics. It is to give a face to the characters that have accompanied us for so many years. That is only a reflection of the great potential of the novels. This is how Gabaldon defends his work.
His last ‘Outlander’ book has taken him seven years since the last ‘Written with the Blood of My Heart’, the eighth in the saga. She says that the popularity of the series does not put more pressure on her than in the beginning, when she woke up, in the first versions she found the notes with comments of her husband, the first person who could enjoy what today represents a record number of readers with each issue.
Although the wait was long for fans, condensing the history of wars in such a short time is an achievement. During that seven-year hiatus, he also wrote four books other than Outlander. “Not even ten years for five working is not so bad,” he reasons. It’s a complicated task: the new reader who opens with the ninth episode, learn about the previous one and the old one doesn’t get bored. That is why, faced with such a question, he states that ‘writing is a technical task’.
It is a painstaking process of documentation and research that has brought the nine novels to life. Compressing the reality of previous centuries, digging into the emotions of the moment and knowing how they lived during that time implies knowledge of history, not just literature. “I’ve always been complimented on the details of the story. The specificity and description come from my background as a scientist. That increased my powers of observation,” he says.
Gabaldon, of Mexican descent on his father’s side, studied marine biology and earned a doctorate in zoology. “I research on my own because if I had a team I wouldn’t know what to look for because ideas don’t come out chronologically,” she explains about the lack of planning in her works. The more than a thousand pages (1184 in ‘Tell the bees that I left’) were born as “seeds”. “An entire story is made up of events,” says this writer. At some point sentences arise and then actions that complement each other. The more rational part of my brain formulates the dialogue and the technicalities of writing. While my creativity explores scenarios and sensations».
His source of inspiration, among other books and authors, is his life. “I note what happens to me and I write with the freedom not to do it for a particular reader”. After more than 30 years of career, Gabaldon tries to continue with that methodology of fighting criticism: “You can’t make everyone happy, whether it’s two readers or fifty million.” Although, he clarifies that he would like to start conversations with all of them, “but it’s impossible”
And she adds that being a recognized author forces her to keep up with her work “because they’ll talk about it.” And he never gets tired of writing. He is already working on his next book and does not rule out that once the ten planned deliveries are reached, more will follow. “Sometimes the end of one gives rise to another.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
