• “The smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting 'Scrooge McDuck' comics.”—Salon.com
  • A time-hopping, continent-spanning salmagundi of genres.”
    —ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
  • “These books have to be word-of-mouth books because they're too weird to describe to anybody.”
    —Jackie Cantor, Diana's first editor

SPECIFICALLY SCOTTISH – PANALBA BLOG

I can already hear people screaming, “WHAT? Why are you doing that instead of finishing AN ECHO IN THE BONE?!?” [g]

Well, I am finishing ECHO, as fast as ever I can–and we do now have a pub date for it, too: September 22nd!

Still, it helps to have small things to do for mental distraction other than playing Solitaire, and when a Scottish gentleman named Lord Jamie Sempill came along some months ago and invited me to do a regular blog on Matters Scottish and Literary for his new venture, a website called “Panalba”, I said, “Sure, why not?” (Well, I didn’t know that the launch of Panalba was going to coincide with the Final Frenzy, is why not, but what the heck.)

Anyway, I was flatttered to be asked, and very pleased by the look and variety of Panalba, and have had fun doing the first couple of blogs for that site. It’s a site devoted specifically to Scotland and people who love that country, and features all sorts of fascinating personalities and information. As opposed to this personal blog (where I may talk about butt-cooties or anything else that takes my fancy [g]), the Panalba blog entries that I do will be specifically devoted to Scottish material—particularly things from the world of literature. (Well, all right, my first entry had to do with Men in Kilts, but still…)

I’ve just put up my second blog entry there: “Ye Canna Push Yer Granny Aff the Bus: Scots, Gaelic, and Miscellaneous Accents” — and cordially invite you to come check it (and the rest of the site) out here.

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33 Responses »

  1. YAY! ECHO will be out in time for my birthday – an easy gift to put on my wish list! The book alone will make turning 35 worthwhile.

    Katrina K.

  2. Glad to hear the official publication date of Echo is September 22nd. My birthday is September 23rd–couldn’t have a better present than Echo. Guess I’ll have to start making hints to my family….

  3. Hi, All —

    If you want to know more about historical sites in Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland ( http://www.nts.org.uk/) has great information about their properties and conservation efforts on the houses, castles and gardens. They built the Culloden Center that Diana helped open.
    They even have Castle Fraser in their care.

  4. Diana,

    If you need a mental distraction, try Bookworm; you should be great at that game.

  5. OOOOO Can’t wait to check it out. I personally think the subject of men in kilts is quite important :)

  6. September 22nd! Finally a date. I’ll pass it along.

    Ohh, I can’t wait!

  7. I did not mean for any of that to rhyme. Hahaha.

  8. I received my invite about 7 minutes after sending the request for an invitation.

    I am overjoyed at the pub date…I can’t wait.

  9. I love historical fiction. I picked up Outlander in December, 2008 and just finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes last night. Obviously, I couldn't put the series down and now I'm stuck until your September release.

    I must say, you are a harsh goddess to your characters. Clearly, you love them, yet you are a rather Old Testament, tough love sort of mistress when it comes to their affairs. I often found myself short of breath with ire on their behalves. I have several fiction writers in my life and they explain their characters live in their minds and speak to them and argue with them as they write. I can only imagine the brawls that must take place in your mind.

    "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, can't I have but six months of harmony and contentment before you try to relieve me of limb, life and home again? I see. We're to be left with naught save our wits and wills… again. Well, see if we let you have sound sleep any time in the foreseeable future."

    Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I must congratulate you on your writing style. I find it compelling with great cadence, wryly humerus and full of sumptuous vocabulary. I have a good half dozen words on my bookmark that I needed to look up — this obviously discounts the Gaelic words.

    Thank you for many hours of enjoyment in your universe.

    Peace,

    MiLady Carol

    Please join me at my blog, http://www.cookingupart.blogspot.com
    for An Artist's Adventures in Food, Fine Art & Tea

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  10. I have attempted numerous times to log into the Panalba Blog. Is it still invitation only?
    Cynthia

  11. Not that I know of. I won’t let you register?

    http://www.panalba.com/

    On the right side of the page is a ‘Sign Up’ button. It should work. I think for the first few it was invitation, but I thought now they’d opened to everyone.

    In the meantime, if you can get me your email addy, I’ll send you an ‘invite’ from them.

    Hah! Word verifiy: brinisims :lol:

  12. When are going to publish the book (An eccho of the bone) in spanish????

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