Diana Gabaldon on ‘The Exile’ & who she’d cast as Jamie! October 3, 2010
Posted by Diana McCabe in Authors, News.Tags: Diana Gabaldon, Jamie. Claire, Outlander
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Seems like most fans of Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER do not like her graphic novel version of the tale of Jamie and Claire. THE EXILE doesn’t fit their vision of the characters and some who have commented on this blog just hate it. But in a book signing last week in San Diego, Gabaldon explained that the graphic novel wasn’t necessarily aimed at fans of the novels. It might appeal to other segments of readers who are more into graphic novels and who haven’t read the original series, she said.
As for the depiction of the characters in cartoon form? Graphic novels are comic books, Gabaldon said. “It’s an approximation of Jamie and Claire,” she said. Like any comic book character, it’s going to be exaggerated. (I bought a copy and for a comic book treatment — it’s OK. Not really my cup of tea, but when you see that she’s trying to reach another audience besides her loyal readers, it makes sense.)
Speaking of how these characters should look …. Gabaldon said if she could cast the role of Jamie for a movie, she’d pick Allan Scott-Douglas, an actor from Edinburgh who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, has red hair, who can act and at age 27, “probably remembers what it’s like to be a virgin,” Gabaldon said. The actor played Jamie in the musical production of OUTLANDER in Scotland a few months back. CLICK HERE to check out that site for more information on the music. (And you can follow Allan Scott-Douglas on Twitter @Actor_Allan.)
And what about the movie? Gabaldon said she recently had lunch in San Francisco with the producer who has the film rights. The option has been renewed again but for a mini-series. She says she would not write the script for a number of reasons, including she’s way too busy writing books.
She’s working on book No. 8 in the OUTLANDER series, and that might be out next year. She hopes to release LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER next fall.
When will she end the OUTLANDER series? She’s not sure. Maybe in book No. 8 or if there’s a book No. 9. It’s unclear. However, she did say when she does end the series, readers will understand why Frank Randall saw the ghost (Jamie) in the first novel. And that ghost dealie has a lot of us still speculating and scratching our heads!
Read more about what the author is doing at her website HERE.
She also has a blog she updates a lot HERE.
And you can follow her on Twitter @writer_DG
(If you’ve never heard Gabaldon speak in person, you’re in for a treat. She’s funny, bawdy, and patiently and kindly talks with her readers. Plus, find out why she thinks a man in a kilt is so sexy! So check out her speaker schedule on her website.)
This was a fun event. She’s a good speaker — as you’d figure because she’s such a good story teller. But there’s no pretense with her as with some authors I’ve seen at book signings. She’s gracious with her time and took the time to answer so many questions … and signed lots of books!
Well — I guess Diana G. didn’t read my entire post: Here’s what she said on her Twitter feed:
@Actor_Allan Oh, just picked this up: http://ow.ly/2NzEl Nicer to you than to #TheExile
And here’s what Actor_Allan said to her about my post:
@Writer_DG More than a little narrow-minded on #TheExile in my humble opinion! Just basically repeated your extremely kind words re me…!
Ahhhh — well — us journos tell it like it is. If she’d read to the bottom, I go on and on about how great she is. Sigh. And I can relate. I hated it when the public criticized any of my news stories. She’s a great story teller though. And as she said — the graphic novel format is meant to appeal to a different audience. It’s really the only one I’ve ever purchased, although I’ve thumbed through others on the market.
Dear Diana–
No, I read it all–and your remarks are much appreciated! I was just talking to Allan, though, and on Twitter–couldn’t say a whole lot in 140 characters, but wanted to let him know about the mention. (No place for in-depth analysis of your post, I mean. )
Actually, I was going to ask if you’d mind me using the photo above, for website or blog. (Though blogspot seems to have done away with the ability to add pictures to posts! That, or I’m looking in the wrong place…)
Whether or no, thanks very much–both for buying the book, and writing about it!
–Diana
Thanks for the very kind words. You are more than welcome to the photo. I will email you the jpg. My friend who came to the event had never read any of your novels but she was curious about you. She loved listening to you speak and is now reading OUTLANDER. (I lent her my copy and have the other books in the series all ready for her.) Thanks for dropping by the blog!
Diana M.
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No offence to Allan Scott-Douglas, but he does not make me want to jump him & have his babies…we need a man’s man that women want to jump!!!
Someone who makes my pulse go so high i’ll almost faint…
Someone who after being de-flowered, I can imagine him throwing me around the room & me wanting more…
GOD! I need a cold shower…
The choice would be so much easier if the movie didn’t start with Jamie so young.
Shower time…
Oh — this totally made me giggle! I have not seen the actor in person. Diana G. likes him though and you can even follow their conversations on Twitter. But — he’s not who I pictured either. In fact — after all of the suggestions people have posted, I’m not sure if any of them fit the character her readers really have pictured in their heads! I personally think whoever they cast — if it ever comes to that — would have to be a fabulous, relatively unknown actor!!! And yes — in the book he is so young — which I think is why — in many ways — we all fell in love with him in that first book. And, why you’d want a fresh face in any film. But I agree — the dude doesn’t make my pulse race! But like I said earlier — Diana G. sees something in him and she created the wonderful book character ….. Thanks for posting!!!!