tomb and how she became friends with that other epic writer, George R.R.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How has theOutlanderseries on Starz changed your life?
Is there a release date for your next book?
Credit: Elenna Loughlin
I just say youre gonna get it when its done.
Its gonna be good, but youre not going to get it until it is good.
Where are you in the process?
It takes me about three years to write a book.
People come up to me at book signings and say, Is the next book coming out this year?
And I say No, and they say, Well, why not?
I say, Well, youve got a choice.
you’re free to get the next book sooner or you’re free to look at me.
And youre looking at me.
Its all your fault.
What kinds of questions do fans ask you?
So you dont picture the actors at all?
Everybody asks that and I keep wondering why.
If youve readGone With the Windand then you watchGone With the Wind, did it affect things?
I dont have any problem at all maintaining the original vision and the film vision, side by side.
Its just different things.
How have you reacted to fans who have questioned casting decisions on the series?
Sam isnothead-and-shoulders above everyone, so everyone thinks hes puny.He should be bigger.
His hair isnt red enough.
It just went on and on.
They embody the character.
It doesnt actually matter what they look like beyond certain rough physical parameters.
Then I explained to them what Sam had done in his audition.
Another five seconds, he was Jamie Fraser.
Caitriona doesnt look anything like Claire.
I mean Caitriona is 5 feet 10 inches and Claire is 5 feet 6 inches and curvy.
She has a good bosom and a very round, somewhat prominent rear end.
Caitriona was a Victorias Secret model.
But Caitriona does a beautiful job with Claire.
This TV show was a long time coming.
Give me a brief history.
Oh, let me see.
That was a small company that wanted to make a two-hour movie.
I cant even remember what their names were, but they bought an option for $5,000.
It lasted for a year.
We got constant inquiries, two or three a month, and talked to a number of people.
And I said, Then why dont you see why I wont give you an option?
Ron had finishedBattlestar Galacticaand was looking for another impassioned project.
His wife had been a fan of theOutlander books for a long time, but hed never noticed.
So we lucked out big time.
How did you become friends with George R.R.
I had worn a very snazzy outfit with black suede boots with four-inch heels.
Yes, they are weird.
There was George across the table from me looking like an inflamed Ewok.
He had this huge, purple brocade vest under his tux.
I was not close enough to talk to him, so I just smiled.
Anyway, I took my boots off the minute I sat down, which was fine.
So, of course, I won.I just hampered up on the platform in my bare feet.
I stood on my tip-toes and said well, Now you all know the terrible truth.
Martin who really does write spectacular fantasy, as in I dont write fantasy at all.
That went over big with George and his then-girlfriend.
Talk about your relationship with theOutlanderproducers.
Theyre extremely kind to me.
They include me in things which is very nice of them, because they dont have to.
They were cautious of me to start with because they didnt know how I would take this.
We were very much on the same wavelength and getting along fine.
People were saying to Ron, Well, what are you gonna do when we get toVoyager?
And he said, I should have such problems.
Have you ever recommended a change to an episode?
And Im looking at that and going, No.
You dont have cobblestone villages.
You dont have houses.
And people would not be playing Bridge.
People in Scotland thought playing cards were the devils playground.
You know, making butter, milking goats, so forth.
They did this in groups because it was very tedious.
[The scene ended up in the episode].
Will you make another cameo on the show?
Im sure theyd let me if I said I wanted to, but I think once is probably enough.
Are you going to write these books forever?
Well eventually Im gonna die so you have to bear that in mind.
I just dont know.
I know theres a book 9.
I have more than enough material for that.
So chances are good that there will be a book 10.
It ends when they do.
