Thursday, February 24, 2011

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon



It is an exciting day here at Slice of Life ! I have the great pleasure of spotlighting one of my all-time favorite authors...Diana Gabaldon, author of Outlander. Anyone who knows me will tell you that Diana captured my attention several years ago when I first discovered the Outlander series, and it's been an amazing journey as I eagerly anticipate each new installment. (Fans are on pins and needles right now waiting for Book 8 to be written and published!!) If you are a fan of Diana Gabaldon's series, please let me know by leaving a comment below and telling me why you love Outlander. It's fun hearing from other readers who enjoy the series as much as I do. If you haven't read Outlander yet, now is a great time to begin the adventure! This year actually marks the twentieth year anniversary since Outlander was published, so join in the excitement of this milestone celebration. Here's a little background on Outlander to tempt you to get started:

Book Synopsis:
Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another...

In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire's destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life ...and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.


About the Author:
Diana Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning, #1 NYT-bestselling OUTLANDER novels.
The adventure began in 1991 with the classic OUTLANDER (“historical fiction with a Moebius twist”), has continued through six more New York Times-bestselling novels–DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, VOYAGER, DRUMS OF AUTUMN, THE FIERY CROSS, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES, and AN ECHO IN THE BONE, with nineteen million copies in print worldwide
The series is published in 26 countries and 23 languages, and includes a nonfiction companion volume, THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, which provides details on the settings, background, characters, research, and writing of the novels. Gabaldon has also written several books in a sub-series featuring Lord John Grey: LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER, LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, and LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS. Another Lord John book, LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER, will probably be published in 2011).
She has also written a graphic novel titled THE EXILE (set within the OUTLANDER universe and featuring the main characters from OUTLANDER), but told from the viewpoint of Jamie Fraser and his godfather, Murtagh. The graphic novel is illustrated by Hoang Nguyen, published by Del-Rey.
Gabaldon is presently working on the third Lord John novel (LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER), and the eighth book in the OUTLANDER series.
She and her husband, Douglas Watkins, have three adult children and live mostly in Scottsdale, Arizona.

You can visit Diana online at www.DianaGabaldon.com

You can purchase Diana's books here.


*****Giveaway Details*****
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of this book, simply leave a comment on this post indicating that you would like to be entered in the drawing (please include an e-mail address for contact), and Random House will provide one lucky winner with a copy of Diana Gabaldon's fabulous Outlander. Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on March 10, 2011

***THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED - thank you****

13 comments:

Karen Henry said...

Joanne:

I first heard about this "Outlander Virtual Book Tour" from a post on the Outlander Book Club site by someone who'd seen the announcement here on your blog. I think this is a good way to spread the word about OUTLANDER in its 20th anniversary year.

I know you've already posted on my blog, but for any other OUTLANDER fans who may be reading this, I would like to encourage you all to visit my blog, Outlandish Observations, for the latest news and information about Diana Gabaldon's books. I try to keep it as up to date as possible.

And if anyone reading this hasn't yet read the OUTLANDER books, I highly recommend them!

Karen

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

Not entering, just stopping by to comment about how much I love this book! I cannot tell you how many times I've re-read Outlander, and it's always just as good as the firs time I read it!

Joanne said...

Hi, Karen - Thanks so much for stopping by today! I encourage everyone to drop by your blog, Outlandish Observations, and enjoy all the updates and Outlander news!

Hi, Patti - Glad to know you are an Outlander fan! You are so right -- after several readings, it just gets better and better! And happy Mardi Gras!

Cheryl said...

Thanks for hosting, Diana today. I have to admit I feel like I've been living under a rock because I had never heard of these books until RH asked me to set up this virtual book tour. Gasp!

Good luck to all who enter the giveaway.

Cheryl

Michelle V said...

The more I hear about this book, the more I want to read it. Please enter me in the giveaway.

Blessings
Michelle V
lifeinreviewblog[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

I have never read any of the books in this series but I have heard so much about them. I would love to be entered for the giveaway. Thanks for hosting this post.

dolleygurl[at]hotmail[dot]com

Joanne said...

Hi, Cheryl! I hope after this Outlander virtual tour is complete that you will treat yourself to reading this book....I think you'll love it! ;)

Deniz Bevan said...

This is one of my favourite series! I'm happy to discover your blog through this tour, it's very pretty [g]

Joanne said...

Hello, Deniz -- Glad to find another Outlander fan! Thanks so much for stopping by. :)

Carole Rae said...

I would LOVE to part of the drawing, but I've never read her books. This series seems like a great one...I'm defiantly adding it to my books-to-read list.

Film and Book Ends said...

Please enter me in the drawing!

Thank you!.....Carla

Joanne said...

Carla - I will be glad to enter you in the contest, but you must leave an e-mail address for contact to be entered in the drawing. Thank you.

Cheryl said...

I keep reading great stuff about this book along her tour trail. I guess I better buy a copy of this one to discover why everyone loves it so much.

Cheryl

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