23 Jul Inwrite

Author Spotlight: Diana Gabaldon


American author Diana Gabaldon is best known for her historical fiction series Outlander. The books masterfully combine elements of mystery, romance, adventure, and fantasy for a story that is sure to take you on a ride through the glens of Scotland.

Gabaldon was born on January 11, 1952, in Scottsdale, Arizona, and grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. Her inclination toward the sciences, particularly her love for animals, led her to take a zoology degree at Northern Arizona University, which she finished in 1973. She then pursued higher studies, earning a master’s degree in marine biology in 1975 from the University of California, San Diego, and then a PhD in behavioral ecology, also from Northern Arizona University.

In the ’80s, Gabaldon forayed into writing as the founding editor of Science Software Quarterly. She simultaneously worked as a professor at the Center for Environmental Studies at Arizona State University. She wrote a wide variety of materials, from software reviews to popular science articles. At some point, she also wrote comic books for Disney.

Gabaldon thought about writing a novel “for practice” in the late ’80s. She had no intention of showing the novel to anyone, let alone having it published. Inspired by a Doctor Who episode she was watching at the time, Gabaldon started a story set in the Scottish highlands. It was initially supposed to have a male protagonist, but eventually, her female character took over the storytelling. While writing, Gabaldon realized that her characters seemed to have very modern characteristics, so she added the element of time travel. This novel became the Outlander series, which she is most popular for today.

First published in 1991, the Outlander series tells the story of Claire Randall, a WWII-era nurse who travels through time and lands in the 18th century, where she meets the dashing Jamie Fraser. Outlander is multigenre, combining elements of historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and mystery. Outlander was first published in the UK as Cross Stitch and was a hit. The success of the series allowed Gabaldon to retire after 12 years in the academe and pursue a new career as a novelist.

As of 2014, there are eight books in the Outlander series, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers. Aside from the eight main novels, Gabaldon also wrote a novella prequel to the series called Virgins. She also created a graphic novel narrated by Jamie called The Exile. There are also guidebooks to the series called The Outlandish Companion Volumes I and II. The books provide backgrounds and further details on characters and settings, as well as the research that Gabaldon undertook to create Outlander and its world. Gabaldon also started a spinoff series centering on Lord John Grey, which currently has three novellas and three novels.

In 2013, the network Starz ordered a 16-episode season for Outlander, on which Gabaldon serves as coproducer and advisor. As of 2018, the series has been renewed for its fifth and sixth seasons.

Outlander received the RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991 despite not being strictly a romance. The series has been published in 24 languages and 27 countries worldwide.

Gabaldon still lives in Arizona with her husband Doug Watkins. They have three children together, one of whom is fantasy author Sam Sykes.

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