New Photos from the Set!

You must check out this TREMENDOUS Daily Mail article about the Outlander set.  It's chock full of squee-inducing photos like this one of Caitriona Balfe playing Claire:

MOBY Gets a New Publication Date!

June 10th, 2014!  Check out Diana Gabaldon's website for info about the new publication date for Written in My Own Heart's Blood!

MOBY Release Date: POSTPONED

Outlander Chat TONIGHT!!

Outlander Chat Tonight!  9PM Eastern!

MOP Outlander Mentor Contest WINNER

I am pleased to announce the winner of the verra first MOP Outlander Mentor Contest!!!

CONGRATULATIONS goes to...

SARA and her Outlander Mentor, Joanna!!!!!  

That entry was near and dear to our hearts.  You intrigued us at "Mexican and brownies"...and downright HAD us at "DWDLO" (a Dumbass Who Doesn't Like Outlander).  Oh I cannot TELL you how I laughed at that.  It will be used frequently on this blog; you can bet on it.

Tracey and I totally related to that entry...right down to "logistics for a cross-country premiere date".  (You have no idea how many times we've had that conversation!!)

All of that said....holy cow was this difficult!!  If it were easy, this would have been posted this AM.  Tracey and I have read and reread and shared favorite entries all day (which pretty much matched exactly...like when we frequently say the same thing in chat, ken?)

So many cherished memories of treasured bookstores...and amazing friendships...and awful illnesses that made us cry and thank God you sassenachs are well and able to post your entries here at MOP.  I have had tears in my eyes all day.  There was not one bad entry; they were all so touching.  I PROMISE you all to forward them to Herself so she can see how much you all love her and this truly unbelievable world she has created.

Thank you all for entering...from the bottom of our hearts.  We are touched that you all took the time to sit down and share your stories with us.  :)

MOP Outlander Mentor CONTEST!

**This contest is now closed and the winners will be announced soon (today soon; not five minutes soon. LOL)  Thank you SO much for sharing your heartfelt stories.  WHAT fun it has been, reading all of these entries.  I will make sure Diana Gabaldon hears about this post.  I'm sure she'll be touched and hopefully she'll be able to read your stories when she finishes MOBY.  :)

Spoiler Alert!  The following contains Outlander spoilers:

At MOP, you know we often talk about an Outlander Mentor™. That's the fellow reader who not only turned you on to the books, but who held your hand as you made your way through them, who listened as you bitched and moaned about Leghair, who dried your tears as you sobbed, "OH MY GOD, JAMIE'S DEAD!!!!", and who les sighed with you each time Jamie whispered "Sassenach"--all without spoiling a thing.

So tell us (in a comment below):

Who is your Outlander Mentor™, how did they get you into the books, and how have they supported your obsession?

The winner AND his/her Outlander Mentor EACH win THE OUTLANDER SERIES from Audible.com!!!! (7 credits total per person)

The winning entry will be chosen based on ORIGINALITY...so LET'S HEAR IT!

Rules:

- Only entries within the comments of this post will be considered.
- Contest ends November 3, 2013 at midnight.

- Winners may choose alternate audio book titles (worth 7 credits total). 

- Book titles must be chosen no later than November 5, 2013

GOOD LUCK, SASSENACHS!!!!

It's not Halloween without Jamie's Hot Cross Buns

Can't believe it's been three years since I posted about Blue Moon Magnolia's amazing pumpkin carving rendition of Jamie's ASSets in The Exile.  My thanks to Blue Moon Magnolia for her talents!  And let's not forget Hoang Nguyen who drew the original graphic.  Lordddddd the buns!

Outlander Chat - FIXED! Come on in!

Chat is fixed!  Come on in!!

MOP Video: Outlander Starz Event in NYC

NYC: Our Outlander Day Out With Starz

WHAT a fabulous time Tracey and I had yesterday at the Starz event in NYC.  I don't even know how to describe what it felt like to be surrounded by so much...OUTLANDER!  We ran into tons of awesome fellow bloggers from Outlander Book Club, Outlander Fan (singular; no S!), Outlander TV News, That's Normal...Oh my gosh, who else??  Forgive me but there were too many awesome Jamie and Claire loving peeps to name in one post! 

First off, let me share with you what an absolute CLASS ACT Starz is.  I have never been so impressed in my life.  They went ALL out.  I was blown away by the appreciation this company has for US.  Aka fans!  The event was top notch; one of the neatest experiences I've had since diving into this pool of awesomesauce we know and love as Outlander.

The event was held at the truly neat McKittrick Hotel in downtown NYC.  The room the presentation was in was teeny tiny and AWESOME.  They weren't kidding when they said it would be "intimate".

The event started with Ron Moore and Diana Gabaldon doing a presentation that included a video (Sam says "sassenach" in it, y'all), stills of the set, and a Q&A.  It was such an neat little setting which made it even more exciting.  No pretense, nothing flashy, just Ron and Diana dishing Outlander - with the fans.

By the way I sat next to a verra fun woman from Edinburgh; check out her tattoo!  --------------->>

A few points about the series:

-Nine Episodes have been written and another four or five have been partially written.  

- We will see a LOT of Frank in Season 1...in flashbacks.  The writers want us to understand why Claire would want to leave Jamie...and the way to do this is to make us appreciate Frank.  (Dare I say "like" Frank?  DOH!) 

- WE WILL SEE Claire and Frank visit the ruins of CASTLE LEOCH on their honeymoon.  (Chills y'all.  Chills)

- Diana will have a cameo...if she wants one.  :)

- Everyone has been cast for season 1. 

- Ron Moore's wife is a HUGE Outlander fan, as well as a costume designer for the show.  She will not let him change too much.  (WOOT!!  We have a comrade on the set!)

- The part of Outlander that made Ron want to make it come alive on screen?  When Jamie told Claire to stay put after the honeymoon, and she left and tried get back to the stones.  He said they got married and had the honeymoon and he thought they'd go along having this wonderful life together...and then Claire changed all the rules and bolted.  (My words, not his.)

A little more about the tremendous day Starz planned for us:

After the QA, we went to an open-air, garden-themed restaurant on the roof, which was just the neatest place...that was decked out with railroad ties and lots of foliage.  We sat in an area that looked like a box car, complete with faux aged curtains blowing in the breeze.  And all of this against a city backdrop.  Just the coolest venue for a meal with friends. (Tracey and I want to go back with the hubbies ASAP.)  And speaking of a meal, we were treated to fried chicken with a plethora of autumn veggies..along with grilled pears, corn bread and a really yummy bread pudding.  And yes; wine.  (Did I not mention Starz rocks?!)

Speaking of Starz, one of the highlights of our day was chatting it up with the VERRA COOL girls who work there!!!  They got a kick out of Pocket Jamie...and I thought it was hilarious as I almost didn't even bring him along!  I also told them how I LOVE blogging about other Starz shows like The White Queen, etc etc over at MyPurgatory.com.

Ok so lastly, not only did Tracey and I get our picture taken with Ron Moore, but we were lucky enough to ride down the elevator with him...and some fun Outlander fans.  I took this opportunity to mention how much I loved Mission Impossible II...and ask if there was any way we could get my favorite Scottish actor - Dougray Scott - into Outlander, somehow.  He said you never know what might happen down the pike.  After that, I scared him off with my awful impression of Dougray in the film.  He promptly walked off the elevator and probably had nightmares for the rest of the weekend. ;) 

Seriously you guys...I have never been so excited in my life.  This show is going to exceed all our expectations.  Ron Moore GETS IT.  He truly does.  Jamie Fraser is going to come to life and the whole world is going to fall in love with him.  

You can find tons more photos HERE at My Outlander Purgatory on Facebook.

NYC: Starz Outlander Event

Tracey and I are on our way the the Starz Outlander event.  We will be tweeting all day from @myoutlanderpurg and will be posting to My Outlander Purgatory on Instagram. 

Updates to follow!  

Updated MOP Outlander Playlists

For you music lovers out there...

I've updated the Outlander playlists!  Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager and Drums of Autumn are complete.  The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes and Echo are still being added to.  

Check 'em out by clicking the "Playlists" tab above or clicking here. 

Enjoy!  

October 12th Outlander Event in NYC

Just a quick word to let you know Tracey and I *will* be attending the special Outlander event with Diana Gabaldon and Ron Moore this Saturday in NYC.

Please say Hello if you are there!  We'd love to meet you!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat Tonight!  9PM Eastern!

DAY ONE OF OUTLANDER PRODUCTION, Y'ALL.  Bring your A game and let's discuss!!!

Outlander Production Has Begun!

Just received the following from Starz!  OUTLANDER PRODUCTION HAS BEGUN!!! 

"Please find an image of and quote from executive producer Ronald D. Moore to announce production has commenced on the STARZ and SONY PICTURE TELEVISION’S original series “Outlander.” Adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international bestselling novels, the series is filming on location in Scotland and will air on STARZ in 2014.  For more information go to our Facebook Page, Follow @Outlander_Starz on Twitter and Instagram.  Join the conversation with #Outlander and #STARZ."

“Day One and the battle is joined.  We fight to do justice to the material and the fans.  We'll return with our targes or on them.” -  - Ronald D. Moore

It's October...and October Brings Bannocks

Made bannocks to go with my chicken noodle soup the other night.  (Not that this particular soup came close to anything you'll find made by Theresa over at Outlander Kitchen.) My soup was a bit of a Sandra Lee "semi homemade" concoction...but the bannocks were from scratch.  And, as usual, my kids loved them.  And my husband?  He loved them, too.  And it made me realize that I will be eternally grateful to Diana Gabaldon for introducing me to such wonderful little cookie-cakey-sconey-biscuity-goodness.  I've made book-club bannocks.  And I've made Christmastime bannocks.  And now I've made "Hey, it's Wednesday" bannocks.  These things get more delicious every time I taste them.  And that, sassenachs, is a wonderful wee giftie, ken?  :)

Scottish Vines on Facebook

Sometimes there are things I just HAVE to post...even though I know they're kindof objectionable.  THIS is one of those things.  It's a Facebook page called Scottish Vines and is comprised of nothing but quick, 6 second videos made with the "Vine" App on a smartphone.

The thing that sets these videos apart from a zillion other "vines"?  These are made by SCOTS.  Verra, verra disturbed Scots.    They're full of bad language (you've been warned) and rude antics...some of which I find simultaneously gross and hilarious.  They're pretty much Trainspotting meets Jackass.  The one redeemable quality that is really intoxicating - and the only reason I'm even posting?  THEIR ACCENTS, DAMNIT.  I canna get enough.  

See for yourself.  If you dare...

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Outlander Chat Tonight!  9PM Eastern!

"Remember Paoli!"

Spoiler Alert:  The following pertains to information mentioned in "An Echo in the Bone."

"One of Howe's commanders, Major General Lord Charles Grey--a distant cousin of Grey's--attacked the Americans at Paoli at night, with orders to his troops to remove the flints from their muskets.  This prevented discovery from the accidental discharge of a weapon, but also obliged the men to use bayonets.  A number of Americans wire bayoneted in their beds, their tents burned, a hundred or so made captive--and Howe marched into the city of Philadelphia, triumphant, on September 21."  ~Diana Gabaldon,  "An Echo In The Bone"

Today marks the 236th anniversary of the Paoli Massacre at the Paoli Battlefield which was mentioned in An Echo in the Bone.  

"Just after midnight on September 21, the British led by Lord Grey launched a devastating strike into Wayne's unprepared American camp. Grey had ordered his men to remove the flints from their rifles before the attack began. Bayonets, — a weapon Americans considered barbaric — would be the weapon of choice.

53 Americans were killed and over 100 wounded in Grey's lightning raid. The use of the bayonet coupled with the notion that the British stabbed or burned the Americans who tried to surrender, made martyrs of those maimed and killed at Paoli. For the rest of the war, the British lived in fear that Wayne's troops would try to avenge the affair that came to be know as the Paoli Massacre."   (ushistory.org) 

Every year I commemorate the occasion with a special blog post, as Tracey (my Outlander mentor) and I grew up in Paoli, Pennsylvania.  

Reading about a battle so close to where you grew up - in the Outlander series - is truly a magical experience.  

When I googled "Battle of Paoli" + "Diana Gabaldon" a few minutes ago, many links came up from the MOBY daily lines.  I, being the spoiler freak I am, did NOT look - nor will I - until Written in My Own Heart's Blood comes out in March (Lorddddddddd the release date.)  But how excited am I to think Paoli may be mentioned AGAIN???  Chills, y'all.  Chills.  

And...if Herself mentions the burning down of the Union Salt Works by British loyalists in April 1778 in the upcoming Written in My Own Heart's Blood, which happened in the little Jersey Shore town I live in currently, I'll fall right the hell over and they'll have to run and fetch the smelling salts.  

All kidding aside, please take a moment today and remember those who were killed or viciously wounded by British soldiers at Paoli...and also the United States Army battle cry that was used well into the 19th century.

"Rest well, Paoli's heroes brave. 
You did your part this land to save. 
And as the centuries roll by, 
Ever we'll sound your battle cry 

REMEMBER PAOLI!!"

~Henry Pleasants Jr.

Laoghaire and Geillis Casting

Is Ping An in Cuba?!

Thanks to Belinda for sending in this verra cool article (love the newspaper copy!)  

Belinda's comments are below:

"I found this in our local paper and I think this is not Pancho but actually Ping An.  Maybe he flew through the stones and is looking for Mr. Willoughby.  If you look closely,  he is even wearing some kind of collar.   No need to look farther for Ping An's casting for season 3, Voyager!"

For more on Ping An in Voyager, visit Outlandish Observations' Friday Fun Facts from 5/25/12. 

MOP Outlander Chat TONIGHT!

Outlander Chat Tonight!  9PM Eastern!  WE'VE GOT OUR CLAIRE, Y'ALL!!!  AND Murtagh!  AND Wee Hamish!  Let's discuss!  :)

MOP VIDEO: Carol and Tracey Discuss Caitriona Balfe!

Lorddddddddd We Have Our Claire!

Oh Em Gee.  How gorgeous is Caitriona Balfe?!  She's perfect.  I love her.  And I don't even know a

darned thing about her.  I know she's Irish.  So that always scores points, as I'm half Irish.  And she's got the Claire "look".  I canna WAIT to see her - and Sam - all kinds of done up in Hair and Makeup on set.  It's going to be wild.

You know what I have to say now...

BRING ON LEGHAIR and GEILLIS!!!!

Outlander Chat Tonight!

Outlander Chat Tonight!  9PM Eastern!  AKA RIGHT NOW!  GET IN HERE!  :)

"Scotland's Game of Thrones"

I seriously enjoyed this article from the Scotland Herald about the upcoming production of Outlander being filmed in the old, deserted "Isola" plant in Cumbernauld, Scotland.  It describes Claire as a "20th-centry nurse who goes back to the 18th century" and Jamie as a "Scottish swashbuckling Jacobite."

Wowwers.  Seriously puts it into perspective, does it not?  For years, I've dreamed of watching the Outlander series on the big screen.  Or a little screen.  Any screen would do.  And now that I'm seeing that dream become a reality, I'm...well...scared as hell!  LOL  Dinna get me wrong, I've been so excited about this since I first heard Ron Moore would be the mastermind behind the screenplay.  And I've pretty much eaten, slept and breathed "Claire Watch" since we found out Sam Heughan would be playing Jamie.

I even took my phone to Tracey's tonight (and she said "Hello? It's Sunday!  They won't announce anything tonight!")  But I couldna help it.  I am way too emotionally invested at this point.

There's no turning back now.  And it's deliciously terrifying!

I suppose I'm somewhat of a seasoned Outlander fan, having written a blog about the series for almost 4 years.  (Although I am not worthy of those who have been fans for 20 plus years!)  In addition, I've waxed on with my sister (and Outlander mentor), Tracey, via video...I've posted daily on MOP Facebook for months...and I've been lucky enough to meet some of you amazing fellow-readers - all in the name of Jamie Fraser.  So I still find it so incredibly interesting when I think of Jamie and Claire, and something totally new about one of them pops into my head.   Today, when I was reading this Herald article, I found myself wondering what Jamie would think of all this brouhaha surrounding the Outlander series on Starz...and being called a "swashbuckling Jacobite".  I pretty much came to the conclusion he would Mmmmfffpppphhhhh the hell out of it...and say there was much more important work to be done.

But clearly there is nothing more important at this point, as far as adaptations go!  I canna WAIT to see the reactions of not only my fellow OutFANders, but also the rest of the world who will tune in to Starz in April.

So to that "Scottish swashbuckling Jacobite", Jamie Fraser, I proudly say:

Je Suis Prest! 

MOP Chat Canceled: Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  In observance of the Labor Day holiday, MOP Chat will be canceled tonight.

(Unless there are any new casting announcements made today...which is looking highly unlikely as the hour roll by.  Today seems to be all about Christian Grey.)  ;)

Angus Mhor and Mrs. Fitzgibbons Cast!

According to this article on TVGuide.com, Stephen Walters (Layer Cake) has been cast as Angus Mhor and Annette Badland (Doctor Who) has been cast as Mrs. Fitzgibbons! (Thanks, Hildy, from The Book Bosses!)

LIKE My Outlander Purgatory on Facebook!

Hey y'all - help us get to 2,000 and LIKE us on Facebook if you havena already!!  That way, you won't miss out on MOP updates about videos, chat, Starz and all things OUTLANDER!  :)

MOP Video: John Dahl & Where's Claire?!