Diana Gabaldon, writer/rock star

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

Writer Diana Gabaldon got a rock star’s reception Tuesday night at Malaprop’s bookstore in downtown Ashvegas. The place was absolutely packed with book-toting fans hanging on Gabaldon’s every word during an hour-long talk. And they were falling all over themselves to get her autograph afterward.

Gabaldon is the author of the wildly popular “Outlander” series, which is a unique mix of genres – it’s part romantic novel, part historical fiction, then you throw in a little sci-fi time travel. We talked to a few people at the book signing about Gabaldon’s popularity, and it came down to what it always comes down to – great writing, memorable characters and hot sex scenes. Gabaldon has apparently written one of the most desirable male characters ever, Jamie Fraser, a man perfect in his imperfectness that every woman lusts after dreams of having pines for wants in a way we just can’t describe.

We’d never heard of Gabaldon until a few days ago, when a colleague asked if we knew anybody who was going. So we checked her out and saw the adoration. Now we’ll have to read at least one of her books to get the full flavor.

Pretty awesome that a writer of this popularity and stature came to little ol’ Ashvegas.

Diana Gabaldon’s web site.

Mountain Xpress interview w/ Gabaldon.