Brian Dubh
They miss you.
Shredded hearts pile blame
Lash out from pain
They’ve lain you in your grave,
Brian Dubh,
but while they grieve
still you live
in them.
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A little Outlander poem today, in honour of ep 112 Lallybroch. Dubh is pronounced “Doo”. It means ‘black’. Jamie Fraser’s father was known as “Black Brian” for his colouring. If you’re only meeting these character through the TV series, you may not know this.
I lean against stone
eyes closed
longing for what was
or what will be,
what was lost without
reason or rhyme.
I lean against stone
and in dreams,
see time.
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An Outlander themed poem
Diana Gabaldon line at the Outlander panel at 33 minutes: http://www.starz.com/originals/outlander/extras/qanda
In response to the question, “What was her favourite scene in the series so far?”
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“In terms of
visceral reaction,
honesty
compels me
to add,
You have
one
fine
ass,
Sam!*
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(She actually said, ‘man’ but she was saying it to Sam Heughan so allow poetic licence).
The buttocks in question will available for admiration August 30th, 2014, when it makes its appearance in the fourth episode of Outlander in the US. (We have 2 more weeks to wait in Canada, theoretically).
It’s been a journey of celebrations
seeing dreams unfolding
in flirtatious Twitter assignations,
watching joy unrolling
during this cinematic gestation.
And now, with keen anticipation
all around the Earth
One can feel the vibrations
from fans awaiting this birth:
an incarnation of literary creation.
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Outlander comes to television! Premieres are being aired this weekend. It has been fabulous following along with author Diana Gabaldon as she has shared the fun from the moment the papers were signed and it was official that Ron Moore was turning her books series into an epic television series. We fans were part of the excitement as each character was cast, and I particularly enjoyed watching the delight sparkle in Diana’s eyes as she told me about being on set when she had her cameo!
My joy is vicarious, but it is a very genuine and thorough joy. It is just SO GREAT to experience the adventure of favourite books being transformed for a new media!
In case you don’t know, Outlander is airing in the US on Starz, in Canada on Showcase, and in Australia on Soho. In Canada, we have to wait until August 24th. It’s going to be painful as the American fans have 2 weeks ahead of us!
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and here’s a little more information 🙂
As previously posted, Sam Heughan has been cast to play the character of Jamie Fraser in Ron Moore’s TV series Outlander based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon. Here is a bit of friendly advice for him.
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Dear Sam
I am
afraid that the Jamie-philes
will compile more
scary photo-shopped dreams.
It seems that in face of
the depraved
you are as brave
as your homeland.
So lad,
be glad
of this career boost
But go canny, aye?
They’ll grab that manly thigh
and try to catch your eye,
tear kilt askew
aim for the dagger hilt of you,
and hurdle for the spurtle, too!
Are you up for the ride?
For jokes aside,
Jamie is seriously adored,
these books explored
they touch a chord
with inflamed hordes of fans.
They’ll give you fame
but give them James
Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser
Give them frenzied pleasure.
Be the man the fans adore
and they’ll be yours forever more,
those fanatical fannying fans galore.
Thanks Sam.
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Sincerely,
Fan.
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A little advice for actor Sam Heughan as the devoted fans of Outlander take over his life (and his Twitter feed)
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August 1. 2013 Note:
This poem was the subject of much hilarity and edification on the Twitter feed when it was posted at about 2 a.m. July 31st. The line following, “Go canny, aye” was originally about a fan reaching for ‘fanny and thigh.’ Diana Gabaldon tweeted almost immediately to let me know that fanny didn’t mean the same thing in UK as it does in North America, specifically that ‘men don’t have one.’ Then the Scots started posting about their amusement of American usage of the term i.e. falling on your fanny is difficult. I was sent photos of the beverage called Fanny, which confused me a great deal, because if fanny means vagina, why would you name a carbonated beverage that? (answer: “Scots humour”). Diana also added that there is the term “fannying around” and that was explained to me by various eager tutors as meaning being silly or goofing off (rather than whoring, which might be the more logical assumption). So obviously I had to alter a few lines of the poem. Forgetting that the key was rhyming ‘canny, aye?’ (likely due to the posting of Diana’s infamous Jamie butt pumpkin that evening as well) most tried to think of euphemisms for bum. This was not helpful at all, but was highly entertaining. With a few keystrokes, the fanny and thighs became ‘manly thighs’ and the ‘fannying fans’ were added to reflect my new knowledge. By about 5 a.m. Heulighans from the American Eastern seaboard were waking up, and the responses to the Twitter conversation and the poem went wild. I update this to honour a wonderful night of giggling over the keyboard with Diana and my fellow fans of her work around the globe.
This post received a remarkable number of visitors- over 450 in the day with many, many lovely comments left for me on Twitter and Facebook. I thank you all. I consider myself thoroughly educated and well entertained as well.
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If that wasn’t enough awesomeness,
(see Shawn swooning in astonishment) Read those hashtags:
That’s pretty fantastic support for anyone, don’t you think? She saw some craziness happening, and this was her response. I am so glad to know her, to have her support, and to learn how to handle social media hysteria by following her example. “The words get into their heads and drive them mad.” Yup. Glad I have friends in high places! With Diana on my side, I feel almost invincible.
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In response to the furore racing around the Outlander world about main character Jamie Fraser being played by Sam Heughan, and the requirement that to be a #HeughansHeughligans you must like pickles (don’t ask). I hereby humbly submit my mother-in-law’s Mustard Bean Pickle recipe. I love these. I haven’t made them in years, but it might just be time again! (This is not Outlander’s Kitchen. I am not a chef).
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5 qt cut up beans (personally, I like them left long)
2.5 c boiling water
2.5 tsp pickling salt*
Cook beans in water/salt above until just tender. Drain. Reserve liquid. In a bowl, mix
1.25 c flour
5 tsp pickling salt
3/4 c dry mustard
2.5 tsp turmeric
8 c sugar (5 brown+3 white)
with half the reserved bean liquid to make a smooth, thin paste. Reserve. Boil
6.5 c vinegar
2.5 tbsp celery seeds
2 c of water
Gradually add this vinegar mixture TO the paste, mixing well after each addition. Return to the pot and cook, stirring constantly until thick- about 5 minutes. Add beans and bring to a boil.
Pour into hot sterilized jars. Seal.
Munch cold while enjoying Outlander starring Sam Heughan on Starz come spring 2014.
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*note= use pickling salt as the iodine in regular salt makes pickles soft. No one wants droopy pickles.
Sam Heughan is already charming Outlander fans and schmoozing with them via Twitter. Things are only going to get better from here for this youthful tri-athlete actor!
For the last week, I have had the privilege of being a fly on the wall as an author has a dream come true. The Starz network signed Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series last spring, and has finally begun casting. This week her lead character, Jamie Fraser, was cast, and the role went to Scots actor Sam Heughan.
With typical enthusiasm Diana shared her excitement over his audition tape with her Facebook followers:
She observed how she started watching the audition tape, “and five seconds later, Sam Heughan’s GONE, and so am I. It’s Jamie Fraser, right there in front of me, moving, talking. One of the biggest thrills ever.”
Talk about understatement!
Of course, not everyone is able to visualize Diana’s quite explicit descriptions of what Jamie looked like at age 22 in the first Outlander book, and those people leapt up complaining about Sam’s physique, his hair, etc. Diana firmly and unequivocally put them in their place. (A hilarious blog about the whole storm on Thatsnormal.com if you want the details)
Meanwhile, Diana took to Twitter and started messaging Sam Heughan (like many in the Outlander world!) Sam is embracing the enthusiasm of his army of new fans and he and Diana are carrying on a public flirtation for the whole world to see.
I am so thrilled for her. I suppose this is how Stephenie Meyer felt when Rob Pattison was cast to become Edward in the Twilight movies. Bad makeup and a low budget probably couldn’t kill her buzz either. I’m sure when Charlaine Harris first saw Anna Pasquin bring Sookie Stackhouse to life she was equally thrilled (Sookie be damned, how about the perfect choice of Joe Manganiello to be Alcide Herveault?! Be still my heart!). Both Twilight and the Sookie Stackhouse series took some serious deviations from the original plots. No matter. How amazing must have been those first halcyon days when the incarnate word was made flesh!
Starz has a budget and a social media savvy author who is sharing her excitement with a legion of fans. The buzz is amazing. On one hand, I feel very sorry for all the companies over the years that optioned the rights to make a movie or TV series out of this story and then had them lapse before funding could be put together. Foolish money men. You will see what you missed! On the other hand, I think Tall Ship Productions and Ron Moore are going to do Diana’s work proud. They know very well that rabid fans are going to be unforgiving if they screw up Diana’s story!
The absolutely best part of this, what has me grinning constantly and bouncing around my house, has been the fun of watching Diana in the absolutely giddy excitement of seeing her character come to life. I can hardly wait until she gets to go on set and meet all the cast!
Some day, perhaps, I’ll get to see my Grace, Ben, Marco, and Alex become flesh. In the meantime, I’m living vicariously through Diana, and I’m enjoying every minute!
Shawn L. Bird 