Beauly booming as Outlander author visits Highlands
HUNDREDS of Outlander fans mobbed a Beauly shop to meet the author of the popular novels which have also been turned into a hit British-American TV drama series.
American writer Diana Gabaldon visited the village to open the new book department at the Old School and also to take part in a question and answer session at Phipps Hall.
At least £2000 has been raised for the Highland Hospice from the sale of tickets for the event and bucket collections.
William and Helen Crawford, owners of the business, were surprised and delighted when the writer accepted their invitation to open the book department.
Outlander is based on a World War II nurse who in 1945 finds herself transported back to Scotland in 1743 and becomes embroiled in the Jacobite risings. Settings include Beauly, Inverness and Culloden.
Mr Crawford estimated up to 400 people – who had travelled from all over Scotland – came to see the author.
They included 200 at the ticket-only talk plus another 200 who went to a book-signing event at the shop.
“There was a queue which went right from the new book department and snaked around the shop and into the car park,” he said. “At one point, it went along the pavement towards the square.”
The talk, which was also broadcast via the internet, was watched live by about 8000 people around the world.
“She is a brilliant speaker,” Mr Crawford.
“She is very funny. She had the place in stitches in seconds which is quite an achievement.
“She spoke about how the whole Outlander thing started and how she got her ideas for the books as well as giving tips for budding authors. We could have gone on for hours.”
