OUTLANDER author Diana Gabaldon has quashed rumours that Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall are set for the chop.
Rumours swept the internet yesterday claiming the 65-year-old writer from Arizona was planning to kill the duo off in book ten of the popular series.
Some had suggested she was planning to cull the characters, played by Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, because she has recently became a grandmother and doesn’t want to do any more book tours.
But millions of fans and admirers will be delighted to hear Gabaldon has no intention to kill the duo off just yet, branding the rumours “blithering” and even asking “WTF?”
Diane, who is currently writing the forthcoming ninth book, Go Tell the Bees That I’m Gone, also revealed it may be another five years before she even starts writing book ten.
Quashing the rumours on her personal Facebook page last night, Gabaldon said: “Is there something in the water today, or what?
“I don’t go anywhere online other than this page, Twitter, and Compuserve – this is how I survive social media – but my assistant just showed me an absolutely blithering post on some other page by someone asserting with great confidence that I’m going to kill off Jamie and Claire in Book Ten, because now that I’m a grandmother I don’t want to write or do book tours anymore.
“I really don’t use such language, but W. T. F?
“First off, nobody in their right mind “wants” to do book tours, but we mostly do it anyway.
“Secondly, why would being a grandmother affect my writing in any way, shape or form? The kid lives in Colorado and while we do visit frequently, we’re not raising him.
“Thirdly, it’ll likely be another five years before I get anywhere near the end of Book Ten.
“For the record, I don’t intend to kill Jamie and Claire off. If one of them happens to die on me, that’s another issue, but no expectation of that happening at the moment.
She added: “Look. If you hear rumors about me or the books or anything I might be connected with, why don’t you just come here and ask me to my face?
“Sheesh, as my late father used to say…”
More than 17,000 Outlander fans liked the post while thousands of others took to the post to share their their post.
Jenny Green said: “It’s laughable how others perceive to know your mind.
“You created, grew and brought to life these characters.
“They are yours to what you like with. I have been a fan for 25 years and would never presume to give my opinion on your thoughts and imagination.”
Natasha Armstrong wrote: “I really love that you set everyone straight!
“Most people wouldn’t bother, but I enjoy that we hear the truth about everything straight from you.
“I understand someone musing about what would happen, but being confident about it it silly. Thanks Diana!”
Crystal Schabinger said: “I try not to believe everything I read on Facebook or other sites, unless it’s on your page.
“Some of the Outlander fans are a bit fanatical, and step outside the line of sanity occasionally. I’m just excited to read the next part of the story.”
And Lisa Deas Uhlhorn wrote: “If anything, I believe becoming a grandmother will give you lots of inspiration for future writing.
“Thanks for interacting with all of your fans so we can hear news straight from you.”
The Outlander series follows the story of 1940’s nurse Claire Randall, played by Caitriona Balfe, who travels back to 18th century Scotland and meets Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan.
Earlier this year, Gabaldon hinted that her much-loved characters could be killed off during an interview.
She said: “Diana said: “I think there are 10 books in the main series then a prequel about Jamie’s parents.
“But it is Jamie and Claire’s lives, so everyone’s got to die sooner or later — myself included.”
Series one of the TV version of Outlander premiered on screens in 2014 and is currently airing its third series.
