Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

As always, this book is a Big Monster that took several years to write. In that time, dozens—if not hundreds—of helpful people have given me assistance and information, and while I’ve tried to note and remember them all, I’m sure I’m omitting any number of kind souls—who are nonetheless Deeply Appreciated!

I’d like to acknowledge especially …

… My much-valued editors, Jennifer Hershey (US) and Selina Walker (UK), Erin Kane (editorial associate), and the Penguin Random House “team” that have been invaluable in the editing, publishing, and promotion of my books over so many years—and are still at it:

… Kara Welsh, Kim Hovey, Allison Schuster, Quinne Rogers, Melanie DeNardo, Jordan Pace, Bridget Kearney—and—

… The long-suffering and noble production people who actually get an unwieldy manuscript between covers: Lisa Feuer, Kelly Chian, and Maggie Hart. And—

… Laura Jorstad and Kathy Lord, copy editors, whose tireless skill kept this book on the (mostly) straight-and-narrow path of correct spelling, usage, and other things I wouldn’t have thought of. And—

… Most Particularly, Virginia Norey, Book Goddess, the designer of this beautiful book and so many more!

… and a Very Special Acknowledgment to my dear friend and German translator, Barbara Schnell, without whose keen eye and helpful commentary this book would have LOTS more errors than it (undoubtedly) does.

Also …

… the Reverend Julia Wiley, Church of Scotland, for her invaluable insights and advice regarding the spiritual development and ordination of a Presbyterian minister;

… Dr. Karmen Schmidt, for her elegant advice on matters medical, anatomical, and apiarial;

… Susan Butler, personal assistant and proofreader, without whom nothing would ever be mailed and the household would descend into complete disorder;

… Loretta McKibben, my webmistress (of diana.gabaldon.com), oldest friend, and expert on matters astronomical and astrophysical;

… Janice Millford, who keeps the incoming email in order and prevents my being permanently submerged;

… Karen Henry, moderator and Chief Bumblebee-Herder of the Diana Gabaldon Section of the Literary Forum (TheLitForum.com) for lo, these many years, and

… Sandy Parker, who, with Karen, is a member of the Cadre of Eyeball-Numbing Nitpickery, without whom there would be many more errors in these books than there are;

… my two agents, Russell Galen and Danny Baror, who together have achieved Great Things over the years, for Outlander and for me;

… the fabulous Catherine MacGregor—multilingual translator par excellence, and the wonderful Cathy-Ann MacPhee and Madame Claire Fluet, who have provided most of the Gaelic and French expressions used in this book; also—

… Adhamh O’Broin, who provided Amy Higgins’s Gaelic ant execration; and—

… kahentinetha bear, who was most helpful with the representations of kanienkehaka language and culture; and Eva Fadden, who provided advice and help with Mohawk dialogue for both this book and the Outlander TV show, and—

… the many, many miscellaneous kind souls from social media who have contributed local geographical or historical observations, advice on spelling and pronunciation of words in languages I don’t speak, and helpful anecdotes—as well as hundreds of fabulous bee photos.

Also, a special thanks to Tina Anderson and Dr. Bill Amos, who each donated a large amount via auction at the Amelia Island Book Festival, for the furtherance of the Amelia Island Foundation’s educational goals (providing individually owned books to every child on the island), and who in consequence are represented in this book as a.) a glamorous Savannah socialite, and b.) (by request) “a burly, black-haired Highlander.”

My apologies to all the people I’ve momentarily forgotten; you live in my heart and return (if sporadically) always to my memories.