A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows FAQ
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows". (Last updated 12/16/2012)
1) What is "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows"?
"A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" is a novella (about 16,000 words), written by Diana Gabaldon, that tells the story of Roger MacKenzie's parents, Jerry and Marjorie MacKenzie. It's a wonderful story, and a must-read for OUTLANDER fans (in my opinion, at least! <g>)
2) Where can I find it?
The answer to that question is a little complicated. It depends on where you live. There are currently several different ways you can get "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows":
a) If you live in the US or Canada, you can download a standalone e-book of "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" for $1.99. It's available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc., but the standalone e-book can only be sold in the US and Canada at this time, due to publishing restrictions. Look here for details.
b) "Leaf" is one of the four stories in Diana Gabaldon's story collection, A TRAIL OF FIRE, which was published on November 8, 2012, in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. You can order A TRAIL OF FIRE from Amazon UK, or from the Poisoned Pen bookstore in Arizona if you want an autographed copy. For more information about A TRAIL OF FIRE, see the FAQ page here.
c) "Leaf" was originally published in 2010 in an anthology called SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. That anthology is still in print, in hardcover, paperback, and e-book format.
3) Who is Jerry MacKenzie? Has he been mentioned in the OUTLANDER books?
Roger's dad, Jeremiah ("Jerry") MacKenzie, is mentioned briefly in a couple of places. The most important and detailed reference is in AN ECHO IN THE BONE, chapter 21, "The Minister's Cat", starting on page 227. You may want to (re-)read this chapter prior to "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows".
There is also a scene in THE FIERY CROSS (chapter 98, "Clever Lad", starting p. 861 in the hardcover) where Roger tells Bree the story of how his mother died.
4) How can I get an autographed copy of SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH or A TRAIL OF FIRE?
You can order autographed copies of all of Diana Gabaldon's books, including SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH and A TRAIL OF FIRE, from the Poisoned Pen bookstore, in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is Diana's local bookstore, and they ship all over the world. Their staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about Diana's books.
5) Is there an audio version of "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows"?
Yes. The audiobook (narrated by Robert Ian MacKenzie) was released on December 3, 2012, and it's available on amazon.com and audible.com. Look here for details. It's only about two hours long, but I've listened to it, and I thought it was pretty good.
6) What about e-book editions?
As I mentioned above, if you live in the US or Canada, you can download "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" as a standalone e-book for $1.99. Look here for the links.
A TRAIL OF FIRE is available in e-book format in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. (It won't be released in the US until sometime in 2014.)
SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH is available on Kindle, Nook, and probably other e-book readers as well.
7) Where can I go to discuss "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows"?
You're welcome to discuss "Leaf" in Diana Gabaldon's section of TheLitForum.com.
8) Where can I find out more information about the Spitfire pilots in WWII?
There's a fascinating PBS documentary called 3D Spies of WWII, that goes into great detail about how the Spitfires were used for aerial photo-reconnaissance in WWII. I highly recommend it, if you're interested in learning more about the historical background of this story.
