‘Shiptober: What ‘Outlander’ season 2 could bring for Jamie, Claire

Mrs. Carter: ‘Shiptober is here!

For the first time, we’re going to spending some of this glorious month chronicling just what could be coming your way in terms of relationships for some of your favorite characters on TV, and we’re beginning today with what has to be one of the most beloved pairings out there: Jamie and Claire Fraser of “Outlander.”

Where we left off – At the end of season 1, the two characters departed on a boat to France. They were clearly together and on the same page; Claire opened up about her past (or is it her future?) to her husband, and he understood completely. They’ve already been through hell, and maybe someone even worse than the devil in Black Jack Randall. Given the events of the final two episodes of this tumultuous season, shouldn’t they be ready for everything at this point? You would surely hope so.

Also, Claire is pregnant! Book readers at least have a slight indication as to where this is going to go.

What lies ahead – The two in France will start to discover how their relationship functions in a very different environment. The Jacobite Rebellion is going to be playing out in terms of a major historical event. This will be a more political story than what we saw in season 1, which was a little more based on the violence and brutality of Scotland during this period.

Potential obstacles – Could a one-time love of Jamie’s in France start to cloud his emotions? There’s something to be said for circumstance serving as an assist for romance, and he and Claire were to a certain extent aided by having a sort of us-against-the-world mentality through the prison sequence in particular. They had to band together in order to help each other. Without these sort of pressures put upon them, will their love continue to prevail?

We feel like if you are entering this series as a non-book reader, one other concern you could have is Frank Randall. His intentions are certainly far better than his ancestor, but if he truly continues to believe that his wife is out there, he will have no idea that she has fallen for another man. He could be a dividing force almost on accident for the Jamie – Claire relationship.

Why the relationship will still grow stronger – Jamie is a proud man, and we have to think that having a child with Claire will further inspire him to be a better husband and a better man. He is also going to be in a position now where he needs to rely even more on his wife. She has the knowledge of history that could assist them through certain pitfalls, in addition to her training as a nurse. There are no more secrets; instead, there is a bond that travels between centuries. What more of an epic love story is there than this?

Depending on the couple, we’re going to end these ‘Shiptober articles with a poll asking you for your thoughts. This time around, it’s fairly simple: Will Jamie and Claire finish season 2 even stronger than they were at the end of season 1?

http://cartermatt.com/181668/shiptober-what-outlander-season-2-could-bring-for-jamie-claire/   take the poll

"Outlander' heartthrob Sam Heughan skyrockets in Golden Globes predictions

Outlander is one of Starz's all-time biggest hits, and Sam Heughan is at the heart of it. He has audiences and critics swooning for his performance as 18th century Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, who becomes involved with time-traveling nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe). And now, according to Gold Derby's exclusive Golden Globes predictions, Heughan has a great shot of translating all of that love and support into his first-ever nomination.

This international TV sensation ticks a lot of boxes for Golden Globe voters. Remember, these awards are given out by the HollywoodForeign Press Assn. That's key because the people voting for the Globes love to trumpet new hot stars like Scottish-born Heughan for their media outlets across the world.

Based on our Golden Globes rankings, Heughan is in second place to win TV Drama Actor behind only last year's champ Kevin Spacey ("House of Cards"). To compare, last year at this time Heughan was only in our11th place position to receive a bid, indicating increased support.

While Heughan was snubbed last year, it's important to note that the second half of the first season (which aired in early 2015) received much better reviews and was heralded by critics. If Globes voters are paying attention, he should be a shoo-in for a nom.

As of this writing, Spacey has leading 11/2 odds to win, followed by Heughan with 7/1 odds, then Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") in third place with 8/1 odds, Terrence Howard ("Empire") in fourth place with 9/1 odds and Rami Malek ("Mr. Robot") in fifth place with 11/1 odds. See more up-to-date Globes odds and rankings right here.

Starz has had great luck at the Golden Globes in recent years with notable wins for Kelsey Grammer("Boss") and Jacqueline Bisset ("Dancing on the Edge"). They've also earned nominations for Frances O'Connor ("The Missing"), Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Dancing on the Edge"), Rebecca Ferguson and Janet McTeer ("The White Queen").

Click here for ratio and odds

Faery Rings, Standing stones, and Druids.

Imagine falling through the stones to a different time? For that matter, being from a time where Druid priests were worshipping in standing stone circles? I think thanks to "Outlander", we may all have.

"Some say the hill is enchanted, others say it is cursed. Both are right".

In English, Scandinavian and Celtic traditions, it is said that the rings on the hills were created by the elves or faeries dancing.

In Victorian times folklorists believed that the fairies and witches were related, partially because they were both said to dance in the circles.

Entering the rings on May Day (the Celtic festival of Baltane) and Halloween night (the Celtic festival of Samhaim) is especially dangerous.

Mortals that dance in the circle often find that what seemed like a very short time has actually been weeks if not YEARS. They often have no memory of their time in the "fairyland".

Fairy Rings are eerie, whether they are made of mushrooms that appear overnight or stone.

While sometimes the rings are seen as dangerous, they can sometimes be linked with very good fortune.... Look at Jamie and Claire Fraiser for example.

By KIM MURPHY WINSLOW

 OUTLANDER references to the standing stones at Craigh na Dun

Outlander chapter 2 Standing Stones

“What’s up there?” I asked, gesturing with a ham sandwich. “It seems a difficult place for picnicking.”“Ah.” Mr. Crook glanced at the hill. “That’s Craigh na Dun, lass. I’d meant to show ye after our meal.”“Really? Is there something special about it?”“Oh, aye,” he answered, but refused to elaborate further, merely saying that I’d see when I saw. I had some fears about his ability to climb such a steep path, but these evaporated as I found myself panting in his wake. At last, Mr. Crook extended a gnarled hand and pulled me up over the rim of the hill. “There’tis.” He waved a hand with a sort of proprietorial gesture.

“Why, it’s a henge!” I said, delighted. “A miniature henge!” Because of the war , it had been several years since I had last visited Salisbury Plain, but Frank and I had seen Stonehenge soon after we were married . Like the other tourists wandering awed among the huge standing stones, we had gaped at the Altar Stone (‘ w’ere ancient Druid priests performed their dreadful ’uman sacrifices,’ announced the sonorous Cockney tour guide accompanying a busload of Italian tourists, who all dutifully took photographs of the rather ordinary-looking stone block). Out of the same passion for exactness that made Frank adjust his ties on the hanger so that the ends hung precisely even, we had even trekked around the circumference of the circle, pacing off the distance between the Z holes and the Y holes, and counting the lintels in the Sarsen Circle, the outermost ring of monstrous uprights. Three hours later, we knew how many Y and Z holes there were (fifty-nine, if you care; I didn’t), but had no more clue to the purpose of the structure than had the dozens of amateur and professional archaeologists who had crawled over the site for the last five hundred years. No lack of opinions, of course. Life among academics had taught me that a well-expressed opinion is usually better than a badly expressed fact, so far as professional advancement goes. A temple. A burial ground. An astronomical observatory. A place of execution (hence the inaptly named “Slaughter Stone” that lies to one side, half sunk in its own pit). An open-air market. I liked this last suggestion, visualizing Megalithic housewives strolling between the lintels, baskets on their arms, critically judging the glaze on the latest shipment of red-clay beakers and listening skeptically to the claims of stone-age bakers and vendors of deer-bone shovels and amber beads. The only thing I could see against that hypothesis was the presence of bodies under the Altar Stone and cremated remains in the Z holes. Unless these were the hapless remains of merchants accused of short-weighting the customers, it seemed a bit unsanitary to be burying people in the marketplace. There were no signs of burial in the miniature henge atop the hill. By “miniature,” I mean only that the circle of standing stones was smaller than Stonehenge; each stone was still twice my own height, and massive in proportion. I had heard from another tour-guide at Stonehenge that these stone circles occur all over Britain and Europe— some in better repair than others, some differing slightly in orientation or form, all of purpose and origin unknown. Mr. Crook stood smiling benignly as I prowled among the stones, pausing now and then to touch one gently, as though my touch could make an impression on the monumental boulders.

Some of the standing stones were brindled, striped with dim colors. Others were speckled with flakes of mica that caught the morning sun with a cheerful shimmer. All of them were remarkably different from the clumps of native stone that thrust out of the bracken all around. Whoever built the stone circles, and for whatever purpose, thought it important enough to have quarried, shaped, and transported special stone blocks for the erection of their testimonial. Shaped— how? Transported— how, and from what unimaginable distance?


Dragonfly in Amber from prologue

The sight of the stones was fresh in my mind. A small circle, standing stones on the crest of a steep green hill. The name of the hill is Craigh na Dun; the fairies’ hill. "Some say the hill is enchanted, others say it is cursed. Both are right". But no one knows the function or the purpose of the stones. Except me.
Claire Fraser


Dragonfly in Amber chapter 1 Mustering the roll...

the Reverend told him that there was a local group of— well, modern Druids, I suppose you’d call them. I’ve no idea how authentic they might be; most likely not very.” Brianna was leaning forward now, interested, the glass of whisky forgotten between her hands. “The Reverend couldn’t take official notice of them— paganism and all that, you know— but his housekeeper, Mrs. Graham, was involved with the group, so he got wind of their doings from time to time, and he tipped Frank that there would be a ceremony of some kind on the dawn of Beltane— May Day, that is.” Roger nodded, trying to adjust to the idea of elderly Mrs. Graham, that extremely proper person, engaging in pagan rites and dancing round stone circles in the dawn. All he could remember of Druid ceremonies himself was that some of them involved burning sacrificial victims in wicker cages , which seemed still more unlikely behavior for a Scottish Presbyterian lady of advanced years.

“There’s a circle of standing stones on top of a hill, fairly nearby. So we went up there before dawn to, well, to spy on them,” she continued, shrugging apologetically. “You know what scholars are like; no conscience at all when it comes to their own field, let alone a sense of social delicacy .” Roger winced slightly at this, but nodded in wry agreement. “And there they were,” she said. “Mrs. Graham included, all wearing bedsheets, chanting things and dancing in the midst of the stone circle. Frank was fascinated,” she added , with a smile. “And it was impressive, even to me.” She paused for a moment, eyeing Roger rather speculatively.


Dragonfly in Amber chapter 49 Blessed are those.....

In a parody of the scientific method, the first section of the book was titled “Observations.” It contained disjointed references, tidy drawings, and carefully numbered tables. “The position of sun and moon on the Feast of Beltane” was one, with a list of more than two hundred paired figures laid out beneath. Similar tables existed for Hogmanay and Midsummer’s Day, and another for Samhainn, the Feast of All Hallows. The ancient feasts of fire and sun, and Beltane’s sun would rise tomorrow. The central section of the notebook was titled “Speculations.” That was accurate, at least, I reflected wryly. One page had borne this entry, in neat, slanting script: “The Druids burnt sacrificial victims in wicker cages shaped like men, but individuals were killed by strangling, and the throat slit to drain the body of blood. Was it fire or blood that was the necessary element?” The coldblooded curiosity of the question brought Geillis Duncan’s face before me clearly— not the wide-eyed, straight-haired student whose portrait adorned the Institute, but the secretive, half-smiling fiscal’s wife, ten years older, versed in the uses of drugs and the body, who lured men to her purposes, and killed without passion to achieve her ends. And the last few pages of the book, neatly labeled “Conclusions ,” which had led us to this dark journey, on the eve of the Feast of Beltane.

Web Search of Standing Stones

Astronomical observatory?
Why did our Stone-Age ancestors build Calanais? Our best guess is that it served as a kind of astronomical observatory. Patrick Ashmore, who excavated at Calanais in the early 1980s, writes in his insightful guidebook Calanais: The Standing Stones, published by Historic Scotland in 2002: ‘The most attractive explanation … is that every 18.6 years, the moon skims especially low over the southern hills. It seems to dance along them, like a great god visiting the earth. Knowledge and prediction of this heavenly event gave earthly authority to those who watched the skies.’

Standing stones and stone circles

Scotland’s dramatic landscapes have witnessed millenniums of human history. The first settlers arrived over 10,000 years ago and these early inhabitants began to erect incredible monuments in the eras that followed, some of which can still be seen today. But for what purpose is something that modern day archaeologists can only speculate; these ancient sites may forever remain shrouded in mystery. Discover them for yourself and let your imagination take you back thousands of years in time.

One of the most famous stone circles is the remarkable Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Built around 5,000 years ago, this fascinating structure is thought to pre-date Stonehenge.

The stones are visible for miles around and form a circle, with a single monolith at the centre standing almost 5 m high. From the ring, lines of stones extend outwards in four directions. Like many stone circles, the stones’ positioning may relate to specific cosmological or lunar events, although it’s near impossible to determine which ones they may be.

Go to site for video explanation

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site is recognised as one of the most important historical sites in the world and includes the Ring of Brodgar, a circle of 27 tall stones which encompasses a large ceremonial space and dates from 2,500 to 2,000 BC. Try to visit at either sunrise or sunset, when this circle is at its most majestic and mystical.

From the Ring of Brodgar, you can walk to the nearby Standing Stones of Stenness which are thought to be among Orkney’s oldest Neolithic relics. Only four stones remain, all of which are considerably taller than those of the Ring of Brodgar, with some as high as 6 m. Both sites are surrounded by a round circular ditch, called a henge.

East of Inverness, the Bronze Age cemetery of Clava Cairns is set within an enchanting small woodland area close to the River Nairn. In this sacred prehistoric site you’ll find three stone burial cairns, each surrounded by a stone circle, and look out for a split stone near its south west passage grave.

There is little clue to who built them and why, but it’s thought that they have been constructed to align with the setting of the midwinter sun. Try to spot the mystifying cup and ring carvings on some rocks.

In Argyll’s heartlands lies the lush expanse of Kilmartin Glen, considered to be one of Europe’s most concentrated areas for prehistoric remains with hundreds of monuments, cairns, standing stones, stone circles and rock art.

Walk through the valley following the line of five well-preserved burial cairns – in some of the cairns, you can look inside and see the stone slab burial chambers. Lying at the end of the cairn trail is Temple Wood Stone Circle, set in a leafy copse where two circles are marked by short stone stumps and small boulders, with burial cists at their centre. Thought to be used originally for rituals, and later on for burying the dead, you can’t fail to feel that this site is a spiritual place.

On the pretty Isle of Arran lies the mysterious Machrie Moor. Its most prominent feature is a curious series of stone circles. Some of these are fragmented, while others are formed by impressive, slender stone pillars, the tallest of which is over 5 metres. Dating from 3,500 to 1,500 BC, this site may have been used for religious and ceremonial purposes, which might have included observing the sky for astronomical activities.

More on Scottish standing stones and their locations

Book reference

Faeries and the myth

THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH OF ELVES, FAUNS AND FAERIES
Journey Into Fairyland With Reverend Kirk

Reverend Kirk’s Fairyland site Doon Hill, near the small town of Aberfoyle, gateway to the beautiful Trossach region in Perthshire.


Doon Hill - Scotiana.com - 2006

Aberfoyle is only 30 miles away by road of Glasgow and as such, there is no reason one should not stop by to contemplate splendid views and discover the area that inspired Walter Scott ‘s Rob Roy novel.

But coming back to the 17th century and to Reverend Kirk, he was a firm believer of faeries. In 1681, to express his beliefs, he wrote a book : “The Secret Commonwealth Of Elves, Fauns and Faeries“, an essay on the nature of supernatural beings. This book was neither fiction and not for children.


The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns & Fairies by Reverend Kirk, 1681

To give a brief overview of the life and work of Reverend Kirk, it was said that being born in 1644, the 7th son of a 7th son, it gave him psychic powers. He had the ability to call upon the supernatural beings at will.

Like his father, he became a minister, preaching at Balquhidder and then taking on the Aberfoyle ministry. His fascination for the magical world of Fairies is what he is remembered for even though he provided the first translation to Gaelic of the book of Psalms.

As per the legend, the inhabitants of the Secret Commonwealth, Fairies and others, were not happy about Reverend Kirk disclosure to their secrets and they planned revenge.
Each day, Reverend Kirk walked from the manse to Doon Hill and one day, in May 1692, very mysteriously, he did not return.

The story tells us that he was taken to the underground world of the Fairies through the pine tree that still exists at the summit of Doon Hill.
It is said that the tree contains his imprisoned spirit.

Druids and their ancient history

In the Celtic religion, the modern words Druidry or Druidism denote the practices of the ancient druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. Druidic practices were part of the culture of all the tribal peoples called Keltoi and Galatai by Greeks and Celtae and Galli by Romans, which evolved into modern English "Celtic" and "Gaulish". Modern attempts at reconstructing practicing Druidism are called Neo-druidism.

From what little we know of late druidic practice it appears deeply traditional, and conservative in the sense that the druids were conserving repositories of culture and lore. It is impossible now to judge whether this continuity had deep historical roots and originated in the social transformations of late La Tene time, or whether there had been a discontinuity and a druidic religious innovation. The etymological origins of the word druid are varied and doubtful enough that the word may be pre-Indo-European. The most widespread view is that "druid" derives from the Celtic word for an oak tree (doire in Irish Gaelic), a word whose root also meant "wisdom."

Their influence was as much social as religious. Druids used not only to take the part that modern priests would, but were often the philosophers, scientists, lore-masters, teachers, judges and councillors to the kings. The Druids linked the Celtic peoples with their numerous gods, the lunar calendar and the sacred natural order. With the arrival of Christianity in each area, all these roles were assumed by the bishop and the abbot, who were never the same individual, however, and might find themselves in direct competition.

Continue reading about Druids

SCOTLAND'S PRESTIGIOUS MUSIC FESTIVAL HELD JANUARY 2016, GLASGOW SCOTLAND 

Liz Mercado Management to Gillebride MacMillan and Kyle Carey booked the GAELIC MASTERS
The show was performed in NYC as they both headlined for AN EVENING OF THE FINEST CELTIC SONG.



Celtic connections events

LIZ MERCADO AND CELTIC CONNECTION ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DONALD SHAW

Gaelic meets Gaelic Americana: Gillebride MacMillan & Kyle Carey
24 January 2016 8:00PM

Tron Theatre

Tickets: £14

Book now click this

Or buy tickets from our box office on 0141 353 8000

Transaction Charges: £1 on online bookings, £1.50 on phone bookings, no transaction charges for in person bookings. Dispatch Charges: £1 for standard mail. Tickets can only be posted to UK addresses.

The North American journeyings of Scottish Gaelic culture come full circle tonight, in a concert akin to the Transatlantic Sessions in microcosm.

From Scotland, it features the renowned South Uist singer Gillebrìde MacMillan, a Mod Gold Medal winner who has recently appeared in TV drama Outlander.

He's joined by New Hampshire-based singer-songwriter Kyle Carey, who studied Gaelic firstly in Cape Breton and then - tutored by Christine Primrose - at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye. Carey's self-styled Gaelic Americana sound, drawing on both Scottish and Appalachian sources, has won high praise for her two albums to date.

Boston musician @EliasALEXANDER of SOULSHA will be amongst the Artists accompanying Gillebrìde and Kyle.

Venue information

Under 14s should be accompanied by an adult

This venue has seating only.

This venue has wheelchair access and disabled toilet facilities.

TERRY DRESBACH AND THE WEARING OF THE KILT

TERRY DRESBACH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE AMAZING COSTUMES ON THE STARZ SERIES OUTLANDER BUT DID YOU KNOW HER WEBSITE IS EDUCATIONAL? READ ABOUT THE "KILT WEARING " AND IT'S ORIGINS. THEN TAKE A LOOK AT HER WEBSITE, LEARN ABOUT THE COSTUMES, THEORIES AND WHAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES.

Terry Dresbach's 18th Century life



Battle of Culloden


There was a fascinating discussion today on Twitter. (Yes one can have fascinating discussions on Twitter)

It was about the wearing of the kilt, by Jamie, in Season Two. When would he wear it, in France, and why? What did the kilt mean in terms of story??

So, I ask you to consider the kilt and it’s history, with a lot of editorializing thrown in by me.

1. The kilt originated as nothing more than a practical garments. An ingenious, multi purpose garment, one that does a million tricks with the push of a button! Many countries have similar garments in their culture, a single piece of cloth that provides all manner of service. But I do not believe it was necessarily anything more than a practical garment that evolved over time. It made no particular meaning or symbolism until…

2. The Jacobite Uprising of 1743. The war between the English and the Scots. As I said, I do not believe the kilt was a symbol of national pride, until the English took it away from the Scottish people, mainly the men, after the uprising had been put down. Why? Why did the English embrue the kilt with power? What was it a symbol of? Was it similar to what happened in Ireland, when the English banned the Gaelic language? There are some who would describe that as cultural genocide. The wiping out of cultural symbols by a conquering force. It is way of absorbing that culture into the conquering one, removing it’s differences, making it all homogenic. We all look the same, wear the same clothes, eat the same food etc. The message is, “You are one of us now”.

3. The wearing of the kilt is reintroduced by the English aristocracy. But it was part of a romantic movement of the period and an endeavor to create tourism. The clan tartans. “What clan are you?” Pick it out off the wall, buy a copy printed on a coffee mug, take it home to whatever country you are from, make a pillow out of it, whatever. The tartan as curio.



4. Wear it as your own. Following the lead of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who had Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the English monarchy and aristocracy of the 19th century, begin wearing the kilt as their own national garment for formal occasions, and not so formal I suppose, given all the pictures of English princes tromping about the heather in Kilts. So the conquering country removes the kilt from the country it comes from, and then adapts it as it’s own.



5. Well, we are all past that now. Long ago history, the 18th and 19th centuries. Then somewhere in there, the kilt becomes a symbol of emasculation. It becomes a man in a skirt. Not sure if that charge is leveled at the Aristocracy who wear it, but certainly it is common to laugh at men in skirts. The Germans in WWI referred to the Scots as the “Ladies from Hell”. That view of the kilt as a feminine garment is still pervasive today. Wear a kilt and there will be a comment about a skirt. Probably not by a Scot, but by anyone else.

The wearing of a skirt makes you a woman, and that, we understand all to well, is an insult.

6. The other pervasive view today is that of a sexual nature. A quick Google search of kilt, will bring no shortage of photos of burly, shirtless young men, their abs glistening under layers of oil and tans they certainly didn’t acquire in Scotland, wearing kilts. Often they are raising their kilts, or an errant breeze is lifting them, allowing us to be tittilated by their nakedness underneath. The kilt becomes an symbol of voyeurism and sexual randiness. And hence the “cheeky” question that is constantly asked by any man in a kilt…””What are you wearing under your kilt????”.

^

I have lived in Scotland for two years and have yet to see any of what has happened regarding kilts since 1743, embraced by anyone Scottish I have met here. As a matter of fact people here seem to bristle about it all. I am not so sure it is so cool with them. There are no doubt those among the Scottish who see it differently than those I have met, but I have yet to come across one.

Our lead actor Sam Heughan has worn and celebrated the kilt with great pride and dignity, as have all the men in our cast. I have the utmost respect for how he has tried to educate the world about the kilt and what it means. I have considered it an absolute honor to be able to showcase and cerebrate the kilt in the way it was intended. A garment worn by the Scottish People. Not something to make money off, to be laughed at, or to be turned on by. It is a garment that belongs to the people of this country, and it deserves to be honored as such.

I was not really looking forward to kilts, because like most people I only knew them in the ways commonly presented and described here. It has become one of my favorite things about doing this show. Not only is it a genius of a garment, but it has a powerful history, and a story worth telling.

So here is to the kilt and to the Scottish people who are making it their own again.

The Most Powerful Showrunners 2015  RON D MOORE 

10:00 AM 10/14/2015
by Michael O'Connell and Stacey Wilson Hunt
Hollywood Reporter

THR's annual rundown of TV's most valuable writer-producers, whose worth only keeps rising in this golden age of content — tarnish and all — as they reveal their idols and binge-watch favorites.

Photo by Amanda Friedman; Dustin Cohen

TV's much-discussed proliferation of scripted series — and the widely held belief that a saturation point is looming — has given revered showrunners even more leverage in the business. Why? Even in TV's ballyhooed "golden age," there isn't enough talent to go around.

The lack of skilled writer-producers, lamented from executive suites to the terrace at Soho House, has put the squeeze on writers rooms. When The Hollywood Reporter asked its 2015 Power Showrunners to describe a challenge that wasn't an issue five years ago, responses overwhelmingly focused on the dearth of available staffers. "Everyone good is working on a show for eight episodes," says Mindy Kaling, creator and star of The Mindy Project. "Then, when they're free, we're already staffed up."

Her sentiment is echoed by the old guard. Carlton Cuse, a seasoned pro of more than 20 years who has three dramas (Bates Motel, The Strain, Colony) on his plate currently, says the competition to hire the best writers has reached new heights. "There are 400 shows that all want to hire the same people," he says.

If there is a tipping point, we're not quite there. The volume of original scripted series is up 40 percent from where it was in 2010. It makes the already subjective job of calculating which showrunners wield the most influence even more complicated. That is why THR editors recast the methodology for this year's list of Power Showrunners, who were chosen based on their value to network (or streamer) identity, ratings clout, number of series on the air and critical favor. Does TV newbie Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail have the same clout as uberproducerGreg Berlanti? Of course not — unless you work at USA. That's one reason why you'll see them both — and 19 other names who never have graced this list — in the 2015 class.

Categories

The Network Ambassadors — With every platform clamoring for its own scripted identity, these are the producers behind the series that have become their outlets' creative calling cards.

The Ratings Magnets — Theirs are the biggest shows on TV, attracting huge audiences and paying the bills at their networks and studios — making them quite popular in the process.

The Heavyweights — These producers boast massive overall deals, multiple series on numerous platforms and the clout to pitch — and sell — at a rate unrivaled by their peers.

The Pop Icons — Their cultural footprint extends far beyond Hollywood, with critical and awards cachet that allows them to court A-list talent and envy among their competitors.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/top-showrunners-powerful-executive-producers-831725/item/courtney-kemp-agboh-powerful-showrunners-831738


We cropped the article and added a link. But of course included RON D MOORE

Coup for Book Week Scotland as Outlander Author to Speak at Stirling Castle

OCTOBER 2015 - 12:30 AM KIRSTEEN PATERSON




HER time-travel romance series has sold more than 26 million copies worldwide and the TV adaptation has taken countless viewers to 18th century Scotland.

Now best-selling author Diana Gabaldon will appear at one of the country’s most historic locations to discuss her Outlander series as part of Book Week Scotland.

The US author will address around 300 fans in Stirling Castle’s Great Hall on November 23 as she appears in conversation with fellow historical novelist Neil Oliver.

The event opens a string of events across the country featuring authors including Kate Mosse, Scarlett Thomas and Michael Faber.

The programme is organised by the Scottish Book Trust and Philippa Cochrane, head of reader development, expects high demand for tickets to see Gabaldon.

She said: “We are really, really excited that Diana Gabaldon is going to come and support Book Week Scotland. We’re looking to have a really high-profile range of events happening this year and this is the icing on the cake.

“Her books are incredibly popular, with Outlander obviously becoming a TV series. She has a devoted group of fans who will be excited to meet her in person. The Outlander books have been great for Scottish tourism and heritage sites and it’s a real pleasure to host the event at Stirling Castle.”

Earlier this year Outlander was credited with boosting visitor numbers to Doune Castle, near Stirling, by 30 per cent in one year. The site features in the US TV adaptation of Outlander as the fictional Castle Leoch.

Gabaldon, a scientist who previously wrote cartoon scripts for Disney, is currently working on the ninth volume in the romance series, which features an English nurse who accidentally travels back in time while visiting post-Second World War Scotland. Arriving in the 1700s, she struggles to return to her husband Frank while falling in love with kilted hero Jamie Fraser.

Published in 26 countries and 23 languages, the stories have spawned a spin-off series, graphic novel and an adult colouring book will be released later this month.

Cochrane said: “The Outlander series has added to the awareness of Scotland as a country that has a lot to do with books and loves reading. We are hugely excited.”

AL Kennedy and Val McDermid will also appear during Book Week Scotland, which centres around the theme of transformation.

Many events take place in libraries and schools, while actor Brian Blessed will appear in conversation at Glasgow Film Theatre ahead of a screening of sci-fi classic Flash Gordon.

Michael Faber will introduce the film version of his hit novel Under the Skin at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh, while Edinburgh Trams patrons will be given a free book with their tickets for one hour on November 27.

Celebrities including Alan Cumming will reveal their literary inspirations as part of the #ThankBooks campaign, while employers will be encouraged to transform a corner of their workspaces into a dedicated reading area for staff as part of the Reading Spaces project.

Scottish Book Trust chief executive Marc Lambert said: “The huge personal benefits in health and wellbeing that flow from spending just a short time each day lost within a book are now widely documented and understood.

“But it seems that people still remain to be convinced. This year we are challenging Scots from all walks of life to try this miracle cure out for themselves – and to share their stories and results with us in a celebration of all the things books and reading can do.

“This challenge sits at the centre of Book Week Scotland, but the full programme is many and varied.

“We will be working in parallel with Scottish Adult Learners Week to further explore and celebrate books’ capacity to effect real, long-lasting change in people’s lives. This exciting association will include an award recognising learners’ achievements in reading.

“The message is, whoever and wherever you are, Book Week Scotland is for you.”

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop added: “More than two thirds of Scots read for pleasure and we are committed to encouraging more Scots from all backgrounds and of all ages to read more. Book Week Scotland offers that opportunity to make that commitment to reading and it has something for everyone.”

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND 

TWEEKS ABOUT BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND 

ITINERARY FOR BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND 

Look in CAST APPEARANCES for more info coming soon