From Diana Gabaldon's Blog

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

The following was posted on Amazon. 

I just looked at Diana Gabaldon's blog and (surprise, surprise) she's answered the question as to when she'll start the next book. She says that she is touring with 'Echo' at the moment and briefly home for thanksgiving. She has a lot on her plate - the prequel to 'Outlander' (the story of Jamie's parents), she's writing a Volume II of the Outlandish Companion not to mention the graphic novel.

Looks like eventually we'll get Brian and Ellen's story, but what happened to her intention to write a series of Maitre Raymond stories?  I guess she dumped that idea.  It would have been better than the LJ series. 

[Anju No. 469]

I totally agree - Raymond would be so interesting, but possibly a bigger challenge?

[PraiseGod13]

Have to say that I'm really disappointed that we're not hearing about the first Raymond book being in the works.  Seems to me that DG wouldn't need to worry about another Outlandish Companion until she has the prequel and the final book pretty much done so that she could include their characters and info in it.  If I were an author with a major book series coming to an end.... I think my thoughts might be on a new series - especially a spin-off series where the main character has already been created.  I really wish DG had put off (or totally forgot about) the LJ series and had done the Raymond series instead.  I will be seriously disappointed if she doesn't do the Raymond series at all!!!