It's Lit: Hello There, Ashley Eckstein
Ashley Eckstein drops by Now This Is Lit to discuss her return to Star Wars and her brand-new podcast!
When I initially launched Now This Is Lit, I figured I’d work my way up to interviewing a few authors, maybe a book editor, too. And every interview I’ve done — over a few dozen by now — has been delightful. I had the unforgettable privilege of sitting down with Ashley Eckstein last week, however, and I’m beyond excited to be able to share that conversation with you today.
So, here’s what you might have missed this week in Star Wars books — and what you have to look forward to on next week’s episode of the show.
Ashley Eckstein Drops By Now This Is Lit
In a special bonus episode of Now This Is Lit — in your feeds as of this morning — I welcome actor and voice of Ahsoka Tano, Ashley Eckstein, to the show! She voices Ahsoka in an episode of LEGO Star Wars — Rebuild the Galaxy: Pieces of the Past, also out today. I wanted to know: what is it really like to voice a LEGO character? And how does it feel to return to the character of Ahsoka again?
This opportunity was a tremendous honor — huge thank-you to Ashley and her team for taking the time to arrange this interview. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
And if you’re wondering, hey Meg, I thought this was a books podcast — why Ashley Eckstein? Because she narrated the Ahsoka audiobook, obviously! It counts!! But also because she’s a genuinely wonderful human, and I can’t believe she shared some of her time with me.
This Week’s Star Wars Comics
This week in Star Wars comics brings us the return of an ongoing 2025 series and the first issue of a new miniseries — both courtesy of Marvel Comics.
In Star Wars (2025) #5, Leia Organa and Mon Mothma continue their diplomatic efforts as Luke Skywalker and Han Solo encounter an unexpected enemy from a war long over.
And in Boba Fett — Black, White & Red #1, the legendary bounty hunter has one goal and one goal only: to finish the job he’s been given so that he can receive the payment he’s owed. Classic Fett, colored in the style of Marvel’s Black, White, & Red series.
Writing About Star Wars: Is It Worth It?
This week’s episode of Now This Is Lit featured a comfy conversation between me and Chelsea Zukowski, who has been on the podcast a handful of times and will definitely be back again! We talked about AI’s impact on writing and journalism, and of course, did a deep dive on writing about Star Wars and how it has changed our lives.
Hear both of our stories — where writing about Star Wars started for us, and how it evolved into writing for Star Wars Insider magazine. Is it hard work? Of course. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
Revisiting The High Republic: Light of the Jedi
Next week, Now This Is Lit producer Davor and I finally sit down to discuss a book we’ve been meaning to cover on the show for quite some time: Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi.
This book literally launched The High Republic initiative in January 2021, and its importance to the initiative — and to Star Wars publishing as a whole — deserves to be acknowledged.
Once we finished reading Trials of the Jedi, we both dove right back into the book where it all began. Hear our thoughts, and why it’s a book anyone can enjoy — even those new to Star Wars books!
Now This Is Lit is a podcast (and newsletter!) about Star Wars books, the people who make them, and the readers who just can’t get enough of them. You can find the show wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to the Substack for more deep dives, guides, interview transcripts, and book love.