It's Lit: New Star Wars Books Announced, Star Wars Insider #224 Preview and More
New Star Wars books, upcoming book discussions and a Star Wars Insider preview.
Star Wars book announcements don’t happen very often, but when they do, they seem to come in twos or threes (or more).
This week, a picture book and a High Republic audiobook original both dropped with covers and release dates. I’ll tell you more about those a little later in this newsletter.
But first — do you like Star Wars books? Do you like podcasts about Star Wars books — maybe a specific show in particular hosted by me? If you’ve been looking for a small but impactful way to support the work my producer and I put into making NTIL happen, there may be a new incentive for you to put one of your dollars where it counts.
Now This Is Lit Is Hiring an Editor
Eventually.
I love making NTIL. I love every part of the process, from reaching out to prospective guests to hitting “publish” once an episode is finalized and ready to go out into the world. But loving something doesn’t make the work that goes into it easier or faster. As the show continues to grow, so does my desire to focus more on writing and hosting and less on editing (which I have done myself for every episode released so far).
By the end of 2024, I want to bring on a podcast editor to take on some of the most time-consuming work that goes into making the show you get to hear every week. However, I also believe in paying creatives what they’re worth for their work — and I can’t do that out of pocket.
So I’m hoping to reach a goal of $500 in monthly Patreon contributions by the end of the year (hopefully more), all of which can go toward bringing an editor onto the team and paying them per episode. Even if this doesn’t fully cover the cost (again — I pay people what they’re worth), it will decrease the amount I’ll have to pay out of pocket for a worthwhile but expensive service.
It only costs $1 per month to join the Now This Is Lit Patreon community. Your monthly contributions will go toward finding and paying an editor — plus you get a sticker and an exclusive show where a random number generator decides which book we talk about on each episode, whether we’ve read it before or not.
And much more, if we can reach or even exceed this goal. You in?
The High Republic Book Discussions Are Back!
A lot of High Republic has happened since the last THR book discussion the show released … way back in the spring of 2023. Discussions happen when they happen, but I would love to be able to host a discussion on every book in the series before it comes to a close in 2025.
Next week, Rik from Jammed Transmissions joins me on the show to finally discuss The Eye of Darkness. This book really rekindled my love for these characters and the initiative as a whole. And Rik (a founding member of our Patreon) has so many insightful things to say about George Mann’s latest story. I can’t wait for you to listen.
There are plenty more High Republic books coming up, and more spoiler-filled discussions about those books on the way. Better late than never, right?
There Are New Star Wars Books On the Release Calendar!
Remember when author Beth Revis wrote Rebel Rising and made Jyn’s story even more heartbreaking, but somehow in a good way? And remember how she swooped in to write Han and Leia as newlyweds in The Princess and the Scoundrel? She’s back …
… to write Han and Leia again, this time in picture book form! Someone Who Loves You looks absolutely stunning, but it won’t hit physical and digital shelves until December 3. I’m sure it will be worth the wait.
And Cavan Scott’s Tempest Breaker, the next audiobook original set in The High Republic era, is set to release in audio form ALSO on December 3 and in written form (physically and digitally) in spring 2025.
If you like Lourna Dee, you’re probably going to love this one. The audio dramas Random House Audio has produced over the past five years have all been quite special, and I’m looking forward to another story told by a full cast (and so much more).
A Star Wars Insider #224 Preview
There are many kinds of publications that are set in, talk about, and celebrate a galaxy far, far away, and Star Wars Insider is one a lot of fans often miss out on. It’s the official Star Wars magazine featuring interviews with industry professionals of all kinds, exclusive short fiction, essays, and so much more. Over 200 issues have been published so far, and the latest installment is upon us.
Star Wars Insider #224 releases on Tuesday, March 12, and includes interviews with the creative team behind Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Marvel’s Bounty Hunter comic series writer Ethan Sacks, and so much more. (This is particularly intriguing to me, since I have been looking for an excuse to finally dive into these comics.)
The issue also includes another exclusive short story by Lydia Kang set in The High Republic — all of these have been phenomenal so far, and you’re not going to want to miss this next one either.
And make sure you’re keeping up with new issues of the magazine. There’s one coming up that I’m particularly excited about, and I think you’re going to want to check it out.
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.