I send out an email newsletter on the first of the month featuring a look behind the scenes of what I’ve been working on over the previous 30 days, a book recommendation and a peek of just some of the geeky stuff in my study.
Here’s just one section of it, my run-down of the last month with a few clues to what I’m working on at the moment. If you want to get the full newsletter in your inbox every month you can subscribe here.
My month
Anyone who has been following my twitter feed this last month will know that January was dominated by the High Republic Launch. I must admit I was a little nervous leading up to the launch on January 4th. Actually, scratch that – I was a lot nervous. After over two years working on everything, the High Republic was going to be out there in people’s hands.
But I needn’t have worried. The response has been phenomenal. Both Charles and Justina’s books hit the New York Times Bestseller list in first and second place respectively and issue one of my Marvel book has sold over 200,000, going to three printings, with issue two already back at the printers. But beyond the numbers, it’s the response online that has meant the most. We’ve had people telling us how the High Republic has got them reading books and comics again, and loads of mentions from parents who have been reading The Great Jedi Rescue with their kids. That’s what it’s all about.
One of the best moments came when, in the middle of a zoom interview for a major newspaper, the journalist’s daughter muscled her way onto the call because she’s been reading Justina’s book and just had to say hi! Her dad had been trying to get her into Star Wars for ages, but she would never bite – until she discovered Jedi Vernestra Rwoh. Yes!
Of course, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Some of the team have received horrible levels of harassment, mainly from certain quarters who want to twist the narrative to fit their own agenda. It’s distressing and energy-zapping, but sadly part of life. For me, all it does is make me want to buckle down and work even harder, because ultimately it’s the work that matters. I could get into arguments online, but most of the time that’s what these folk want and I’ll never win. Better to ignore the spite and get on with the job, I reckon.
So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. While a lot of the month was taken up with promotion, I managed to work through the edits on The Rising Storm and got the second draft in last week. I think it’s much stronger, the notes nudging me in the right direction every time.
Aside from High Republic, George Mann and I submitted our next audio drama project and have just completed our first round of notes. We also went through edits on our recently announced Life Day Treasury and lost our mind over Grant Griffin’s incredible art!
Comic-wise, I wrote a number of short scripts for Rebellion and an as-yet-unannounced story for IDW. I also got some very exciting news as a digital series I’m writing was greenlighted and things moved on with the project I’m developing for Legendary.
In TV land, the animated pilot I wrote was signed off, as was the writer’s bible I pulled together. Storyboarding has started and I can’t wait to see what the team come up with.
It’s certainly been a lot, especially with the kids back home-schooling. They’ve been doing really well though, thanks to my wife Clare who has been with them every step of the way. Chloe has also started an online drama class, which has been very exciting and hopefully will stand her in good stead for the future.
Looking forwards, February is kicking off with meetings galore; two relating to comics, one relating to games and another about a new TV opportunity. More on all of those when I can share!
This month’s Prize Draw – THE GREAT JEDI RESCUE
I hope you enjoyed this excerpt from my newsletter. Don’t forget, every month subscribers are entered into a prize draw which is pulled at the end of the month.
This month, the prize is a signed copy of The Great Jedi Rescue picture book. Yes, this is meant for younger readers I know, but it has stickers which makes its pretty awesome if you ask me.
To make this one extra special, I’m going to write a little note in it describing my favourite moment while at Skywalker Ranch planning The High Republic. It’ll be a real one of a kind, never to be repeated!
To be entered into the draw all you have to do is be a subscriber to this newsletter! We’ll pull the winning name out of the nearest hyperlane on 28th February and will let you know if you’ve been lucky.
There will be another great prize in March!
Terms and conditions can be found here.
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I hope you enjoyed this glimpse at my newsletter. Don’t forget, if you want to get this in your inbox at the beginning of every month (and be entered into that prize draw) then subscribe here.
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