Hello there everyone and welcome to this centennial roundup of news from a Galaxy Far Far Away. With Celebration Chicago beginning in just a few short days, I have to admit I was surprised to learn there was any news at all this week. But here we are with some cool stuff to share– not all of which is Celebration-centric (if you’d believe it!?!).
Beginning with that which is relevant to us all, Webby Award nominations were announced this week and the Star Wars team has been nominated in several categories. Voting is open to the public via vote.webbyawards.com and you can vote for your favorites through April 18th.
Continuing with non-Celebration news (sort of) Del Rey this week released an excerpt (scroll to the end of the page for an audio clip) from Claudia Gray’s upcoming novel, Master & Apprentice. In the excerpt, we get to spend a few minutes with Padawan Qui-Gon Jinn as he and his master trail a dangerous bounty hunter. The book will be available to attendees of Star Wars Celebration Chicago in a limited edition convention-exclusive trim and releases widely on April 16th. Master & Apprentice is available for pre-order through Penguin Random House or your favorite local bookseller.
Onward to Celebration!
With Star Wars Celebration Chicago only days away, it’s no surprise that a big chunk of the news this week revolves around the convention. The Celebration App is now live and available for download wherever you get your apps. The mobile app, presented by Topps, allows fans at the show to explore its offerings and personalize a schedule including panels, autographs, and photo ops.
Another feature of the app is the ability to pre-order merchandise from the Celebration Store for pickup during the show. I know I’m itching to get my hands on some of the exclusives announced this week. Whether you’re into t-shirts, plush toys, housewares, or even flannel, there’s likely to be something in the Celebration store to tickle your fancy.
In a departure from previous Star Wars Celebrations, geek fashion brand Her Universe will have a presence outside the main Celebration store. The show will see the debut of the new Sisters of The Force line of merchandise celebrating the women of the galaxy far, far away with jackets, sweatshirts, dresses (with pockets!) and more.
That’s all the news for this week! Wishing everyone safe travels, We’ll see you in Chicago! Look for the Tosche Station team on the show floor and on panels about community and creativity.
