I'm writing a book!

It's about real and in space. Plus, I dish on my current reads and games.

Jul 12, 2024

The rocket’s finally off the pad — I’m writing a book!

This project has been in the works for the last six months. In April, I signed a contract to write a nonfiction field guide to historical space sites in the American South. Since then, I’ve been doing preliminary research, trip planning, and starting chapters on Alabama space history and eras of human spaceflight.

For those who may not know, besides writing about Star Wars and being an entertainment journalist, I’m also a historian focusing on the relationship between popular culture and space/science. My master’s thesis was about Walt Disney’s impact on the early American space program in the 1950s and 1960s. So, this book is a dream project.

Last weekend, my husband and I went to Huntsville, Alabama, for the first research trip. We spent a day at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where I looked at and took notes on every single exhibit. I also got to briefly chat with one of the “rocket scientists” volunteering there. He told me about his work on the Space Shuttle and the importance of Huntsville’s contributions to getting humans into space.

We also toured the town looking for historical markers, visited Wernher von Braun’s former home, and drove up a mountain to see the restored telescope built by von Braun’s team during the Apollo era.

I’m a space history nerd through and through, even if I barely understand physics and rocket mechanics.

My full manuscript is due in the spring, and I’m crossing my fingers for publication sometime next year. I will, of course, share updates whenever I can. I can also share research, writing, and trip updates if you’re interested — let me know in the comments!

My Kindle, Audible, Libro.fm, and Switch are all full of books and games to be read and played.

What I’ve been reading and playing

I don’t know about you, but I’m having a great summer of reading thanks to audiobooks, my Kindle, and my local library. I cannot be bothered to pick up a physical book, but I’m basically binging books through my Kindle and audiobooks. I don’t know the science behind it, but I’m telling you I read so much faster through those mediums.

My current reads:

Reckless by Lauren Roberts (audio and Kindle)
The Veiled Heir by S.T. Fernandez (digital ARC)
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (audio and Kindle)
The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire (physical review copy)
Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin (my husband and I started the audiobook on our drive home)

Cozy gaming and Star Wars Unlimited

I’m very much in my cozy gaming era having picked my Switch back up a few months ago. I finished Lemon Cake (from the library!) in June and recently picked up Kirby’s Return to Dreamland. I started it last night and I’m already obsessed.

Also on my TBP (to be played) are Knights of the Old Republic, Paleo Pines, and Hogwarts Legacy. If you have more game recommendations, drop them in the comments!

My husband and I are also still very much into Star Wars Unlimited. While on vacation, we made it into a prerelease event for Shadows of the Galaxy, where we both won two rounds each. We’re headed to another prerelease event on Friday night back home. This is my first TCG and I can’t believe how much fun I’m having playing and collecting.

Playing Star Wars Unlimited? What decks are your running and/or looking forward to creating with the new set?

My husband and I creating our prerelease box decks and showing off our winnings from the tournament in Huntsville.

Coming next week: Review of The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire

The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire by Dr. Chris Kempshall was released this week to rave reviews. The in-universe historical text was one of my most anticipated Star Wars books of the year, and I’ve been reading my copy ever since it arrived from DK Books. Because of ~life~ and my recent trip (see above), I wasn’t able to finish and review the book by release day. Don’t worry, my full review is coming next week.

Having read three-quarters of the book, I can confidently say it’s a triumph of Star Wars history and lore analysis that feels just as real as our own histories. As I’ve been devouring the book — and its Easter eggy footnotes — I often forget that I’m reading a work of fiction. The book is just that detailed, informative, and engaging.

More thoughts will be in my review, but I will say this book will make Legends lore nerds very, very happy.

Oh, and it’s the first project to hint at what happened after the Battle of Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker.