First some housekeeping:
As you’ve probably noticed, I haven’t been able to get any paid tier posts up in the past few months. My main focus has been on the ongoing genocide in Palestine and that writing will always be free. Totally understand folks unsubscribing from the paid tier because there haven’t been any of the perks! I do plan to begin posting for paid subscribers again next month, with those posts being mainly about writing advice and deep dives into process — the upcoming essay I have in the works is called Everything I Know About Writing I Learned From The Killers’ Mr. Brightside — based off a keynote speech I gave at SCBWI a few years ago.
If you have it in you to stick around for that to get going, or just want to support the newsletter regardless, I’m deeply grateful, and if not, like I said, totally understood. Things have felt backwards and broken and upside down over here for the past few months, because they are that way, and I’m still recalibrating to whatever that becomes.
As always, sneak peaks of comics and exclusive interviews will be a bonus on the paid tier, which will come more frequently after the chaos of launching Escape from Valo has calmed down. And of course, art commissions are open for paid subscribers. For more information on that email Sage at djoassistant@gmail.com.
OK ONTO OTHER STUFF!!!
Last year I came out of novel writing retirement to create a joyous and fun adventure with my dear friend Alyssa Wong. Star Wars: The High Republic: Escape from Valo is a middle-grade novel that kicks off the story of some rambunctious Jedi younglings, and today, it will be released to the world!
Escape from Valo is a part of The High Republic series, but can be read as a standalone story. While it is accessible for younger readers to enjoy, early reviews are already in and people of all ages are loving it! If you want to peak your interest even more, check out this interview from Starwars.com or read an excerpt from the book here.
Alyssa and I love talking about this book and the kids we created for it so much that we have a hefty lineup of interviews on some of our favorite podcasts. Star Wars Explained, had us on for a non-spoiler review of the book, and we recorded a spoiler-filled episode that will be released after the book is out!
Tonight, we will be at Octavia Books in New Orleans for a signing and chat moderated by friend and fellow High Republic author, Claudia Gray. You can watch the livestream here. Support local bookstores by buying a copy from Octavia Books’ website.
Following our in-person launch event, we will be on ForceTime Podcast on Friday! Some other podcasts we’re going to be in discussion with in the coming weeks are Rupalps Podrace and Fulcrum Transmissions.
The book hasn’t even come out, but High Republic fans remain the best community ever and have started creating beautiful fan art of the Valo kids. Check out this portrait of Tep Tep, an animal-loving Jedi youngling, by the extraordinary Eli (@skywalkerthrawn).
In other High Republic news, The High Republic Adventures issue #2 released last week featuring art from Nick Brokenshire. Having Nick on the team is such a delight; I’m a big fan of his work and he and Harvey Tolibao created such a stunning issue. The next issue comes out on February 14th. I think it’s safe to say that we’re all thrilled that this run of THRA has been getting some brilliant variant covers. Being able to highlight other artists’ visions of these characters is one of the many reasons why comic writing is my passion. Check out these variants that dropped in the last month.
LA LUCHA CONTINUA
Here in New Orleans, we’ve been mourning the killing of one of our own — Tawfic Abduljabbar — in the West Bank, Palestine. One more tragedy amongst so many. This past weekend, the Masjid Omar organized a motorcade in his honor, and we decked out cars out in flags and signs and rode from the West Bank of the Mississippi through New Orleans, out to Metairie and back, honking and blasting music and letting the world know that Tawfic wouldn’t be forgotten.
Earlier in the week, I joined a die-in rally of healthcare workers, and was honored to speak some, connecting my experiences as a paramedic to what’s happening in Gaza and our role as Jews to stand up and say not in our name. There were a bunch of great speakers, Palestinians, Jews, healthcare workers, activists. Feel really blessed to live in a city with such a vibrant and powerful community that’s rising together to speak out.
Thanks for stopping by! Keep an eye out for new episodes of INKBOTTLE, writing on writing, and more comics, assorted shenanigans, and plenty more heavy shit too. See you in February!
—D
LINKS
Guante’s resource for artists who want to speak out on Palestine but aren’t sure how: https://racketmn.com/for-artists-and-musicians-who-want-to-speak-out-about-palestine-but-arent-sure-how
A moving open letter from Jewish students at Brown: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2023/11/an-open-letter-from-jewish-students
Writers Against the War on Gaza:
https://www.writersagainstthewarongaza.com/
And more links from
SupportPalestine Action:
https://www.palestineaction.org
Dissenters against the War Machine:
Apply pressure for a ceasefire now:
Take action with Jewish Voice for Peace:
https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org
Take action with the Palestinian Youth Movement:
https://palestinianyouthmovement.com/
Take action with IfNotNow:
https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/
Support Boycots, Divestmest, and Sanctions:
Looking forward to the future of the newsletter and more of Inkbottle. Congratulations on the book release! I watched the great SW Explained interview and will catch up on that launch event soon! You are an amazing person, Daniel, bringing light of all sorts to the heavy stuff in these times.