We talked to author Christie Golden about her new Star Wars novel, Dark Disciple!
The story ofThe Clone Warscontinues in a newStar Warsnovel hitting shelves on July 7.
Ventress is a contradictory character, a killer seeking a family.
What, would you say, is her driving motivator?
So I think shes still searching, and shes not sure what shes searching for.
Similarly, what is the driving motivator for Quinlan?
Because these are canon books, the most important thing is to go to the source.
I also was given the animatics for the first four episodes and the scripts for all eight.
Quinlan also thinks he knows more than he does about himself.
Its only later when he mets Ventress that he starts questioning.
Is that all, and is that going to be enough?
Both characters have rich, slightly different histories inThe Clone Warsand the Expanded Universe.
What kind of research did you do in advance of writing the novel to get to know them?
Fortunately, theres so much.
[Ventress] is such a powerful figure inThe Clone Warsseries that theres a lot of material.
It should be indistinguishable, and if Ive done that Ive done my job right.
I can really hear the characters.
I can see what kind of gestures they make while saying it.
And the voice acting onThe Clone Warsis so superlative that it makes my job very easy.
How is writing licensed fiction different from writing in an original universe?
Its funny, because the popular conception is that writing tie-ins are easier.
I liken it to Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair.
Ginger does everything Fred does, except backwards in high heels.
It has a military origin.
Its looser, its freer, its funny, its big.
And I said, That sounds like a fantasy book.
That doesnt even sound like science fiction.
It has that more easy going feel to it.
Thats not to say there arent very powerful emotions or very serious storylines in it.
In fact,Dark Discipleis darker than many others.
But I think theres a relaxed atmosphere to it that you dont see in a lot of others.
What did you most enjoy about writingDark Disciple?
The beautiful way these characters interacted.
What was most difficult?
This is a more adult-themed book, and it focuses more on the gray.
Ventresss story has always been dark.
Were you inspired by any particular part of her story inThe Clone Wars?
Shes not a particularly nice person.
There has been a lot of discussion about the role and use of female characters inStar Wars.
Certainly its quite a responsibility, and I took it very seriously.
That was definitely on our minds, and we wanted to do well by her.
I think the arc is pretty amazing for her.
Really, theres so much there, and its a very powerful arc.
This book takes people in ways that you dont necessarily think they should be going at first.
And for good or ill, theyre going.
Thats how we evolve.
This was a huge responsibility.
The storyline was so strong, and the dialogue was excellent.
So it was a very good jumping-off point for me.
When I write, I want characters that I like writing.
I want characters that I enjoy just being in their heads.
I have to say, that these are two of the very best traveling companions that Ive had.
Now that Im not writing them every day, I miss them.
