Get Ready for the Most Beautiful Book Cover EVER

The Princess and the Scoundrel has a cover! And it's DREAMY

May 11, 2022

I sincerely cannot emphasize enough just how dreamy, beautiful, and frankly stunning the book cover for Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel is, but… Well, a picture is worth a thousand words:

This beautiful work of art was painted by the extremely talented Oliver Cuthbertson. You can read more about him and his reaction to working on this project at the Star Wars announcement.

It is no lie to say that when I first saw this book cover, my mouth dropped open. Return of the Jedi has always been my favorite Star Wars movie, and seeing the Ewok village on the cover—and the blend into the ice crystal planets (on a moon I got to invent and add to the canon!)—the gown I described Leia wearing—and Han’s jacket! These tiny details that are both so very Star Wars but also so much of a story I lived in for months—all of it come to beautiful reality!

Oliver was, frankly, genius in the way he blended the Ewok village into the ice moon on the bottom portion of the cover, and then to blend that all together with Leia’s dress, fading into the perfect colors for the sky above…

What a grin this put on my face!

(Is Kit Fisto there a hint at anything in TPATS? Heh, no comment.)

My favorite part of this cover? Han’s eyes are on Leia eye’s, but Leia’s eyes are on Han’s lips…

I don’t think it’s giving too much away to say that The Princess and the Scoundrel has three main settings: there’s Endor, where the wedding takes place; the Halcyon where the honeymoon begins; and a final third destination that you can now see on the cover.

Pre-Order Now

Buy a signed copy from my local indie bookstores—you can get it from Malaprops or from Adventure Bound, both of which ship internationally! You can also buy it from the retailer of your choice

What Can I Tell You about TPATS?

I live in fear of accidentally spoiling my own book, but I can say this much, I think:

I read and pulled background from a mix of comics, juvenile books, and adult books in the Star Wars universe—this book is deeply and intricately woven with the lore throughout canon
I was able to have the characters recall specific things from the past that fans will recognize from the book, and also foreshadow some things that happen in other books that take place later in the timeline
In addition to direct references, I got some inspiration in terms of world building from both the Rebels and the Clone Wars cartoons
There are, absolutely, hidden references and Easter eggs throughout. C’mon, it’s me.
I wrote part of this book while on a research trip for a different book in Europe, and there’s one element that directly came from a weird bit of architecture I saw in Rotterdam
I hid a big reference to two of my favorite science fiction authors in the book
While I haven’t been to the Halcyon in person, I studied the maps and floor plans so much that I’m pretty sure I could walk it blindfolded now
Yeah, this scene comes up:

Other Happenings!

There will be a new cover for Blood and Feathers as well as finalized print and ebook formats coming soon! Additionally, I’m working with an illustrator to design the final book version of the cover for Museum of Magic, which I’m very excited about!

Meanwhile, make sure you’re reading along with Museum of Magic now, so you can see the story unfold as it develops. And my Crown Club is a weekly reminder of new episodes and also the recipients of weekly prizes—including a new one soon that will send a gift to every person signed up!

What I’m working on now…

Museum of Magic, a YA fantasy with witches and witch bottles. A new chapter every week. Available on Patreonand Kindle Vella. Subscribe to my Crown Club for weekly reminders of the new chapters posted on Sunday and to be entered in weekly give-aways! We’re about at the mid-point with this story, and things are going to rapidly start escalating for the characters… ;)
The Princess and the Scoundrel—out in August!
Secret adult science fiction project: currently drafting: 70,000 words written, plot fully outlined, trucking along steadily, still in love with this one.
YA historical co-written fantasy: 🤐…but news coming soon!
Side gigs!
- Weekly posts and videos about writing at Patreon
- SNHU as an online adjunct in the MFA writing program
- Accepting critique and coaching jobs with Wordsmith Workshops—in addition to doing Word Lab!
- Actively doing in-person school, library, and book fair events—book me for panels, signings, and workshops for both adults and teens on writing!