A couple of pieces of news from Sue Rostoni, the editor at LucasBooks who's in charge of the Star Wars novels and other printed-matter aspects of the Expanded Universe.
As she's posted here at the StarWars.com forums, there are signs that Jaina Solo will be featured on the cover for the ninth and final 'Legacy of the Force' novel, Troy Denning's Invincible.
Also in that same thread: some hints on the new contract for Star Wars novels that's due to kick in at around the end of next year. While she can't make a confirmed announcement about the new novel contract yet, she said that a group from Lucasfilm met with "a group of them" last week, to discuss plans for the upcoming books: they plan that a series will be set after 'Legacy of the Force', another under the Old Republic.
Now, this is where it gets complicated. In telling us this, Sue was answering a question from a fan which had specifically mentioned DelRey, the house which has the existing novel-publishing contract. If we read the grammar strictly, we might expect "them" to mean DelRey, and as far as I know, that would be the first indication that they'd renewed the contract with the existing publisher—but all that maybe this is reading too much inference into semantics.
What we know for sure is that they're in talks with a publisher, and ideas are being developed.
... "them" means "the licensee whose name cannot yet be mentioned."
So, no specific news on who the publisher for the new contract will be, but it seems Lucasfilm are already in quite advanced talks with a licensee, discussing plans for the shape of the new novel series.
Incedentally, you may remember back in June, I mentioned that the TF.N Books team were going to write up our personal thoughts on the past and future of the novels. Stephen's essay on the possibilities promptly appeared a few days later.
I may still manage to get my companion piece online just in time for all my thoughts to be rendered out-of-date...
And, as ever, we'll bring you more hard news as we get it!
Rebelscum Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Patch Posted By Philip on November 25, 2014: Thanks to everybody that ordered patches. I sent a check for $1,600.00 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation on Monday. While it's not as much as I hoped for, it's still very much appreciated. They will remain for sale in the store for anybody that still wishes to purchase them. Details after the jump.