Ashley Eckstein Facebook Q&A Transcript

Ashley Eckstein did a Q&A with fans on Del Rey's Star Wars Books Facebook page this afternoon. She discussed Course of the Force, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and of course Her Universe and the new products it will be offering at San Diego Comic-Con.

Below is a lightly-edited transcript of fans' questions and Eckstein's responses.

Q: If you were asked to voice Ahsoka in the new Star Wars Battlefront game, would you do it? And do you think it would be good to have her as a playable leader, seeing as she was known as Commander Tano to the clones in Star Wars: The Clone Wars?
A: Thank you so much for your kind words. Of course I would love the opportunity to voice Ahsoka if she were in the new Battlefront Game. That being said, I have no idea if she is in the new game but I think your hypothesis is very cool!

Q: Can you give us any more info on the upcoming TCW bonus episodes?
A: Sigh....I wish I could tell you more about the Clone Wars episodes but unfortunately I don't have any more info than you do. I've seen bits and pieces of the remaining episodes and they are AMAZING and they will be more Yoda...but I don't know when they will be released.

Q: Ashley, the shirts look awesome. What inspired you about this artwork in particular for Mara and Jaina?
A: Great question! First off A big thanks to Joe Scalora, Greg Kubie, Scott Biel and Erich Schoeneweiss. These designs wouldn't be possible without them! Also a big thanks to John Van Fleet for his amazing Jaina Solo art and Daryl Mandryk for the beautiful Mara Jade design. I picked the Mara Jade design because of Dunc from Club Jade. She used this art as her profile pic for so long and I really respect and value her opinions and I know she is a big fan. I figured if she liked this piece of art, others would too :o) As for the Jaina Solo art, I thought it was beautiful and it would really translate well to a t-shirt design. Some pieces of art are great as prints but don't translate well to a shirt design.

Q: Do you believe that there's a future for Ahsoka through books, movies, and the like? Do you think she'll be very important in major galactic events or slip into the shadows, Ventress-style?
A: Thank you so much! I really appreciate the sweet words. I sincerely hope that we will get more of Ahsoka's story. The Season 5 finale was never meant to be the end all be all for her. There is so much new content coming out over the next several years and I hope that we'll see her again! Thru what medium her story is told, I have no idea.

As for Rebels...I'm so happy for Dave Filoni and his team that he's assembled for this new show. I have no idea if Ahsoka will be involved, but I do know that Ahsoka Lives! So hopefully we'll get more of her story in the future!

Q: Can you confirm that Ahsoka is actually the chosen one?
A: LOL, I don't believe Ahsoka is the Chosen one, but she's pretty kick butt if you ask me...

Q: What is your favorite Star Trek series and film, and do you like the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movies?
A: I have not seen every Star Trek episode and movie ever made so I am enjoying watching everything right now. I recently saw Into Darkness and I really enjoyed it! I may have been given a spoiler about the movie and that's why we designed the Khan shirt...

Q: Do you have a favorite TCW episode?
A: My favorite episodes are probably the Mortis Trilogy and the Season 5 Finale Arc. Thank you for the kind words. I really enjoyed the stories told in those episodes. As far as the movies go, I really like Episode 5 ESB!

Q: Who is your all time favorite Star Wars character?
A: My all time favorite Star Wars character is R2-D2. I've like him ever since I saw SW for the first time. He's my hero from the Saga. Think of how many times he's actually save everyone!

Q: How's everything going with the Course of the Force?
A: Course of the Force is going great! We are on our way to Malibu and Santa Monica for tomorrow's run! All of the money raised for each leg of the race goes to the Make A Wish Foundation. Thank you to everyone who came out in SF!

Q: Hope you're coming to NYC CC again this year There's some BSG stuff I want to buy.
A: I don't think we will have our booth at NYCC this year unfortunately. All of our BSG stuff is online though and we have a cool new shirt coming out next week for BSG!

Q: Will the Course of the Force shirts be available online?
A: Yes! The Course of the Force shirts and hoodies will be up on our site any day now! I'll make an announcement on Facebook and Twitter. We hope to raise a lot of money for Make A Wish! $5.00 from every tee sale and $10.00 from every hoodie sale goes to Make A Wish!

Q: Can you tell us if we will still get a Blu-Ray/DVD release of Season 5 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars later this fall or later this year?
A: The Season DVD usually come out in the fall. I am hoping to get the Season 5 DVD sometime this fall/winter 2013.

Q: I love that Mara Jade shirt so much, I'm tempted to buy one for me, and I'm a dude. Great choice of image there.
A: Lol! I think that's the ultimate compliment when guys like our designs so much that they want to buy it OR do buy it for themselves! Thank you so much! It really is a beautiful shirt!

Q: What's your opinion of Assassin's Creed?
A: I'm so sorry but I have not seen or read Assassins Creed. I've heard about it though! However, I don't know enough to have an opinion.

Q: Do you read the Expanded Universe material?
A: I humbly chat on this page openly admitting that I am not very well versed in the Star Wars EU. I have so many amazing friends that have been teaching me though and I have my reading list! I am just thrilled to do these designs because girls have been begging me for more EU apparel and so I let the fans guide me. Her Universe is definitely a collaborative effort between me and the fans! We would not be around today if it weren't for everyone's support!

Q: Do you have any other franchises you're looking to get licenses for in the future, since you recently got AMC's The Walking Dead?
A: We definitely have our eye on a few other licenses but what would you like to see us do?

Q: Any chance we might see a "females of the EU" all-stars kind of shirt, featuring several characters, some day?
A: That's a great idea! I would love to design a great piece of art with all of the female characters in the EU on it! I'll consider that design! It would be really cool.

Q: Think you'll do any more Smuggler's Gambit [radio dramas] or anything like that again?
A: I would love to do another version of Smuggler's Gambit! I also hope to write my own story one day! I am inspired by all of the strong characters in this genre and I hope to publish a book one day! I have all sorts of stories in my head. As for an Ahsoka story, I'll leave that up to Dave Filoni, he's the better story teller for her. I just hope to have the opportunity to continue to play her one day.

Q: Can you please offer us guys some things?
A: Unfortunately, I don't have the license to make merchandise for guys, only women. We make a really cool Course of the Force t-shirt for guys though and $5.00 from every t-shirt sale goes to Make A Wish Foundation....Smugglers Gambit was so much fun! I would love to do another Radio Drama with Kyle Newman!

Thank you so much for your time today and for coming to this chat! Please continue to let me know what you would like to see more of and I will try to make it happen. I appreciate your support more than you know and I am here to support you too! MTFBWY!

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