Interview: Beth Revis and Bold Hope in The Princess and the Scoundrel

Hope. A single word which ignites so many wonderful elements in our lives and the stories we tell each other. The latest Star Wars novel, The Princess and the Scoundrel, binds that theme which brings author Beth Revis back to the galaxy far, far away. Leia and Han, at the end of a brutal war and the dawning prospect of peace, find hope in one another.



The Princess and the Scoundrel tells the story of their wedding, but it's more a reflection on who these characters are and what they've overcome to find their hope – one they will share together. It's a story about making each moment count when you're staring back at the person you know will cherish you as you cherish them. I had the opportunity to speak with Beth about this beautiful story and everything she poured into it.







If you haven't added The Princess and the Scoundrel to your bookshelf, it's available now and I highly recommend it. Make sure to check out our full review here. This interview contains some mild spoilers, so if you want to go into the story fresh, come back here after you've had a chance to experience the story for yourself.



Whenever I get the opportunity to speak with a creator working in the Star Wars universe, the question I first go to are what themes resonate in them and bring them back to this modern mythology. Beth's answer didn't disappoint and anyone who reads The Princess and the Scoundrel will feel her favorite theme resonate in the text.

There is a wealth of stories about Han and Leia, both their individual stories from before they meet in the original trilogy. The Princess and the Scoundrel is a huge moment, when their lives are unified in marriage. It's the beginning of a new journey for them. I was curious what stories Beth drew while writing this story.

Leia has a powerful scene in the opening chapters of The Princess and the Scoundrel. Upon learning Luke is her brother, she is confronted with the truth Darth Vader is her biological father. The person who tortured her on the Death Star, forced her to watch the destruction of her home planet, and helped bring decades of terror upon the galaxy. The timeline of this novel gave Beth the opportunity to allow Leia to confront this truth and begin processing all the trauma it triggered. These chapters are my favorite part of the novel. While reading, I wondered if Beth intended to go there from the beginning or if she came back in revisions and editing.

Han and Leia's story doesn't end on the happiest note by the end of the Skywalker saga. When we meet them in The Force Awakens, their love is still apparent but their union fractured. Their son has joined the evil forces they've always vowed to fight and this grief unraveled their marriage. In The Princess and the Scoundrel, Beth doesn't plant any harbingers of this fate, but I wondered how she was able to keep this story in a vacuum of the ominous future awaiting Leia and Han.

Beth's love of both characters is apparent in The Princess and the Scoundrel. I always assume it must be so much fun to write beloved characters like Han and Leia. Star Wars is at its best when it's a love story, in my opinion. I asked what it's like to write a love story in the Star Wars universe, especially for characters like these two.

The Princess and the Scoundrel spends a substantial amount of time aboard the Halcyon Legacy, which is part of Disney Parks new Star Wars attraction. While it's easy to roll your eyes and think this may be some sort of advertisement for the parent company, Beth's inclusion of the Halcyon Legacy is seamless and didn't take me out of the story at all. It's a delightful setting for Han and Leia's honeymoon. I remained curious if the inclusion of the Halcyon Legacy felt constraining to Beth in any way.

Without getting too deep into spoilers, Beth introduces a new culture and planet to the Star Wars galaxy, the Madur. Beth provides a rich history for the Madur, but when we meet them their planet has been greatly affected by the Empire. It's the first time I've had the opportunity to speak with an author about what it's like to do world-building in the galaxy far, far away and Beth was very generous with her answer. Embarrassingly, the first thing I had to ask about was the correct pronunciation of their name, which Beth shared is a tribute for two of science-fiction's greatest authors.

Beth's writing is sublime, so I had to know what she's working on next and also if she's hoping to come back to Star Wars after the success of The Princess and the Scoundrel.

The Princess and the Scoundrel is available where books are sold. I highly recommend this novel, especially to folks looking for some love and hope right now. It's a bright light and a wonderful addition to Star Wars. Please join me in a huge thank you to Beth for taking some time out of her day to share her experience writing this wonderful story. And a huge congratulations on making the New York Times Bestseller List!



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