Results tagged “aaron allston”

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss by Troy Denning is now on sale. Abyss is the third book in the series that finds Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker exiled from the Jedi order he rebuilt. Luke and his son, Ben, are following a trail of clues across the galaxy in a quest to find the reasons behind Jacen Solo’s dark downfall and to gain redemption for the Jedi order.

Series authors Aaron Allston, Christie Golden, and Troy Denning sat down with Suvudu at the San Diego Comic Con to discuss the fate of the Jedi now and tease us about what pitfalls might await them in the future.

Friday was STAR WARS day at San Diego Comic Con and Del Rey had a packed schedule of events. The days began with a Star Wars: The Essential Atlas signing with authors Dan Wallace and Jason Fry along with illustrators Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas.

Leland Chee, Sue Rostoni, Pablo Hidalgo, Shelly Shapiro, and authors Aaron Allston, Troy Denning, and Christie Golden all hosted a packed room for a panel about the Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi series,

Aaron, Troy, and Christie capped off the afternoon with a crowded signing back at the Del Rey Star Wars booth.

Jump for pictures.

In addition to the exciting schedule of STAR WARS events Lucasfilm has planned for San Diego Comic Con this year, Del Rey is proud to present an action packed lineup of panels, author signings, contests, and free swag related to our best selling STAR WARS books.

The super cool Star Wars: Death Troopers image above is one of two FREE posters we’re giving away! Jump to see the full schedule and the cool FATE OF THE JEDI poster.

Being a writer can be a great gift and holds many blessings.

It can also cause great hardship though.

No, I’m not talking about deadlines, although they can be stressful at times. No, I’m not talking about the endless editing, proofing or publicity needs that take place away from the actual writing. No, I’m not talking about balancing a real life filled with friendships that understand a writer’s neuroses.

I’m talking about something serious—deadly serious at times.

Right now, at least in the United States, there is a growing debate that will soon become a firestorm of controversy: Should the United States pass legislation that gives healthcare to all citizens? 46+ million people (16% of the population) in the US do not have health insurance and we rank the highest in cost per person. It has been estimated that nearly one fifth of the uninsured population is able to afford insurance.

Despite what readers believe, the overall majority of publishing writers are not wealthy people—in fact they are usually scraping by. They barely make enough to have families. Since writers are self-employed and aren’t employees of a large corporation that offers affordable healthcare insurance, all healthcare costs fall on them.

Star Wars author Aaron Allston has discovered this the hardest of ways.

In April 2009, Aaron was out on tour supporting the release of Star Wars: Outcast when he had a heart attack. Thankfully he recognized it quick enough and the medical services in the Dallas airport and surrounding hospitals were top-notch. Aaron survived, had a quadruple-bypass, and you can read the entire account on his Live Journal.

As he recovered and still recovers, the sad reality of his situation has been growing.

He accrued a huge medical bill for the services that saved his life, a bill that is still growing.

And as a writer, he doesn’t have health insurance.

That means he must pay for his outrageous bills out of his own pocket.

Some fans have taken issue with that! The Fandom Association of Central Texas has set up The Aaron Allston Donation Fund and Auction, a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to collect donations for Aarons’ medical bills. They are seeking items to auction off on July 19th to raise money, and they are accepting donations.

Since writers give so much enjoyment to so many people, I am calling on everyone who reads this post to help Aaron out. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and he has left an indelible impression on the Star Wars universe. Even if you only donate the cost of a paperback book ($8) to his fund, you will feel warm and fuzzy inside and help out a class guy.

Until the US Congress figures out how to help cover people like Aaron with health insurance, it is important for all of us to protect our own geeks!

Visit The Fandom Association of Central Texas for more information!

And please pass this information around to your friends!

We would like to let all Aaron’s friends and fans know that their support and good wishes during this difficult time are greatly appreciated. The outpouring of concern has been incredible. Please be patient as we are working to set up more opportunities to help. All of you are dear to Aaron.

Aaron is still in intensive care and is making slow but steady progress on his recovery. The nurses and doctors are giving us thumbs ups and smiles and that is a very encouraging thing.

Our admiration and gratitude to all the doctors and nurses who are taking care of Aaron is beyond words to express. Their dedication and skill is truly spectacular.

Additionally we want to thank Aaron’s professional colleagues for their assistance and understanding as we go forward.

Official updates on Aaron’s progress can be found at: www.aaronallston.info

Thank you all for being there for Aaron and all of us.

—the family of Aaron Allston

Yesterday, Del Rey author Aaron Allston underwent quadruple bypass surgery. Aaron was on tour, promoting his latest book Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast when he suffered a heartattack and was admitted to a hospital in Texas. He is currently in intensive care, but stable. Our thoughts are with him.

Aaron’s family has set up a blood donation sponsorship. If anyone in the Dallas area would like to donate blood, you can go to the National Blood Exchange or Carter BloodCare. Say that you are donating blood for Aaron Allston, patient of Carter Blood Care in Bedford, TX, and give his sponsor number: SPON 047786.

Please send any well-wishes to:

Aaron Allston
c/o Del Rey Books
1745 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

But please DO NOT send any perishable items or flowers, as Aaron will not be able to receive anything this week.

Suvudu is now offering in the Free Library Star Wars Fate of the Jedi: Dramatis Personae!

Fate of the Jedi is the new Star Wars series set almost four decades after the events of Return of the Jedi, where the characters we know and love have become legends in their own right even as they struggle against the Dark Side of the Force. The Dramatis Personae, a free ebook in our Free Library, introduces new readers or readers who need a refresher to what has been going in the last 40 years in the Star Wars universe.

It is a fun read, making me want to pull out the movie trilogies and watch them back to back, but Dramatis Personae also has an excerpt from Book One in Fate of the Jedi, Star Wars: Outcast, written by Aaron Allston!

So, if you are a Star Wars fan, check out the newest book to our Free Library!

And get ready for next month! Got a few new additions coming!

PS: Get well, Aaron!

Here are the other book, DVD and movie releases for the week!

BOOKS

• Star Wars: Outcast by Aaron Allston
• The Temporal Void by Peter F. Hamilton
• Tor: A Prehistoric Journey by Joe Kubert
• This is Not a Game by Walter Jon Williams

• Bolt
• Quantum of Solace
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided
• Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter

• The Haunting of Connecticut
• Monsters vs. Aliens

All too often tour information comes all too late.

Author Aaron Allston will set off on a 7 city book tour supporting the release of Outcast, Book One in the Fate of the Jedi series from Lucas and Del Rey Books. As you can see below, the tour begins Tuesday, March 24th! So if you have a chance run out to meet Aaron and discover in person the next great chapter in the Star Wars universe!

From the Random House website:

After a violent civil war and the devastation wrought by the now-fallen Darth Caedus, the Galactic Alliance is in crisis-and in need. From all corners, politicians, power brokers, and military leaders converge on Coruscant for a crucial summit to restore order, negotiate differences, and determine the future of their unified worlds. But even more critical, and far more uncertain, is the future of the Jedi.

In a shocking move, Chief of State Natasi Daala orders the arrest of Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent Jacen Solo’s turn to the dark side and his subsequent reign of terror as a Sith Lord. But it’s only the first blow in an anti-Jedi backlash fueled by a hostile government and suspicious public. When Jedi Knight Valin Horn, scion of a politically influential family, suffers a mysterious psychotic break and becomes a dangerous fugitive, the Jedi become the target of a media-driven witch hunt. Facing conviction on the damning charges, Luke must strike a bargain with the calculating Daala: his freedom in exchange for his exile from Coruscant and from the Jedi Order.

Though forbidden to intervene in Jedi affairs, Luke is determined to keep history from being repeated. With his son, Ben, at his side, Luke sets out to unravel the shocking truth behind Jacen Solo’s corruption and downfall. But the secrets he uncovers among the enigmatic Force mystics of the distant world Dorin may bring his quest-and life as he knows it-to a sudden end. And all the while, another Jedi Knight, consumed by the same madness as Valin Horn, is headed for Coruscant on a fearsome mission that could doom the Jedi Order … and devastate the entire galaxy.

See below for the dates and locations Aaron will be visiting:

• Tuesday, March 24 - Lexington, KY
  Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 7:00 pm
  161 Lexington Green Circle #B, Lexington, KY 40503
• Wednesday, March 25 - Chicago, IL
  Borders, Oak Brook, 7:30 pm
  1500 16th Street, Oak Brook, IL, 60181
• Thursday, March 26 - Kansas City, MO
  Borders, Lee’s Summit, 7:00 pm
  1664 NW Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081
• Friday, March 27 - Seattle, WA
  University Book Store, Mill Creek, 7:00 pm
  15311 Main Street, Mill Creek, WA 98012
• Saturday, March 28 - Sacramento, CA
  Borders, Folsom, 2:00 pm
  2765 E. Bidwell Street, Folsom, CA 95630
• Sunday, March 29 - Phoenix, AZ
  Changing Hands, 2:00 pm
  6428 S. Mcclintock Drive #C101, Tempe, AZ 85283
• Saturday, April 4 - Austin, TX
  Barnes & Noble Booksellers Arboretum, 2:00 pm
  10000 Research Blvd. #158, Austin, TX 78759

Outcast hits stores on March 24! And may the Force be with you!