What’s so interesting about that era that it’s worth revisiting again when so much of the focus elsewhere right now seems to be on Original Trilogy and Rebels characters?

SS: The interesting thing in a lot of ways – well, the story, the actual story is the most interesting thing! But the origin of this book, there were, I believe 8 episodes, if I recall correctly, already written, but not produced at all for The Clone Wars. And they’re really moving, strong episodes. So the idea came up to do a book based on them, since they wouldn’t see the light of day as actual animation.

We were particularly interested because they center on Asajj Ventress, who to me is extraordinarily interesting as a character, because she’s one of the few who aren’t just light or dark, but straddle both. It’s an interesting balance to explore: how can you use the dark side but not be completely, truly dark? What’s the difference between being an actual Sith and utilizing the dark side of the Force when you need it? How did she become what she became after her training by Dooku? That makes her really, really interesting.

The other really interesting character who I find very appealing is Quinlan Vos, who is a slightly non-conformist Jedi master from the show. We get to explore him some more, and what makes him tick, and watch him interact with Ventress.

It’s a really moving story – there are actually a few points in it when I got teary-eyed! That doesn’t happen to me very often from the books! Sometimes, but… (laughs).

But the whole idea of the story, and the fact that it’s really canon, it’s based on these scripts that were written and approved, but we just hadn’t gotten to tell it yet, is really fun.