First look at Paul Kemp’s Old Republic novel

StarWars.com has the cover and title for the second Old Republic MMO tie-in novel, Paul S. Kemp’s The Old Republic: Deceived. It will focus on Darth Malgus, the lead Sith from last year’s game trailer. Here’s a bit of the blurb:

Deceived tells the story of Darth Malgus and gives fascinating insight into his rise to fame and glory as the Sith Lord who destroyed the Jedi Temple. This stunning narrative finds the dark hero battling a veteran Jedi Master, setting the stage for the affairs and betrayals surrounding the last battle of the Great War before the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant.

Deceived is set for release on December 28. Fans following Kemp’s blog will note that he just posted about finishing the first draft yesterday.

EUbits: Inside The Making of The Empire Strikes Back

Nonfiction StarWars.com offers up a peek at J.W. Rinzler’s The Making of The Empire Strikes Back. The book’s release was recently pushed back to October, but there’s little doubt that it will be worth the wait.

Street date shuffle. On that note, our book release schedule has been updated. The most notable change: A double shot of Fate of the Jedi paperbacks as Omen and Abyss are moved up to spring.

Podcastery. Star Wars Action News talked to Paul S. Kemp earlier in the month, while the ForceCast caught up with John Jackson Miller at C2E2.

The blogside. Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff on the end game and the last period.

Morsel. Sue Rostoni says that Joe Schreiber’s Black Orchid is getting a new title because some people thought it sounded like a romance novel. Personally I think old school Neil Gaiman/Dave McKean

Toys. Rebelscum reports that the Legacy Collection’s Expanded Universe action figures (the wave that includes Jacen and Jaina) have begun showing up at Toys “R” Us stores.

Out this week: Outcast PB, Invasion, Legacy, and Insider

Invasion #1Per usual, it’s feast or famine for our new releases, and this week there are plenty of choices – even if only two of them are new. First up on Tuesday is the paperback release of Aaron Allston’s Fate of the Jedi: Outcast, the first book of the latest series. (I hear we might get the new Lost Tribe of the Sith – aka an Allies excerpt – today as well.)

Comic fans aren’t left hungry, either, with Legacy #47 and Invasion: Refugees, the first trade collection of the New Jedi Order comic series.

And last but… Okay, just last, there’s the latest Star Wars Insider.

We do exist: Ashley Eckstein launches Her Universe, a Star Wars merchandise line for female fans

The voice of Ahsoka Tano has teamed up with The Araca Group to make Star Wars stuff geared towards women. This seems to be a bit more than just a simple line of t-shirts – according to the press release, Eckstein and company have entered into a multi-year agreement with Lucas Licensing for “apparel and accessories.” Intriguing, no?

Pretty exciting – and LONG overdue. Not seeped in pink, either!

For more, stay tuned, follow HerUniverse on Twitter and Facebook, or head over to tomorrow night’s Forcecast, where Eckstein will take live calls.