https://www.teepublic.com/user/what-does-star-wars-mean-to-you?utm_source=designer&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=S-U65Jr9ZKo

This week, P.A. Cornell (Speculative Fiction Author, Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl) joins us to share what does Star Wars mean to her! She share with us how Star Wars shaped her imagination, inspired her writing career, and continues to influence her view of storytelling today.

From discovering A New Hope as a child and falling in love with the deserts of Tatooine to devouring two of Timothy Zahn's legendary Star Wars novels in a weekend, P.A. shares the moments that made her the fan she is today! We discuss Rogue One, the original NPR Star Wars radio dramas, Princess Leia's impact as a female role model, the importance of representation in modern Star Wars, and why John Williams' music remains essential to that galaxy far, far away.

Most importantly, P.A. reveals how a Star Wars book unexpectedly connected her with a professional writing workshop that helped launch her career as a published author.

Topics include:

• Rogue One, A New Hope, Return of the Jedi

• Timothy Zahn’s classic Heir to the Empire Trilogy

• NPR Star Wars radio dramas

• Princess Leia

• Tatooine & the world building of the franchise

• Science fiction and speculative fiction

• The grounded storytelling of Andor

• Writing inspiration and creativity

P.A. Cornell is an award-winning, Chilean-Canadian, speculative fiction author. In 2024, she became the first ever Chilean-born finalist for the Nebula Award for her story “Once Upon a Time at The Oakmont,” later receiving her second Nebula nomination for “Through the Machine,” in 2026. Additionally, Cornell has been a finalist for the Aurora and World Fantasy Awards, and in 2022, her story “Splits” won Canada’s Short Works Prize. Since 2015, she’s dedicated herself to writing science fiction, fantasy, and horror full time, and her stories have appeared in seventy magazines and anthologies, including multiple "Best of the Year" anthologies. She has also published two books (with one more forthcoming).

Twitter and Instagram @StarWarsMean2U

Star Wars may have the largest and most diverse fanbase in all the galaxy—but every fan has their own certain point of view. So, tune your comlinks and join Star Wars enthusiasts, Dave (an OT kid) and Elora (a PT kid), every week for an in-depth conversation with a different devotee from all walks of life across the Star Wars fandom universe. Plus, it’s just FUN to talk about Star Wars. To bring balance to the fanbase, each episode we’ll delve into our guests’ personal Star Wars fandom story, and from that point of view, we’ll celebrate the power of the Force. Strap in, ignite your passion for the galaxy far, far away, and find out: What Does Stars Wars Mean To You?

Music composed & performed by Gregory Bromfield

What Does Star Wars Mean To You? website