I have worked with independent authors around the globe for nearly two decades now. I have worked with several publishing houses between the US and Great Britain. But this was a first.

I follow up on commissioned work regularly – checking to see if a book has been published on Amazon with my cover design post commission. Most pop up within a few weeks after the author and I have completed the work. And most titles I do market via my social media accounts as well – supporting both my own business and the clients at the same time. I believe that is a good practice to have. Yes?

I was commissioned to design an eBook cover for an indie author in recent months…all fine and dandy. I completed the work a while ago – and the title has finally popped up for sale on Amazon. NOT as an eBook, but as a paperback. My design was specifically set for ePub only (techie details: 1,600 X 2,560 pixels required by KDP for eBook covers, RGB color profile for web/electronic devices). The image was NOT set up for print! That setting is a different dimension, with a bleed, and a different color profile as well (let alone the spine and back cover sections are also an additional design fee to produce). And this author slapped together their own back cover….which is unprofessionally done too. Why did the author do this? I can only assume to save money. But is it theft (as one longtime published friend stated) ? Not exactly as she did pay my commission for the front ‘image’ of their paperback. But what the author doesn’t realize is that it will print poorly because it was not properly prepared for PRINT.

I want to believe that this person is completely ignorant in regards to how these things work, and did not intend to cheat me out of my full paperback design layout commission by only hiring me to do the ‘eBook’ cover. But it is still wrong. And they would have had quality warnings and fitting issues from KDP during the uploading process too. So, if they did not know ahead of time that they were doing something wrong, they should have realized it right then. Or perhaps they knew all along. *sighs* I will not accept work from this person in future either way.

I had planned to make this entry all about The Halcyon. I truly had! So, I shall finish on a more positive note and talk about the Lady H. before posting. Star Wars family will enjoy the read…apologies for any other readers that have no interest in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Oh and Happy Birthday to Pedro Pascal! Our Mando Daddy turned 50 today!

Now a bit about The Halcyon….she is near and dear to my heart. And Disney closed her! But I will never forget how I felt being able to live inside the world of Star Wars for two days.

Actually there are no words to truly and accurately describe the experience. But there is a documentary in production that I will definitely be marketing across my social media accounts when it is out in the world. Halcyon Daze!

All the information on this wonderful project:

Halcyon Daze: The Final Voyages of the Galactic Starcruiser
https://linktr.ee/filmthreat
T-SHIRTS AND MERCH! Shop Film Threat t-shirts, mugs, merch and more:
https://shop.filmthreat.com/

And I wish that I had more time to interact with fellow Halcyon travelers post voyage. Many of us are active on social media – for me, Instagram in particular. If you are interested, search for Galactic Starcruiser on Instagram for a bunch of great photos and videos!

My husband and I celebrated our 30^th wedding anniversary on board the Halcyon back on October 3^rd of 2022. It was a magnificent journey, experience, and made all of our Star Wars dreams come to life. I cannot put into words how fantastical those few days felt for us both. We grew up on Star Wars; watching the first film in theaters back in 1977. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I could EVER experience what it would be like to live in Star Wars….but Disney Imagineers brought that to me, and so many others, with the opening of the Starcruiser. We were 56 years young at that time, not wealthy, and not physically spry….but wow, we had a blast! The Starcruiser was worth every penny. The crew were spectacular. Every person or being or droid that we came into contact with was so perfectly ‘in universe’. I particularly loved the mixologists in the Sublight Lounge – LaBeth and Chris were supremely talented and fabulous to chat with every time we stopped in for drinks. We loved Lt. Croy and Sammie and all of the cast. And we got to meet Chewie!!! We got to help hide him from the First Order! And seeing Rey ignite that lightsaber for the first time as she prepared to battle Kylo Ren – that was BEYOND amazing. Superior showmanship. And high praise for the engineer that made us a REAL LIFE lightsaber to see in action!

The food was incredible and original and just the best EVER. Those little Chandrila Line orange cookies available in the atrium were my favorite snack outside of the dining room! I’d kill a Rancor for one right now. DISNEY: Please sell those in Galaxy’s Edge!!!!!! I loved drinking my Silversea martinis (especially when LaBeth made them) and listening to Gaya sing each night. Fabulous.

It brings tears to my eyes as the final cruise comes to an end….and I couldn’t be there. I had planned to visit again when we could afford it in future. But that dream is now gone. I do hope that Disney will find a way to make the Halcyon accessible to visitors of Batuu somehow and some way in future. She’s worth it for every person who dreams of traveling in the stars one day. Not only us diehard Star Wars fans appreciate such adventures, trust me. Can we pay a fee to visit the ship?? Something?????

I cannot rave enough about the entire cast and crew of the Starcruiser – they were all THE best – above and beyond any cast members that I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with over the past 40 years of my Disney visits.

I could go on forever as the two days truly did have a huge impact on me personally, I made friends while being an introvert, I laughed, I cried with joy, I gasped with awe and surprise, I was mesmerized by the immersion into a world that I have only dreamed of….I wish I could have visited the ship again before she drydocked. I truly do – see the stars again one more time.

Anyway….thank you to the makers/designers/engineers/actors for giving me that joy and that out of this world experience if only for two days….it enriched my life and opened up my eyes to a whole new world of creativity and community.

May the Stars Light Your Way. And I raise a glass and salute the creators of my favorite Disney creation EVER – Ta’ Bu E Tay!