Sharing Star Wars: Kay

Our Sharing Star Wars series leading up to May the Fourth continues with Kay.

When did you first discover Star Wars?

I don’t even know for sure. It feels like it’s always been a part of my life. All I remember is that at some point as a young child a family member put the VHS of A New Hope on for me and that was it. I’d guess they thought I might like it because I’ve always loved outer space and the idea of traveling there. And I distinctly remember Yoda freaked me out when we got to Empire.

What parts of Star Wars stories have you experienced? (such as books, comics, games, movies, television show)

Movies: Episodes I – VI. I also watched the Ewoks movies on tape as a kid, desperate for more Star Wars adventures.

Books: Pretty much every book that’s been set post-Return of the Jedi, a few set during the Original Trilogy, and maybe one or two set before that. I think the New Jedi Order were the first books I read as they were being published and they could not come out fast enough for me.

Board games: Star Wars Monopoly & Star Wars Trivial Pursuit!

Video Games: Shadows of the Empire, The Force Unleashed.

Random Software: Star Wars: Behind the Magic.

TV: The Clone Wars (although I’m still on Season Two).

Attractions: Countless rides on Star Tours, a couple museum exhibits.

How do you share your passion for Star Wars? (such as message boards, conventions, fan fiction, fan art, cosplay)

When I was a kid I’m pretty sure I mainly just talked about it to anyone who’d listen. And I had a couple Princess Leia t-shirts. I made a Jedi costume out of fabric scraps when I was about 12. As I got older I started checking out message boards and wrote a few “lost scene” fanfics. Now I’ve mainly come back to the whole conversation aspect of it, but I’d like to do some cosplay and go to a convention some day. Oh yeah, and I contribute to an awesome site called the FANgirl Blog. Maybe you’ve heard of it.

List the first five words that come to mind when you hear “Star Wars.”

a galaxy far, far away

List your six favorite stories in Star Wars in any medium or format, and tell why they made your list.

(Some of them are multiple books or episodes)

The Empire Strikes Back – My hands-down favorite of any of the movies: the places, getting to know these characters better, the action, the romance. Kershner definitely brought a great touch.

Enemy Lines Duology (Rebel Dream & Rebel Stand) – Aaron Allston’s entrance into the NJO! The Borleias line of the story was my favorite as, among other things (like Wedge in command!), it gets Jaina and Jag to confront some feelings and pull down some barriers.

X-Wing: Mercy Kill – A fantastic blend of action, humour, loss, and love with a fantastic cast of new and known characters by the wonderful Aaron Allston.

The “Mandalore Plot” / “Voyage of Temptation” / “Duchess of Mandalore” arc on The Clone Wars – The multi-level conflict!! Plus I liked seeing a bit of a different side of Obi-Wan and learning so much so quickly about Duchess Satine, a complex character in her own right.

Dark Journey – The first Jaina-centric story, Hapan royal intrigue, Jaina dealing with some darker thoughts. I really connected with this one when it came out.

List your six favorite characters, and tell why they made your list.

Jaina Solo – She’s pretty much my Star Wars soul sister. I identify with her more than any other character I’ve come across in the Star Wars universe.

Han Solo & Leia Organa-Solo – I wanted to be both of them at the same time when I saw A New Hope. To this day I love them both as individuals and as a team.

Jagged Fel – Overall he’s a “good guy” and a great strategist. Plus he’s fairly unassuming about his badassery.

Wedge Antilles – It’s cool that a character with short screen time in the original trilogy has done so much in the Expanded Universe. He’s a leader with a personal mission and code of honor. He’s a hero without being a Jedi.

Luminara Unduli – (Based on what I’ve seen of The Clone Wars so far) She’s so calm and in control but tough too.

Name five items you have that show your Star Wars pride. (such as collectibles, shirts, art)

Rogue Squadron Men’s T-Shirt (from an early Star Wars Weekends), my Star Wars book collection, a purple lightsaber, soundtracks from the Original Trilogy, and the Han Solo in Carbonite & Millennium Falcon silicone baking molds.

List the five best moments from your experience of being a Star Wars fan. (such as a scene read or watched, meeting with a VIP, a panel at a convention)

Conversations in the Lomin Ale / FANgirl Cantina with fellow fans.

Attending an early Star Wars Weekend at Disney and getting to meet “Luke” & “Leia.”

Watching pretty much any scene that takes place in the Millennium Falcon in the Original Trilogy.

The excitement of getting to see a Star Wars movie in a cinema opening week (even though I ended up not liking the movie as much as some of the others).

Pretending once that I only vaguely knew about Star Wars and then kicking the rear of everyone who was playing in a Star Wars trivia game. I may be a Star Wars shark.

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Kay

She grew up wanting to be an astronaut. After seeing Star Wars, she wanted to be Princess Leia, Han Solo, and an astronaut. Life’s taken her on a bit of a different path, but she’s okay with that.

Kay is FANgirl's resident geek fashion expert and co-host of the Hyperspace Theories podcast. She reviews books and movies for the site with a heart for storytelling and a mind that likes to analyze. Kay's been a guest on various podcasts sharing her love and knowledge of storytelling, film-making, fashion, and of course, Star Wars.

Most days are filled with her work as a creative services professional - designing websites & branding, photographing, voice acting, editing, and more. Kay spends the little bit of free time she has reading, costuming, and, of course, making pew pew noises. She would pick up more jobs and hobbies if she was a Time Lord.