Bug: Interview with E. Anne Convery

The Nightsisters lore is without a doubt among the most fascinating in the Star Wars universe. Through the supernatural technique that is Magick—the Witches of Dathomir wielded great powers deeply connected to the dark side of the Force. The all-female order had a great presence in The Clone Wars—and is now further explored in Stories of Light and Dark with Bug, an original story written by E. Anne Convery who makes a “magickal” entrance into our beloved galaxy far, far away.

“The Nightsisters fascinated me. I had questions about Dathomir and the other types of witches who might inhabit it. And while I love how powerful and take-no-prisoners the Nightsisters can be, I started thinking, ‘What’s the opposite of that?’ A solitary witch whose focus wasn’t making war but making beautiful, useful, everyday objects came to me as the answer to that question,” Convery said in an interview with TatooineTimes.com.

The tradition of hanging burial pods is not only common to Star Wars, but to our own galaxy. Convery mentioned that Native American tribes have a variety of traditions of tree burials for a number of reasons—and admitted that the idea of such a concept was not upsetting or without its own sound logic. “In Falta’s context, and perhaps because she knows the potential of what’s in those pods and how they can be weaponized, she finds them unnatural.”

Convery delved deeper into Falta’s creative persona—how the solitary witch achieved life through Magick. “If you’re a maker of any kind—art, food, books—you know that you’re always wondering how you can push your medium a little farther, push yourself to find out just what you can do. I established that Falta’s work was so good that it was sought after, talked about. And she knows she’s good, but she wonders, ‘How good?’ Driven both by her loneliness and the desire to test the limits of her talent and power, Falta creates her masterpiece. The ‘ingredients’ she chose to use were informed by already existing lore on the various Dathomiri witch clans.”

One of Bug’s most entertaining characters was Falta’s tooka-cat, Ichor. His name is no coincidence as it most certainly originated from the magical ichor—the luminescent green mist the Nightsisters summoned to create physical objects out of the ether. However, Convery admitted the feline was not inspired by her one-eyed grandma cat, Solo. “I think Ichor was more inspired by the pet I haven’t had … yet. I’ve always wanted a black cat. Someday!”

The original story’s protagonist is Bug—a young Cinderella in a galaxy far, far away with a drive for curiosity. “Bug lives with her—not very nice—parents, and people are constantly coming and going from the inn, but she’s a very lonely girl. She develops the coping skills of a lonesome childhood: making friends with animals (or in her case, a bug), listening more than talking, playing games with and against herself,” Convery said. “I really admire Bug. I think she’s been making the best of a lousy situation for a while. Sure, she’s a bit mousy, blends into the scenery, and endures some real mistreatment and neglect. But inside there’s this fire just waiting to erupt. I think the monnok represents that, with its fierce battle stance and staff raised, ready to do some damage. Bug might feel stuck, but she’s got all kinds of potential, and when she sees her opportunity, she’s gonna take it.”

If you have a fascination with the Nightsisters and crave more tales from the mystical realm of Magick, then Bug is a must-read (and definitely a must-listen, since the story was narrated by Clone Wars veteran Catherine Taber). If you have not picked up Stories of Light and Dark yet, then what are you waiting for?! If you’ve already read the tale, make sure to share your thoughts on our social media platforms. Stay in touch with E. Anne Convery on Twitter and Instagram for upcoming projects and pictures of her familiars (pets).