Goodbye, Farewell And Amen.
New Post has been published on https://www.starwarspost.com/goodbye-farewell-and-amen/
Goodbye, Farewell And Amen.
After four years, the Star Wars Post will be powering down at the end of this month. During those years, we have been delighted to deliver the news about our Galaxy, far, far away, writing opinions, showcasing new merchandise and doing our very best to connect with our readers. It has been a joy for me to maintain positivity for the brand and making lots of friends along the way. But due to several factors, I have decided that it’s time for this passion project to end.
The U.S. Government shutdown is currently in its 32nd day, and I am one of the thousands of Federal contractors impacted by this ridiculous political situation. Although the costs for the Star Wars Post are moderate, it does put my hobby into focus of where it fits in my life and whether its worth the expense. The Post was born at a time when my children were babies, and my wife was attending night school. During those weekday nights, after feeding the kids, bathing them and tucking them into bed, I dived into the fun era of delivering Star Wars news during the run-up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There was great fun during that time speculating, writing opinions and reviewing incredible books and merchandise. It was an insane amount of work, most of it resting on my shoulders alone. But it was a magical time of just being exhaustively busy. During the day, it was mind-churning work as a cyber-security executive and at night, a Daddy of two and a Galaxy to write about.
There were some great achievements during our four-year-run. We landed a few exclusives and got our stories carried by other outlets. Stood up for topics that needed to be addressed, and promoted loudly and proudly the works of the fantastic storytellers in Star Wars. We ended up on CBS Radio in Los Angeles and caught ourselves in some newspapers as well. We sought out to remind regular folks that there is more to Star Wars than just going to the movies. We endeavored to bring those casual, Star Wars movie folks into the fold of podcasts and other fansites. Introducing them to the amazing great platforms of comics, novels, and animation that enrich the Star Wars experience.
I enjoyed making new friends in the industry and across the Star Wars fandom. There was the pile of merchandise for my kids to enjoy and books that sit lovingly on my shelf. From PR contacts at Lucasfilm to its vendors, the relationships were professional and enjoyable. I will always cherish the camaraderie of my fellow Star Wars fan sites and podcasters. All of you have been inclusive, helpful and I admire the relationships we fostered.
I will always be thankful for my Wife and kids who let me share my passion with the world. For others like Jason and Amanda Ward, for their friendship, insight and infectious love of Star Wars. To the countless friends on Star Wars Twitter that retweeted stories, gave encouragement and pushed back when I needed it. Then there is Ben, Liz, Pete, Drew, Billy, and Shannon, who wrote amazing stories and live-streamed shows for the Post. You six will forever have my love and thanks for your excellent work and friendship. To our guests who graced us with their insight on the livecast and made our show informative, humorous and fun.
A special thanks to Lucasfilm and the talented storytellers that surround them. Matt who’s encouragement and outreach made our work feel recognized. To Pablo, who took the time to educate- when he didn’t have to, and sparking my joy of watching older films. Justin for his encouragement, professionalism and always being a rampart for the Empire. Dan for showing me what an amazing Star Wars site should be, and an inspiration to do better. I learned so much from each of you.
Most of all, thank you to our readers who I will cherish always. You made being a war correspondent way too much fun, and I love you all.
Be kind and find joy.
Sincerely, Max Palas