Thread by @ChrisKempshall

So I head to the airport in a few hours. I’m sure the 10 hour flight & 8 hour time swing will be a delight. But for now here’s a thread of #StarWarsCelebration reflections. 1/

I’d never been to #StarWarsCelebration before but I’ve done comic con London before so thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. I don’t think you can be prepared for just how much there is. So many people and costumes and things. All the time. It’s astonishing. 2/

I was only at the edges of things that been organised (more on that later) but even there you cannot comprehend the organisation required to keep all the moving parts in sync across multiple stages/rooms and days. The logistics were insane.

A prime example is this. Whilst I’ll discuss the book later, this was the @penguinrandom / @dkpublishing booth. It was packed. Constantly. The staff were incredible and I am so grateful for all the organising and help they did. They got me my pass to attend. 4/

And because I got to attend I got this moment. I’d’ve flown here just for this. @amy_geek, @ColeHorton, & @jasoncfry are 3 of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We wrote a book together without ever meeting & I didn’t think it would ever happen. I look so happy!

And the we signed copies of our book! A mother and her son got the first ever copy signed by all 4 of us. That made me so overwhelmingly happy. As an academic writer this sort of audience interaction was utterly alien and god I loved it so much.

It went so well that we actually sold out of all our copies. So on signing 2 me, @ColeHorton & @jasoncfry just sat and chatted and relaxed. We talked with passers by it was wonderful. I’d work with both them and @amy_geek again in a shot. 7/

But this was my highlight. Sat on a panel with @amy_geek, @KristinBaver, @jasoncfry, @ColeHorton, @kelly_knox, @amyrichau, @Clayton_Sandell, @PhilSzostak, & Ashley Eckstein. All talking about our work & things to come. The audience cheered and laughed. It was incredible. 8/

I’ve done academic panels, TV, lecturing etc before. My job is often just to speak out loud. I’ve never done anything like this. Not about something I love as much as this to an audience as enthusiastic. That feeling is addictive & I shared with people I already class as friends

I only did 2 signings and that panel and was repeatedly exhausted (jet lag didn’t help). But part of that exhaustion was from the adrenaline high. It powers you on and drains you at the same time. And I want more!

Which brings me back to @amy_geek & @KristinBaver. 2 of the people I most wanted to meet. They are rock stars. Their schedule was insane. But watching them rush from place to place and yet stopped for chats/photos with fans & made them all feel so good was incredible. I’m in awe.

Because I got my pass late in the day I didn’t sign up for any panels but I spent a lot of time watching the live stage. Again @DeeGoots, @acarboni, @KristinBaver, @KrystinaArielle, @Hectorisfunny, & @jordanhembrough did not stop for 4 days. It was incredible to watch.

On a similar note I hope that @CamActor is going to get some sort of 6 week recovery and recuperation period. Because good lord he smashed the interludes to bits. I think I pulled half a dozen muscles just watching.

Obviously there were some dangers to being near the live stage when dancing to the cantina song..,

And then before you knew it, it was over. The final day came and went. I fly home today. That was my experience in it. But there is more to be said I think, particularly as a historian.

What I’m going to say next might seem ridiculous, but it needs saying. There’s a very real chance I did more to espouse public, accessible, and nuanced history in 4 days of #StarWarsCelebration than I did in 4 years of the #FWW centenary.

If you’re following me I hope it indicates you understand how much being a historian means to me. And how important I think it is. But the last 4 days have been a different form of public history to me. An important and real kind. I’ll die on that hill & take you all with me.

People stopped me at signings etc to talk about #StarWars & history. They talked about how important they think an interaction between the two are. How ‘necessary’ - their words. I know I’m a ridiculous geek. We all know it. But I’ll feed that desire in the fans. It’s important

I handed out a number of these leaflets for my academic book (routledge.com/The-History-an…) and people seemed actually excited. For an academic history book! That never happens.

All of which brings me back here. I’ve been philosophical in recent years about whether I’d get to write more ‘official’ #StarWars stuff. ‘I hope so, but it’s not my call. I did it once and that’s amazing’. All of which is true. But I don’t want to be philosophical now.

I want to do more. I don’t want to stop feeling this way. It’s still not my call. But I’m going to try. So hard. I want to be a #FWW historian & a #StarWars historian/writer. I want to be at #StarWarsCelebration in London next year. I want to hopefully see my new friends again.

So to everyone who said ‘hi!’ or stopped to chat. Especially to @amy_geek, @jasoncfry, @ColeHorton, @amyrichau, & @KristinBaver - thank you. So much. For making me so welcome. We will all do this again. I believe it. May the Force be with you! #StarWarsCelebration end/