Finding Home

A Chiss Ascendancy zine

about

This zine will focus on celebrating cast of Timothy Zahn's Chiss Ascendancy Novels by emphasizing the themes of finding home and found family through platonic and romantic pairings. After all sales have been finalized, the proceeds of this zine will be donated to a yet to be determined charity.

For those uncertain of what a zine is:
*A zine (shortened from magazine) is a collaborative collection of various pieces of art and writing in one book/booklet. The history of zines is extensive and all encompassing, like internet fandoms in general, but it is safe to say that they celebrate something their fandom loves, whether it be a specific ship or a general ode to canon. Depending on the nature of the zine, it is usually put up for sale and all proceeds are donated to a selected charity.

Rules and Guidelines

Zine Rules:Though this zine will be safe for work, it will feature light angst and canon-typical violence. Canon-typical or canon-divergence alternate universes are acceptable. No graphic sexual content will be permitted.As such, this zine will divide romantic and platonic pairings. Timothy Zahn created a diverse and intricate word, one that will be celebrated in this zine by welcoming every corner of our fandom.Please note that this zine will have a zero tolerance policy for shipping hate. This zine is intended to be fun for everyone and that does not include fandom discourse.

ARTISTS
Expectations upon acceptance:
- You will be asked to illustrate a minimum of one full page of work.
- You will be given a choice to design merch items, either digital or physical, if you wish to participate!Application Guide:
- You will be required to submit a portfolio of 2 (two) illustrations for moderators to evaluate as part of your application. These may be published portraits, comics, or other creations that exemplify your artistic style. They will not be part of your published piece for the zine.
- Please do not submit an overlarge portfolio or portfolios containing NSFW works. Submit only works that are applicable to your application for this zine.
- Please ensure that all links are functioning and viewable. To check this, paste the link into an incognito tab.
- At least one of your samples must be fully rendered with a complete background.
- If you are interested in applying as a merch artist, please also send a separate portfolio of you work that demonstrates your ability to create merch.
- The submission of at least one Chiss Ascendancy or Canon Thrawn Novel related work is strongly advised.
- Twitter threads will not be accepted. If submitting work from a twitter thread, copy and past your original content into a Google Doc or other shareable format for easier viewing.
- Do not submit NSFW pieces in portfolio/samples or in pitches for content. Keep it canon-typical.

WRITERS
Expectations upon acceptance:
- You will be asked to write a fic of around 3000 words maximum.
Application Guide:
- Please submit at least 2 (two) writing samples for moderators to evaluate as part of your application. These may be published fics, poetry, or other creations that exemplify your writing style. They will not be part of your piece published for the zine.
- Please keep your sample articles to 2,000 words or less per piece.
- Please do not submit an overlarge portfolio containing NSFW works. Submit only works that are applicable to your application for this zine.
- Please ensure that all links are functioning and viewable. To check this, paste the link into an incognito tab.
- The submission of at least one Chiss Ascendancy or Canon Thrawn Novels sample is strongly advised.
- Twitter threads will not be accepted. If submitting work from a twitter thread, copy and paste your original content into a Google Doc or other shareable format for easier viewing.
- Do not submit NSFW pieces in portfolio/samples or in pitches for content. Keep it canon-typical.

MERCH ARTISTS
Expectations upon acceptance:
You will be asked to design 2 merch items: physical and/or digital.
Application Guide:
- Please submit a minimum of 2 (two) fully rendered merch designs that show a clear comprehension of merch compositions.
- Please label the types of merch the designs are intended for in either the file name.
- It is not a requirement to have designed merch before.
- The submission of at least one Chiss Ascendancy or Canon Thrawn Novel related work is strongly advised.
- Do not submit NSFW pieces as art samples. Keep it canon-typical.
Apply through the Artists Application Form!

Schedule

APPLICATIONS
Moderator applications:
- 19 Feb 2024 - 19 March 2024
Contributor Applications:
- 1 July 2024 - 1 August 2024
ZINE PROGRESS
1 September - Contributors will be selected and contacted via email.
2 January - Half-way point check-in
1 April - Contributors must submit their final piece.ORDERS
TBD

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the rating of this Zine?
This zine will be rated for Teens and Up Audiences.2. Will NSFW pieces be allowed?
No. This is to abide by shipping laws as well as to ensure a safe environment for every reader.3. Is Canon-typical angst allowed?
Yes. What is Star Wars fanfiction without a little angst?4. Are romantic pairings allowed?
Yes. The zine will divide platonic and romantic fics. Those wishing to contribute will have to classify their pieces so that they may be properly organized.5. Which pairings are allowed?
Any adult pairing is welcome.6. Are AUs allowed? Can we create a premise not in the Star Wars-verse?
Yes. So long as it fits with the theme of the zine and is approved by the moderators.7. What is the theme of the zine?
Great question! The theme is "Finding Home" - meaning that this zine will focus on the characters finding home literally (like Thrawn returning) or with each other. Just think found family.8. Which charity will you be donating to?
To be determined. Later, we will propose three choices for our contributors to vote on. Afterwards, we will announce the charity on our social media.9. How many words am I allowed to write once accepted?
Please refer to the Rules & Guidelines Page!10. What is a zine again?
Check out the About page!11. What happens after I am accepted as a contributor?
Once accepted, you will be required to provide 3 concepts for your potential zine piece. From those concepts, the moderators will select one and you will create that piece for the zine.

Moderators

A little about the individuals who will be assisting and organizing the zine.Zine Organizer
amukmuk
Pronouns: she/her
Ao3/Tumblr Handles: amukmuk
Intro: I’ve always been obsessed with Star Wars and remember playing with the action figures as a kid, making up my own stories within the Star Wars Universe. Needless to say, nothing has changed! I began writing within the Mandalorian fandom, jumped through The Clone Wars, and ended up here, in the EU with Thrawn and all his friends. I have never been confident in my writing, but through the outpouring of support in fandom spaces, I have simultaneously found my strengths and made lifelong friends. Now, you can catch me writing tooth-rotting fluff and finding clever ways to make Eli Vanto a commanding officer in the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet.
Favorite Chiss Moment: There are so many, but I think my favorite has to be when Thrawn buys Che’ri graph markers and becomes the Fun Uncle on a road trip.Art Mods
Hydrophius
Pronouns: she/her
Tumblr/Cara/Ao3 Handles: hydr0phius, artbyrubixcube, Hydrophius
Introduction: I first saw Star Wars when I was around 8, I think, and the TV channel we were watching had put The Phantom Menace on. From that moment on, I watched the Prequels, then the OT, and that was about it for me until the Sequels came out a few years later but I was absolutely hooked. Other fandoms have pulled my attention from Star Wars quite a bit over the last few years, but I always come back to it, and the Chiss, so far, have been the ones to yank me back. I didn't actually discover the Chiss until 2020 when I saw a clip from Star Wars Rebels of Thrawn doing his thing, thought: “he looks like Frost Jotunn Loki, I wonder what he is…” and then promptly fell down the rabbit hole of any Legends Chiss and Canon Chiss things that I could find. I'm still rebuilding my knowledge of Legends, but I am fairly well-versed in Canon. Some of you might know me for my Chiss art on tumblr or Instagram.
Favorite Chiss Moment: That scene in Outbound Flight where Thrawn sits on Car'das’ bed (exhausted, I might add) and tells him how much he loves Thrass but wishes he wouldn't always swoop in with Ar'alani to dissuade him from doing things that need to be done for specific parts of his plans.Miri/Mirandemia
Pronouns: They/Them
Ao3/Tumblr: mirandemia
Introduction: I’m a non-binary artist that grew up with star wars so it has always been an interest of mine.I absolutely loved the Ascendancy novels as soon as I picked them up. I could re-read them forever.
Favorite Chiss Moment: Oh man probably Thalias threatening Thurfian will be my fave of all times, hands down.Discord Mod
Mitth'ere'sabosen
Pronouns: She/Her
Ao3/Tumblr: mittheresabosen
Introduction: I believe I was in 5th class when a friend of mine brought her Star Wars card game into school for us to play during breaks. At that time I couldn't much fathom any interest but I do recall her favourite being Yoda and myself absolutely not trusting that green frog creature (even less now that I've read the High Republic). When Clone Wars came out, I recall my siblings and I staying over at our grandmother's or great-aunt's to watch the episodes when possible. Rogue One was the first Star Wars movie I saw in cinemas and I've seen all of them since then. But it wasn't until December 2020 when my sister's then boyfriend got me interested in Rebels and thus Thrawn because of his reliance on strategy and intelligence. On a whim, I bought all Thrawn novels in January and made a Discord server in April and here I am over three years later I am way more obsessed than he is, having made several dear friends, some of which I get to play SW5e with and on rare occasions even meet. Very rarely do I dabble with writing and even rarer with art. Safe to say this fandom has had the largest impact on my life.
I can mostly be found in the Chiss, High Republic and defected Imperials corner of the fandom.
Favorite Chiss Moment: I am exceedingly bad at picking favourites and there are many moments I love. If I had to pick, one moment I will always adore is Thrawn and Thrass in Lesser Evil unleashing chaos in that bistro.Distribution Mod
Suits
Pronouns: They/Them
Introduction: I love the vast lore of the SW universe and want to know as many details about it as I can either by watching and rewatching all the movies and shows, reading the comics or by listening to as many audiobooks that are available. One of my favorite hobbies is embroidery and I love to make pin hoops for my SW pin collection.
Favorite Chiss Moment: When Wutroow is getting Rosccu to talk to get more information out of her and Wutroow is making up the story of Ar’alani “flouncing” off the bridge.Marketing Mod
Hlaalu/JediHlaalu
Pronouns: She/Her
Ao3/Social Media Handles: CountessLamont, JediHlaalu
Introduction: My first star wars experience was in 1997 and the special edition re-releases. Been hooked ever since! Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was my first sw book as it was my dad’s ONLY star wars book, and that book was a Choice! I’ve been cosplaying ever since. Imperial fangirl thanks to Thrawn and Aftermath and now Andor. I’ve written over half of the fics for Sinjir/Conder on AO3 and well more than half for my evil and vile babygirl Sid Uddra <3 <3 <3.
Favorite Chiss Moment: Ziinda calling Roscu out as a ‘blithering ass’. It’s the height of her character arc! In Greater Good, SHE was the hothead that couldn’t always be reasoned with. But by this scene, she’s grown into a commander who can see the bigger picture and is ready to help Roscu along the same path.Writing Mods
AlphaCentauri
Pronouns: She/They
Ao3/Tumblr: v838monoceros, mayhaps-a-blog
Introduction: Once upon a time, my parents needed to keep kid!me distracted so plopped me in front of a TV with the original Star Wars series on VHS. Five movies later (the only ones out at the time), my mother couldn’t take the music anymore and forbade me from rewatching them even one more time - for at least a week. Unfortunately, the books were overwhelming, and it took me another 10+ years and a friend pitching her D&D character as, “so there’s this side character in a Star Wars novel named Ar’alani…” to kick me off the deep end of Star Wars, where I’ve been happily swimming ever since! The Thrawn fandom will always be the fandom that got me into writing, got me into fandom, and introduced me to some of my best friends!
Favorite Chiss Moment: A difficult choice, but I will go with the end of Greater Good, when Ba’kif is trying to figure out what happened with the three families and the Springhawk and Thrawn’s entire crew (mostly Samakro, on screen) are lying to his face. Very Chiss of them.Owl Party
Pronouns: She/Her
Ao3: Owl_Party
Introduction: I enjoy writing angst and horror; the worse situation I can put characters in, the happier I am. I do shake things up with sweet things every so often, though, just for the variety and to keep people on their toes. I was deep into the star wars EU when I was younger, and fell in love with Thrawn via his original trilogy; when the new trilogy came out, I read it, and the brainrot has been unrelenting ever since.
Favorite Chiss Moment: Samakro’s standoff vs the Magys in Lesser Evil.