EW's Temple has posted an interview with James Luceno. Here are a couple of highlights:

'Cloak of Deception' leads us to the events in Episode I as well as includes some hints regarding Episode II. Because of this, the book provides very important information. What made you to decide to write this novel which directly evolves to the movies?

From my first viewing of THE PHANTOM MENACE I hoped that someone would write a novel providing backstory on the Trade Federation and the Jedi, in their role as the guardians of peace and justice for the Old Republic. I was thrilled to be given the chance to do just that. Certain elements and some of the characters featured in CLOAK are the result of decisions made by George Lucas and the editors who oversee the STAR WARS novels. Just after I completed a first draft of CLOAK, I was allowed to read the script for Episode II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES. To provide CLOAK with continuity not only to THE PHANTOM MENACE, but also to "Episode II," I rewrote some of the scenes in CLOAK to include certain senators and other characters who are slated to play important roles to the prequel films. I didn't know at the time if or how much of what I included would be permitted. But in the end, I wasn't asked to remove anything from the final draft of CLOAK.

We all eagerly anticipate your next novel. Do you have any plan to write another bridge novel or New Jedi Order Series?

I am currently in discussion with my publisher and with LucasFilm regarding another STAR WARS project. Unfortunately I'm not at liberty just now to divulge the nature of the project, or where it fits into the scheme of things.

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