George R. R. Martin in Estonia

[Raul]

(How I met today George R. R. Martin)

When I read our local news from the internet this morning I almost choked my coffee – there was written very clearly, that today 13th July at 17.00 in one of our trading centre bookstore in Tallinn is possible to met with GRRM himself. The absolute lack of advertising made it so shocking. Come on, when some B-rated star comes to visit us, TV and radio will be trumpeting that months before, but now when the best living writer in the world comes here… silence. Later I learned that it was last minute call. GRRM was during 10-12 July in Finncon in Helsinki as a guest of honor. Our local publishing company, who translates ASOIAF into Estonian, just published second part of “A Clash of Kings”, saw golden opportunity to PR-job and called him here to meet his Estonian fans also. At last moment Martin agreed .
At last I started to believe that news is not a joke and after storming some time from one room to other like a panicked duck, I started to make preparations. I took a blank of paper and started to figure out what a hell I am going to ask from him. The most sad thing was – I didn’t figured it out. There was million of questions I wanted to ask and there was nothing to ask. I am pretty sure that somewhere in this or some other forum is a thread “what to ask from GRRM when you meet with him”, but my brain was still paralyzed and after all, I was afraid that there will be no time for questions, Martin will quickly give some autographs and disappear as a comet. I really don’t like take pictures and autographs from celebrities, so I decided that autograph from GRRM is gonna be my first and last autograph. First I wanted to buy that new translation, but later I changed my mind and took my old good soft paberback “A Game Of Thrones” in english and which I bought in 2006, with me. It was more symbolical.
I arrived into that bookstore half an hour earlier, which was a good thing , because most seats has already been taken. It was abnormally small room for that kind of meeting, there was some 30-40 people plus media and room was already full. But in the end there was some 100-150 people standing behind my seating! Martin was too already there (with Parris) giving interview to some newspaper. He looked just like in that photography – black shirt, patriarchal grey beard and that funny black hat. He seemed to me very full of life, maybe a little bit tired but so was Parris. Well, they were far from home…
OK, so the meeting started and of course first thing Martin said – to we have any questions to him?
I took the deep breath but some young fellow was faster and asked: Are Lady Merryweather and Varys same thing? (Jeez, what kind crackpot theory is this?) But Martin just grinned and answered: no, absolutely not, we will hear about Varys very soon!
And then was my big moment. I stood up, and with a very, very, very shaking voice, which made me feel just like a twin brother of Podrick Payne, asked next question, it was so original, so unusual, so … dull, it was – when mister Martin will finish “A Dance With Dragons”?
Well, “mister Martin” looked at me with compassion and answered very friendly, that he is very, very positive finishing book between late September and early October. In that case release date in England will be February 2010, in US later.
Next question. Is Dolorous Edd Martin’s “alter ego”? Answer - no, he was just some minor character who suddenly became major character.
Next question. What about that 5 year timecap that GRRM planned so that children can mature and dragons grow up? Well, Martin answered that question about 10 minutes, so very short version will be next: dragons grow up hundreds of years so we will never see in that book those dragons as big as Baleryon. About timecap? Well he didn’t answered directly, but he made pretty clear that it is quite impossible now. He took Jon Snow for example. How can he leave 5 year timecap in his life? What to do with wildlings and Others? Write that they were 5-year vacation in Bahama? GRRM has a great sense of humor!
Question. What about HBO series? Answer. It starts October 2009 in Ireland. And Tunesia.
Question. Doesn’t Martin afraid, what will Hollywood will do with his books? Martin answered, that from one of his writer’s friend was asked same question ( I believe his name is James Caine or something). The writer showed bookshelf and answered: There are standing my books. Hollywood has done nothing with them.
Next question was really rude. Some jerk dared to ask from GRRM, will some other writer finish his job (like wheel of times) when something happens to Martin. You should have seen the face of Parris! But Martin just laughed merrily and answered something like: oh no, if I die before finishing ASOIAF, this will be really **** luck to you, my dear readers!
There was a question about Tolkien and GRRM. Martin answered again some 10 minutes so I will not repeat it. Just two phrases. 1. The bittersweet ending of ALOTR waked in Martin immortal love against bittersweet endings and despise against happy endings. 2. Martin repeated again his famous phrase :” they can keep their Paradise. When I die I’d better go to Middle-Earth.” (I was ready to die for GRRM for that).
Well, mostly so the meeting ended. It took almost one hour, there were some other questions too, but I don’t remember them well right now. We lined up for autographs. When I get Martin’s autograph, I was able to mutter just “Thank you for everything”.

Some notes.
1.George Martin is just GREAT!!! Not Just a writer, but as a person too. He is just that kind of person you want to be your friend. I jut would liked to walk and chat with him in our Old Town streets – it is very medieval looking and we have there many medieval themes great restaurants.
I really hope that GRRM and Parris had time to do it!
2. George Martin hates buses. I mean, he really HATES THEM! Whats his beef with the buses? Almost every time, when he reasoned why he will not do that thing or that thing, was fear to hit by the bus.
3. the autograph, what I get from GRRM , was next: “Raul, keep your sword sharp!”

[The Imp]

Originally Posted by Raul

(How I met today George R. R. Martin)

When I read our local news from the internet this morning I almost choked my coffee – there was written very clearly, that today 13th July at 17.00 in one of our trading centre bookstore in Tallinn is possible to met with GRRM himself. The absolute lack of advertising made it so shocking. Come on, when some B-rated star comes to visit us, TV and radio will be trumpeting that months before, but now when the best living writer in the world comes here… silence. Later I learned that it was last minute call. GRRM was during 10-12 July in Finncon in Helsinki as a guest of honor. Our local publishing company, who translates ASOIAF into Estonian, just published second part of “A Clash of Kings”, saw golden opportunity to PR-job and called him here to meet his Estonian fans also. At last moment Martin agreed .
At last I started to believe that news is not a joke and after storming some time from one room to other like a panicked duck, I started to make preparations. I took a blank of paper and started to figure out what a hell I am going to ask from him. The most sad thing was – I didn’t figured it out. There was million of questions I wanted to ask and there was nothing to ask. I am pretty sure that somewhere in this or some other forum is a thread “what to ask from GRRM when you meet with him”, but my brain was still paralyzed and after all, I was afraid that there will be no time for questions, Martin will quickly give some autographs and disappear as a comet. I really don’t like take pictures and autographs from celebrities, so I decided that autograph from GRRM is gonna be my first and last autograph. First I wanted to buy that new translation, but later I changed my mind and took my old good soft paberback “A Game Of Thrones” in english and which I bought in 2006, with me. It was more symbolical.
I arrived into that bookstore half an hour earlier, which was a good thing , because most seats has already been taken. It was abnormally small room for that kind of meeting, there was some 30-40 people plus media and room was already full. But in the end there was some 100-150 people standing behind my seating! Martin was too already there (with Parris) giving interview to some newspaper. He looked just like in that photography – black shirt, patriarchal grey beard and that funny black hat. He seemed to me very full of life, maybe a little bit tired but so was Parris. Well, they were far from home…
OK, so the meeting started and of course first thing Martin said – to we have any questions to him?
I took the deep breath but some young fellow was faster and asked: Are Lady Merryweather and Varys same thing? (Jeez, what kind crackpot theory is this?) But Martin just grinned and answered: no, absolutely not, we will hear about Varys very soon!
And then was my big moment. I stood up, and with a very, very, very shaking voice, which made me feel just like a twin brother of Podrick Payne, asked next question, it was so original, so unusual, so … dull, it was – when mister Martin will finish “A Dance With Dragons”?
Well, “mister Martin” looked at me with compassion and answered very friendly, that he is very, very positive finishing book between late September and early October. In that case release date in England will be February 2010, in US later.
Next question. Is Dolorous Edd Martin’s “alter ego”? Answer - no, he was just some minor character who suddenly became major character.
Next question. What about that 5 year timecap that GRRM planned so that children can mature and dragons grow up? Well, Martin answered that question about 10 minutes, so very short version will be next: dragons grow up hundreds of years so we will never see in that book those dragons as big as Baleryon. About timecap? Well he didn’t answered directly, but he made pretty clear that it is quite impossible now. He took Jon Snow for example. How can he leave 5 year timecap in his life? What to do with wildlings and Others? Write that they were 5-year vacation in Bahama? GRRM has a great sense of humor!
Question. What about HBO series? Answer. It starts October 2009 in Ireland. And Tunesia.
Question. Doesn’t Martin afraid, what will Hollywood will do with his books? Martin answered, that from one of his writer’s friend was asked same question ( I believe his name is James Caine or something). The writer showed bookshelf and answered: There are standing my books. Hollywood has done nothing with them.
Next question was really rude. Some jerk dared to ask from GRRM, will some other writer finish his job (like wheel of times) when something happens to Martin. You should have seen the face of Parris! But Martin just laughed merrily and answered something like: oh no, if I die before finishing ASOIAF, this will be really **** luck to you, my dear readers!
There was a question about Tolkien and GRRM. Martin answered again some 10 minutes so I will not repeat it. Just two phrases. 1. The bittersweet ending of ALOTR waked in Martin immortal love against bittersweet endings and despise against happy endings. 2. Martin repeated again his famous phrase :” they can keep their Paradise. When I die I’d better go to Middle-Earth.” (I was ready to die for GRRM for that).
Well, mostly so the meeting ended. It took almost one hour, there were some other questions too, but I don’t remember them well right now. We lined up for autographs. When I get Martin’s autograph, I was able to mutter just “Thank you for everything”.

Some notes.
1.George Martin is just GREAT!!! Not Just a writer, but as a person too. He is just that kind of person you want to be your friend. I jut would liked to walk and chat with him in our Old Town streets – it is very medieval looking and we have there many medieval themes great restaurants.
I really hope that GRRM and Parris had time to do it!
2. George Martin hates buses. I mean, he really HATES THEM! Whats his beef with the buses? Almost every time, when he reasoned why he will not do that thing or that thing, was fear to hit by the bus.
3. the autograph, what I get from GRRM , was next: “Raul, keep your sword sharp!”

Thanks for the update. I'll keep my figners crossed about that timeline

[TK-421]

I love it! What a great story.

And I love GRRM's answer to the question of what if he dies before he finishes the series. Classic!

[Werthead]

Excellent and encouraging news

Now we just have to wait until the moaning and wailing and gnashing of teeth when we don't get an update on October 1st to begin

He sounds really positive and happy though. He normally gets really cheesed off if anyone raises the mortality question. The last time he laughed it off was just before he finished AFFC, IIRC.

[MIDNIGHT]

Thank you so much Rual !! Really appreciate the breakdown. * Fingers crossed about the release date * Good for you to ask him about it, I would have been to awe struck. Jealous that you had the opportunity to meet with him.

[Ran]

Excellent report, Raul! Thanks. I'd love to include it in the So Spake Martin collection at Westeros.org, to go along with other singing reports we have up there, if you're willing; you'd be credited as the source.

[the smiling weirwood]

I saw that he was going to Estonia on his blog! How exciting and awesome for you! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

I keep wishing he'd come to a Southern city like Memphis or New Orleans so I could make his signing....

[Werthead]

Originally Posted by the smiling weirwood

I saw that he was going to Estonia on his blog! How exciting and awesome for you! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

I keep wishing he'd come to a Southern city like Memphis or New Orleans so I could make his signing....

He's in Kansas City next May (okay, not very close) and I believe sometimes attends cons in the New Orleans area unless he's bogged down with work (as has been the case for the last few years).

[Werthead]

Just heard from Parris that GRRM is sure he didn't say Tunisia. The secondary filming location is and remains Morocco.

Also, GRRM is optimistic about the autumn 2009 date but wants it made clear it is not set in stone.

[Wiggum]

He's sounds like on awesome fella' from all accounts, thanks for the report Raul, glad you had an exceptional time.

[Boaz]

Raul, my friend, thank you very much for the heartfelt story. You conveyed your urgency quite well.

I was afraid that there will be no time for questions, Martin will quickly give some autographs and disappear as a comet.

I'm glad you had the opportunity to meet him and then relay the experience to us.

[Amat]

There's an interesting interview (in English) made by Free! Magazine after the signing in Tallinn. Unfortunately I can't post the links yet, but you can find it by googling
"Free! Magazine The man who dances with dragons – Interview with fiction writer George R.R. Martin"

[Werthead]

This would be the one.

[The Imp]

Originally Posted by Werthead

This would be the one.

thanks for that link

So, there will be 2 vidoe games, one RTS and one role

his goal is September or October

and it's already the end of July