In the realm of Game of Thrones, news has been rather quiet during this final off-season. While we anxiously wait for the first teaser trailer to appear (likely waiting for several months, if I’m guessing correctly), there are some high-profile soundbites floating our way, courtesy of our Con of Thrones friend, Ashaya. Ash, one of the creators and hosts of the History of Westeros podcast was fortunate to attend World Con, where she was even more fortunate to attend an interview with the man who created Westeros himself, George R. R. Martin. Speaking in an interview with John Picacio, we gained many ‘The Winds of Winter’ spoilers a fascinating insight into the mind of fantasy’s most popular author. Since we had Ash on hand to live tweet us through the event, let’s dive in and see what George had to say!

And boy did she ever – we are so lucky to have her tweets to recap the events!

One of the incentives for #grrm to publish #FireandBlood earlier than planned was the upcoming #GameofThrones successor series. #asoiaf — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

As we reported a while ago, ‘Fire and Blood’ a massive tome of Targaryen history is due on November 20th. I’m the guy who brought a history textbook as reading material to camp one year, so we’ll see if fake history shakes out as interestingly as real history for nerds like me. I guess George had to speed up his writing process on that.

GRRM's advice to all young writers: don't take on debt. #grrm — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

For those aspiring writers out there, remember to keep an eye on your coffers…

HBO made decisions that made #GameofThrones catch up more quickly than planned (cutting content), and so #GRRM thought he'd have another two years to get #TWOW out ahead of them. #asoiaf — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

Remember how ‘A Dance with Dragons’ came out right after season 1, and we’ve seen no follow-up book since? Turns out, George was not expecting the pace of the show to move as briskly as it did.

Some people who have died in the show will never die in the books. #asoiaf #GameOfThrones #grrm — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

Does Stannis yet live?!?!?! Who will come to Gondor’s aid?!

On the future of GOT’s successor show(s?), we have quite a bit of what the teens refer to as hot goss:

1.

Goldman's #TheLongNight show is set further in the past than any of the other shows (no surprise there). #asoiaf #GameofThrones #grrm — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

2.

Some of the #GameofThrones successor shows are based on #FireandBlood material, some are based on a single sentence in #twoiaf. #asoiaf #grrm — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

3.

#GRRM has pitched HBO three #asoiaf successor show concepts (beyond the 5 we know about), none of which are in development. #GameOfThrones — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

I believe it was George Takei who introduced the words ‘Oh My!’ to English vocabulary. What are the other three premises? What sentences inspired entire shows? How much further back could we possibly go? Maybe we’re talking a real who came first, the White Walker or the Dunk Egg scenario?

Turns out George relates heavily to the season 2 debate over the nature of power:

1.

Power (creative control) is the hardest thing to get in Hollywood. #grrm #GameOfThrones — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

2.

#GRRM: Can I have script approval? Studio: how about a million dollars? GRRM: no, can I have script approval? Studio: how about 2 million and part of the gross? #GameofThrones — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

“Power is a curious thing. It’s a trick – a shadow on the wall. And those damn Hollywood tycoons never relent” – Varys, season 2

My absolute favorite quote of George’s is this biting remark:

None of it really exists, so like the version that you like. #asoiaf #GameofThrones #grrm — Ash 🌈 (@MeereeneseKnot) August 15, 2018

People have debated for centuries whether ‘the movie’ or ‘the book’ is better. I say, who cares? They are different and different is good. Things don’t have to be the same. I will die on this hill shouting that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my favorite Harry Potter book but also my least favorite movie because the movie tried too hard to be the same as the book, and did so very badly. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is my second favorite Harry Potter book and most favorite movie because of its effort to be the same story…in a DIFFERENT way. I read and loved the A Song of Ice and Fire books several years before Game of Thrones existed. I have watched and obsessed over Game of Thrones, same as all of you have. I love and appreciate their differences; they are two sides of the same coin. There are things I love about each and a few things I dislike about each. But never forget just how lucky we are to have both in our lives.

Anyway – a HUGE thank you to Ash for live tweeting what I’m sure was an incredibly exciting event. There are many more tweets from the interview, where George delves into his work outside GOT. I encourage you to head over and check it out. In the meantime, thanks again, Ash!!!