Shannon Rae Green

Novelist George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame stars in a now-viral video touting his unique charity contest. The top prize, given to two people who each donate a whopping $20,000 donation? The chance to get a character in a new book named after you — one who would eventually, like so many other Martin characters who have met grisly deaths, be killed off.

At least, it was the chance to appear in the book. It took less than a day for two people to step forward with the cash to see their names featured in an upcoming Song of Ice and Fire novel.

In fact, the campaign took just one day to meet its original goal of $200,000 — a goal now stretched to $400,000.

The author is raising money for two charities: the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and The Food Depot, a food bank in New Mexico. And there are more prizes: The higher the donation, the more entries you get into a contest to spend the day with Martin and to visit the wolf sanctuary, plus other prizes are available for specific amounts.

Tweet your thoughts about the contest using #ZoomIN.