Game of Thrones (“GOT”) is the most popular fantasy series today, and deservedly so. I enjoy the books and am thrilled that the TV series is so well done.

I am looking forward to tonight’s episode, but mostly wanted to post this meme I just made and also to share my George R.R. Martin story.

I met George R.R. Martin at a convention last fall where we were both guest authors. Well, him more than me. (If you don’t know about my novels, click here.) I had previously met him probably ten years ago at another convention — before the Game of Thrones TV show — but we never spoke at that time.

As it turned out, Martin’s room was right down the hall from mine and we kept ending up in the elevator together. He knew I wasn’t stalking him because most of those times, I was in the elevator before him.

The first time there were some other fans on the elevator who asked for a picture with him, and he obliged. They got off before our floor, so it was just us. We walked out and headed down the hall and the conversation went like this:

Martin: I do get tired of posing for pictures all the time.

Me: Well, you’re quite famous now.

Martin: I wasn’t unknown before.

Me: True, among us. But you were never a guest on Conan before.

Martin: True.

Around the third time we were on the elevator together, he pushed he button for our floor and then asked the others what floors they needed, and then after everyone left, he turned to me.

Martin: I always wanted to be an elevator operator. If the writing thing hadn’t worked out…

We both laughed and went on to our rooms.

The final time we ended up together, the conversation went like this:

Me: I finally figured out why you have a character named “Hodor.”

Martin: Oh?

Me: I was thinking about your comment about wanting to be an elevator operator. It’s clear to me now that “Hodor” is short for “Hold the door.”

Martin: (laughing) You don’t know how close to the truth you are!

So there you have it. If we ever learn why Hodor says “Hodor” (which, as readers know, is not his given name) and it has something to do with elevators, remember: You read it here first.

EDIT: Follow-up years later (with a special guest appearance by George RR Martin)