George R.R. Martin returns home, resumes work on The Winds of Winter

A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin gave fans a little update on his Not a Blog the other day, recapping a quick tour of the midwest. “I was on the road for ten days back in June, to Evanston (where I went to school, 1966-1971), Chicago (where I lived after school, 1971-1976), and Dubuque (where I taught school, 1976-1979).”

During his travels, Martin gave an interview to Chicago station WTTW where he admitted that he wished he’d been able to write his books fast enough that HBO’s Game of Thrones wouldn’t catch up with him. But lest you wonder what he’s doing traveling when the next book in the series, The Winds of Winter, still isn’t done, he’s mentioned how productive he’s been lately, even calling 2020 “the best year I’ve had on WOW since I began it,” and that this was his first time away from Westeros in a long while. “It was the first time I’d left home and/or cabin in a year and a half, since the start of the pandemic and the quarantine,” Martin wrote. “I have to say, it was great to get away from my office chair, even if it was only for a few days.”

“The cabin” refers to a remote outpost where Martin goes to be alone with his work. “Every morning I wake up and go straight to the computer,” he wrote of the experience in a different blog post. “Then I start to write. Sometimes I stay at it until dark. Other days I break off in late afternoon to answer emails or return urgent phone calls. My assistant brings me food and drink from time to time. When I finally break off for the day, usually around sunset, there’s dinner. Then we watch television or screen a movie…Some nights I read instead.”

It sounds like he’s back to that routine now, or about to be. And whatever other projects we hear about him getting involved in, it sounds like Winds remains his top priority. “The woods were lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and books to write before I sleep,” he finished.

George R.R. Martin not ready to reveal reason for visit

Martin also had this interesting note about his visit to Dubuque: “The reason for my visit was… ah, well, no, can’t tell you that, not yet…”

I wouldn’t hold out hope for that being anything Winds of Winter-related, but Martin does know to raise an eyebrow, doesn’t he?

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