The episode I scripted for the third season of HBO’s GAME OF THRONES has been retitled.
It was formerly “Autumn Storms,” which I never much liked… but the episode did have a lot of rain in it.
The rain went away. So did the title.
The episode is now “Chains.” I like that better. And it works on both a literal and metaphorical level.
It will still be the seventh show of the season, episode 307.
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For all of you who have been clamoring, I have a somewhat belated Xmas/ New Year’s gift, a new sample chapter from THE WINDS OF WINTER. You can find it on my website.
This one features Arianne Martell, Princess of Dorne.
(And here she is, couresty of Fantasy Flight Games and Magali Villeneuve)
Read, enjoy, discuss, and speculate to your heart’s content… but not here, please, there are better places for that, like the forums at Westeros and Tower of the Hand.
Me, I have a lot more writing to do. On WINDS, and half a dozen other projects.
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… to London.
She left a few moments ago for the airport, to spend a week in Old Blighty visiting with friends, spoiling the godchildren, and seeing the Pre-Rafaelite exhibition at the Tate, which is supposed to be amazing.
I’m staying here, to hold down the fort and write. And write, and write, and edit, and write some more. Too much damn work to do, and I am way behind on everything.
But I’m bummed. Especially about missing that Tate exhibition, which closes in a week or so. All work and no play…
((I really do need to learn to say no. I swear, I’m trying. No, NO, NOOOOOOOOO)).
Miss the Phipps already. Take good care of her over there, you Barmy Brits.
I shall labor on, writing fake history, feeding the many monkeys on my back.
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And she’s bringing Bugsy with her. (Well, maybe not intentionally, but it’s hard to keep Bugsy out).
For all you Wild Cards fans out there who are tired of waiting for the next book… we have a little treat coming to tide you over, a brand new original never-before-published Wild Cards story, not part of any previous anthology or mosaic novel.
It’s called “When We Were Heroes,” it’s by Daniel Abraham, it features Curveball and Bugsy.
Look for it (not yet, but soon, soon) on Tor.com — as an ebook, natch. For the moment, that’s the only way it will be available. Eventually we hope to collect this story and a few other Wild Cards originals in an actual paper book, but that will probably be a few years down the line, when we have enough material.
That’s the “cover” up above, by the amazing Hugo-winning John Picacio, and my, ain’t it swell?
Elsewhere in the Wild Cards universe, the JOKERS WILD reprint is in Tor’s pipeline, we’re adding two new stories to the ACES ABROAD reprint that will follow (as we did for volume one), LOWBALL is edging closer to delivery, and we’ll be moving right on to HIGH STAKES after that. We have more Wild Cards originals coming up on Tor.com too, so keep an eye on that site.
UPDATE: Just got some new information from my friends at Tor.
“When We Were Heroes” will debut on the Tor.com website on JANUARY 16, at 9 AM (Eastern). The ebook version will be available for purchase “about a week later.”
Also, the JOKERS WILD reissure has been scheduled for February 2014, as a trade paperback.
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/>Music: 100 Bottles of Beer Onna Wall
You don’t have to drink to enjoy GAME OF THRONES (or my books, for that matter)… but, hey, it can’t hurt.
The latest deal from HBO’s amazing marketing and subrights division is (three blasts on a warhorn, please): BEER.
(Or BHEER as trufans call it)
Really BIG bottles of bheer too. Robert Baratheon would approve. If he’d only drunk bheer instead of strongwine that day in the forest…
Here’s the official release with all the official information:
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Brewery Ommegang and HBO® announce first-of-its-kind collaboration behind hit drama Game of Thrones®
Belgian-style brewery develops, Iron Throne, a Blond Ale, crafted in the spirit of the hit TV series
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) Brewery Ommegang and HBO are partnering on a series of beers inspired by the critically-acclaimed drama Game of Thrones. Launching in tandem with the season three debut on March 31, Iron Throne, a Blonde Ale, is the inaugural beer in the series and the result of a creative collaboration between Brewmaster Phil Leinhart and HBO.
Unlike previous efforts by brewers which were typically executed as !˜brewed under license’ arrangements or straightforward product placement pushes, the collaboration between Ommegang and HBO is focused on developing unique beers that are named and crafted to directly tie into themes and nuances of the medieval-like fantasy realm of Westeros and the surrounding kingdoms, where the competition to sit on the Iron Throne is fierce and deadly.
Both HBO and Ommegang take great pride in a shared reputation for producing the best in their respective fields: award-winning series that are lauded as some of the best written and produced programming on TV, and award-winning beers recognized as amongst the most elegant and well-crafted.
!œWe are extremely pleased to have selected Brewery Ommegang, while there’s a lot of competition in the marketplace, Ommegang’s expertise and attention to detail in the industry make them the perfect fit for the Game of Thrones brand,! said Josh Goodstadt, Director, Global Licensing, HBO. !œCapturing the authenticity, essence and nature of the show, Iron Throne has the richness, quality and all of the elements one would expect in a fine ale.!
!œHBO has been the definitive producer of high-quality, innovative and !˜water-cooler-worthy’ original programming, and Game of Thrones continues that legacy,! said Simon Thorpe, President and CEO of Brewery Ommegang and Duvel Moortgat USA. !œWhat better partner for our brewery which prides itself on re-imagining the best of beer? Game of Thrones is rich, fascinating, complex, daring and unexpected. Many lovers of Ommegang feel the same way about our fine ales. We think it’s a unique partnership for two unique brands.!
!œNo one enjoys their job more than I do — producing and developing new brews to delight lovers of fine beer,! said Phil Leinhart, Brewmaster at Brewery Ommegang, !œAdd to that the opportunity to collaborate on a beer based on the cultural phenomenon of Game of Thrones and exploring ways to make the beer truly reflect aspects from the show. It made us approach development in a completely new way and I think the first edition Iron Throne reveals that. With a Lannister currently on the throne, it made sense to do a delicate, but piercing Golden Blonde Ale with Noble hops. Iron Throne is certainly fair in color and soft in appearance, yet it still possesses a complexity and bite to be on guard for.!
Iron Throne will be nationally available on draft and in 750ml bottles, for the suggested retail price of $8.50 per bottle, beginning in mid- to late-March and will be followed by the launch of additional beers.
Brewery Ommegang, part of the the legendary Belgian brewer Duvel Moortgat family, opened in 1997 to craft-brew fine Belgian-style ales. The brewery creates six ales year-round, as well as an extensive and imaginative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 45 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York, USA and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 100-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year’s Day. For more information, please contact info@ommegang.com, call 1-800-544-1809, or visit www.ommegang.com. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers. Follow Ommegang on Twitter: #breweryommegang Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/Ommegang. Instagram: BREWERY OMMEGANG
About HBO Global Licensing
HBO Global Licensing officially licenses the HBO® brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network’s award-winning programming. With products created around classic series like the The Sopranos® and Sex and the City® to current hits like True Blood® and Game of Thrones®, items include fashion apparel, jewelry, digital and CD soundtracks, games, books as well as exclusive, premium collections in partnership with upscale, designer brands. Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop®, located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City. HBO Licensing & Retail products are also sold internationally across Europe, Asia and Australia.”
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So there you are. And if this beer does well, more ales and beers will be forthcoming. I make no promises about dreamwine, hippocras, Arbor gold, or sourleaf… but you never ever know….
So come March, fill your tankard and quaff hearty. But remember not to drink and fly your dragon.
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Welcome to 2013. everyone. Hope you’re all not too hungover this morning.
No wild parties for us this year, alas. We sat at home and read. Nothing much on television, but good books never let you down.
To kick off the new year, here’s a peek at two new figures coming from Dark Sword — Strong Belwas and Margaery Tyrell, sculpted by Tom Meier and painted by Jen Haley.
Amazing work, I think you’ll agree. Unpainted versions will be available soon from Dark Sword. Be sure and keep an eye on their website. Lots more cool stuff coming for 2013.
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