I’m glad that I was finally able to blog about worldcon and the Alfies. We got back from Europe in the middle of August, and it was my original hope to have that one up by the end of the month. HOO HA! Too much trip, too little time.
And a lot has been going on since then.
IN THE LOST LANDS, adapted from my 1972 Grey Alys story, was released on March 7. We had a full house at the Jean Cocteau for the premiere. I’ve heard that it will hit streaming on April 8, but I don’t know if that date is locked in yet.
Something else is going to be happening on April 8 as well. (Or maybe on April 9). No, I am not announcing the completion of THE WINDS OF WINTER, the sixth volume of A SONG OF ICE & FIRE. Please don’t start any rumors to that effect. I am so tired of having to issue denials every time some offhand comment of mine, most having nothing to do with WINDS, somehow convinces half the internet that the book is imminent. It’s not. No. (Maybe I need to stop making offhand comments)
So calm down. (Until April 8, anyway. Then you can get excited all over again, but for an entirely different reason.
The third season of DARK WINDS, based on Tony Hillerman’s classic tales of Navajo detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, made its debut on AMC and AMC+ on March 9, to strong ratings and even stronger reviews. One critic said its past time to give Zahn McClarnon an Emmy. I can only agree. DW has eight episode this season (up from six for seasons 1 and 2). We’ll have eight episodes in season four as well… and filming has already started filming. Zahn himself is directing episode one! We’re all excited about that. Kiowa, Bernadette, Chris Eyre, Stephen Paul Judd, New Mexico’s amazing landscapes… lots of reasons to watch this one, if you haven’t done so already. As for those two guys playing chess in the jail cell in episode one… yes, could be one was the Sundance Kid, but t’other hombre… some guy from the Twilight Zone?
DARK WINDS is shooting just north of Santa Fe, at Camel Rock Studios. Meanwhile, over in London, season three of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON has also started filming. You’ll be getting eight episodes of that one too. Hitting the air in 2026, best guess.
A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS will come first. Six episodes, the HBO adaptation of the first Dunk & Egg novella, “The Hedge Knight.” I just watched it again last week, the latest cuts. It’s looking good, I think. I love it lots, but I’m not one to judge. Meantime, in London Towne, Ira Parker and his team are huddled together beating out “The Sworn Sword,” the second Dunk and Egg adventure. It is such a joy to see the characters come alive, so vividly. Watching them makes me want to start writing the next novella tomorrow… but of course, I can’t. Too many other things to do.
Oh, I should mention THE IRON THRONE. The play, not the chair. I caught up on that when I was in London last month. We do not have a theatre yet, or a cast, or a date… but they are making progress, and everyone is very excited. I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t. Not quite yet. But we’re getting close and closer. I am hoping we’ll know a lot more by year’s end.
I also visited the Dickens house when I was in London. That was great too. Love Dickens. I need to read more of his books, though, so I bought four more of them when I was there.
And before I forget: the Milk of the Poppy is now open. (Like half a year late, but that’s the story of my life, I think). It’s in Santa Fe, just behind Beastly Books and around the corner from the Jean Cocteau Cinema.
Read all about it:
https://www.milkofthepoppybar.com/
https://www.abqjournal.com/lifestyle/article_33310b62-eceb-11ef-9b69-8326c024bbf7.html
No, you won’t find me tending bar in Milk of the Poppy, but you may catch me having a drink from time to time. Seven save me, there are days I really need one.
