Just posted an announcement on the news page about the 2009 SONG OF ICE AND FIRE calendar that the Dabel Brothers will be publishing. No need to repeat all that here; for them what’s interested, check out my website for all the details.

The calendar art is by the amazing Michael Komarck, who should need no introduction to fans of ICE & FIRE or WILD CARDS. Here’s one of the paintings.

Additionally, Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist is offering three signed copies of limited edition calendar in one of their famous contests. To enter, go and visit Pat at

http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2008/08/win-limited-edition-2009-song-of-ice.html

and follow the instructions.

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Music: When You’re a Jet, You’re a Jet All the Way
That shout you all heard last week was me, reacting to the news that Brett Favre had been traded to the Jets.

Yes, he’s old. Yes, he can drive you crazy with that now-I’m-retired, now-I’m-not stuff. But he’s still Brett Favre. This year should be a lot more exciting in the AFC East.

Could this be the year I get my Subway Superbowl?

Well, probably not. But a boy can dream.

(I am sorry to lose Chad Pennington. Chad’s taken a lot of crap from fair-weather fans, but he was a smart, tough, gutsy guy who played his heart out, and when healthy, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. All those injuries took their toll, sad to say, but I will always cherish the memory of his first year, and that 41-0 playoff win over the Colts. I hated to see him go to the Dolphins, he’s too dangerous a competitor to have in the division, but I will always wish him well… at least when he’s not playing the Jets).

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Back from Denvention, and this time I get to stay home for a while.

Worldcon is always one of the highlights of my year. (I am still sorry I missed Japan last summer). This one had some problems, admittedly. We were scattered over seven different hotels spread out across most of downtown Denver, we had to share the cavernous convention center with several other conventions, the con was way too early (worldcons should be held on Labor Day weekend, the traditional date, not the first weekend of bloody August), and the party hotel (the Sheraton) really sucked. Even so, I had a great time. Hey, it was worldcon. There are good worldcons and not-so-good worldcons, but the worst worldcon is still great.

For me, the highlight of the weekend was getting to go up and accept Michael Chabon’s Hugo for THE YIDDISH POLICEMAN’S UNION. A great book, and a great honor, and the comments Michael made in the acceptance speech he sent me were very gracious. Calling him afterward to tell him that he’d won was also great. He really did not expect it; his surprise and delight were palpable, even across a couple of thousand miles.

Melbourne won the right to host the 2010 worldcon (not unexpectedly, since they had no competition), so for all my Australian readers who have been emailing me to come visit Down Under, please circle the dates on your calendars. The Aussies always give great con. Visit the Aussiecon IV website and sign up now; memberships will never be cheaper than they are today.

We had a great time — and a good crowd — at the Wild Cards panel as well. At my reading, I read the first third of “The Mystery Knight,” my new Dunk & Egg novella, and that seemed to go over well. Did the usual round of power breakfasts, editorial lunches, and publisher dinners, had lots of good meetings on lots of projects… and, of course, there were the parties. As usual, the Brotherhood Without Banners threw the best parties at the cons. My thanks to Stego, Mr & Mrs X, Kate, Queen Julie the First, Yags, Skylark, Daj, Vanessa, and the rest of the crew, and my congratulations to the new Knights of the Tomato Pie. And a shout out to Pod and Lodey, who were missed.

Only one more trip this year (Calgary, for the World Fantasy Convention), so for all you folks who are worried that I’m having too much fun, relax. My assistant Ty is getting the grindstone back up to speed, and I am about to press my nose to it once more.

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And boy, am I tired.

Spain and Portugal were wonderful. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I have the best fans in the world. The turnout at all my appearances was phenomenal, and the warmth and generosity of my readers simply amazing. You guys are great. Thanks for everything.

I’ll try to post some reports on my adventures in the days and weeks to come, but right now I have tons to work to do, hundreds of emails to answer, and Denvention less than a week away.

More later.

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Rocked with the Boss till the early hours of the morning, and “Glory Days” is still ringing in my head.

Nuff said.

Boy, I’m tired.

Spain is amazing. Semana Negra fabulous, as always. I’ll try to tell you more when I get home. Worldcon is going to seem like a sleepy day at the beach by comparison…

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Haven’t had much opportunity to get online of late, but Parris has joined me and we’re having a great time. I’m posting this from a castle, an astonishing parador in Castile. My publisher has been taking very good care of us, and tomorrow is my first Spanish event, the signing at Generacion X in Madrid. We’re expecting a big turnout of my Spanish readers. See you there.

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Lisbon is very hot, but very very cool.

Having a great time in Portugal. The first event, last night, drew an overflow crowd. My apologies to all those who had to stand, but thanks for staying. The warmth and hospitality of my hosts and my Portuguese readers will be something I will long remember.

We have another Lisbon signing this evening, and have added a fourth event, for Thursday, this one in Porto.

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Well, I’ve made it across the ocean safe and sound. Typing this from an internet cafe.

No, I didn’t finish the novel, though not for want of trying. Nothing to be done about that but push on when I return.

Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones in Spain and Portugal.

In my absence, all my email is being handled by my assistant, Ty.

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Here are the details on my signing in Granada on July 25:

Librería Nostromo
C/ Buensuceso, 1 – Granada
Tlf: 958 523 818

from 18.00h to 21.00h

I also have the specifics for my appearances in Gijon at Semana Negra.

Saturday, July 12
6:00 pm — introduction of Corominas’ art book of A SONG OF ICE & FIRE

Sunday July 13
7:00 pm — panel w/ Scott Bakker and Paco Ignacio Taibo II
9:00 pm — Q&A chat with my translator, Cristina Macia

Those are my only official events at Semana Negra, but I will be arriving on July 11 on the Black Train, and leaving on July 15. In between, you’ll often find me at the festival, signing at the Gigamesh booth, listening to the other panels, riding the rides, drinking sangria on the fairway (will the chicken be back, I wonder?), and eating midnight dinners like the Spanish seem to do. Parris and I love to meet my readers, so if you’re there in Gijon, don’t be shy about coming up and saying hi.

That’s in July, though. Right now it’s still June and I have one day left before I leave, so I had better cut this short. Things are getting frantic, as they always do before a trip.

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