GAME OF THRONES: Are you a Coinie?

I wrote this piece on January 2 2014 for my comrades on a great Face Book page called GAME OF THRONES FORUM *spoilers welcomed It is a Game of Thrones fan page where we all discuss/enlighten/argue/fight/share ideas and opinions about the HBO mega-hit. Beware...there be spoilers aplenty!

This was my attempt to put us in fun, identifiable groups:

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For the NEWBIES (and Oldies to): *this is an personal opinion-post for those who wish to suckle at the teat of my Gandalf-like wisdom:

There are 3 types of Game of Thrones fans. They each have their own way of handling the ever-increasing deviations from the book that HBO are creating. I hope this list helps you face the oft times confusing posts on the forum that talk about various characters and events that may have only been in the books, only in the show or only in the time/expense conscious minds of D&D (David Benioff and D. B. Weiss)…and I hope it shows you that you are not alone.

1) Die Hard Book Fans (let’s call them Bookies): These loyalists loathe the increasing liberties D&D are taking with GRRM’s books and in consideration to the possibility that GRRM won’t keep up with the HBO series, vow not to watch the future shows that deal with unpublished sequels, even if it means years of waiting. *THEY HAVE THE PATIENCE OF A SAINT AND, OBVIOUSLY, A LIFE OUTSIDE THIS FORUM. HOW SAD.

2) Die Hard TV Fans (let’s call them HBOers): They either have read the books and could care less if HBO stays true to the word, or they refuse to read the books and are quite happy to just watch the show as is. Bring it on HBO. *THEY ARE IN IT FOR THE SEX SCENES. AND THE IMP. HOW SAD.

3) Coin Collectors (let’s call them Coinies): This fan base loves the books and the shows…not necessarily equally, but enough to have separated the books from the show and have decided to view them as two separate entities: two different sides of the same coin. They will enjoy the show with all its deviations, changes and character-blending and consider them the same way a fan of alternate-ending books /movies does…with a keen curiosity on how things will turn out on that side of the coin, but still eagerly awaiting the books to see how the real story plays out and ends on the true side of the coin. *THEY ARE BISEXUAL, BIPOLAR, BIODEGRADABLE AND RIDE BI-CYCLES. HOW SAD.

I am sure there are hybrids of this list but in general, these groups all play and suffer well together on this forum. Feel free to label yourself as you please.

I am a Coinie. Which are you?

PRAISEWORDY DAY

Yes, I know, the word is ‘praiseworthy’, but hey…words are what I do. One perk of writing is being able to make up words and languages. Ask J.R.R Tolkien*.

*Looking at the massively famous/popular/prolific JRRTolkien and GRRMartin, I am considering changing my name to DRRSevier-Fries. The RR has got to be some sort of demonic, sell-your-soul-to-the-devil symbol, which, by the way, I am totally open to…

To receive fame and fortune was never a goal of my wanting to be a writer. Fame would be cool for a while but from what I can see of celebrity, well, I think I’ll pass. As far as fortune goes, the truth is, I was married to a wealthy man and had more security and cash than one should hope for in a lifetime, and I was miserable. I had a stalemate, not a soulmate.

At present, I am a busy quill pusher who supplements my writing career by running (with my fine, imported soulmate) a wee family oriented motel in the bowl of a rim of mountains called Hope, BC Canada and although we live simply and have a steady but decidedly average income, I could not be happier. (*well, not unless Sean Bean came to town dressed as Boromir and wanted me to test every mattress in the place with him…but that might not happen.) 

But as happy as I am, I am over-the-moon happier today because of one incident. It reinforced the one thing I have discovered that I DO want to get out of my writing: Praise. I received a smidgeon of unexpected praise today and it blew me away. Far too much, obviously, but it was a rush nonetheless:

An innocuous little blurb from a stranger on a Face Book group made my day. My week. My month. 

I got a 5 star rating for my book once that sent me reeling too, but somehow, this praise was even more validating. Go figure. Maybe I am just an insecure storyteller who appeals to 2 or 3 people.

Well then…so be it. But those 2 or 3 people are now in my Will.