'Winds of Winter' author attending World Science Fiction Convention, full schedule released

George RR Martin may have curtailed his social engagements to focus on finishing “Winds of Winter,” but the author will be attending a few of his favourite events like the World Science Fiction Convention. The event will be held from Aug. 9 to 13 in Helsinki, Finland, and Martin has shared his full schedule for the days he will be there.

Martin wrote about the 75^th World Science Fiction Convention on his blog: “This is the oldest SF con, the one that started it all, and though it is no longer the largest, it's still the one that matters, the heart and soul of SF fandom. And for me, it's home away from home." The author will be there on all five days of the event, taking part in different activities.

On Aug. 9 Martin will start off with “Tea & Jeopardy Podcast” with Emma and Peter Newman at 4 p.m. On the next day, he will be joining the “Invented Religions” panel discussion at noon. The writer avoids discussion on “A Song of Ice and Fire” and “Winds of Winter” in the comments section of his blog if he can, but he may not be able to avoid the subject during this panel discussion, since religion is an important element of the series, especially in the upcoming novel.

On Aug. 11 Martin will be attending the HUGO Awards. The other panel discussions he will taking part in at the event are “Built Upon the Shoulders of Giants” on the 12^th and “Thirty Years of Wild Cards” on the 13^th. He will also be signing autographs on the 10^th and the 12^th.

Apart from the schedule mentioned above, Martin will be attending parties, seeing the art show and dealer’s room. He will also be having lunches and dinners with editors, agents, friends and colleagues.