George RR Martin opens up about mental health: ‘The worst may be yet to come’
In a rare new blog entry, George R. R. Martin has shared a personal update after months of quiet.
If you've wondered why George R. R. Martin's been suspiciously quiet lately (well, more quiet than usual), the author himself has now emerged from the digital shadows to explain what's been going on. And honestly, it sounds like it's been a bit of a whirlwind – both personally and professionally.
Long Silence, Honest Reflections
Martin popped up on his blog with a self-aware opener – apparently, his last actual update was ages ago (back in February). Everything since then has been from his staff, or as he calls them, his 'mighty minions'. Turns out, even with help, he's still struggled to keep up. He admits the year so far has been just about as rough as you'd expect from a man whose world is full of sudden deaths and dragons: a mix of exciting developments and personal losses. On the mental health front, he's not sugar-coating anything – it's all been a bit much.
Opening up in his latest blog post, Martin admitted: 'So much has been happening, it's been overwhelming. Some great things, exciting things. Dreams coming true. But there have been nightmares too. I have lost friends. Battled sadness and depression. The worst may be yet to come.'
At 77, Martin says ageing is no picnic, but points out it's not all doom and gloom – there have been some 'amazing times' as well.
Emmy Nods For A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
On a less bleak note, Martin's genuinely chuffed about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms snagging nine Emmy nominations this year, including Best Drama. That's not bad for a show that could still be considered the young, scrappy cousin to Thrones. The series is also up for awards like Costumes, Special Visual Effects, Hairstyling – basically, all the bells and whistles that make a fantasy show look top tier.
Martin added that he's 'proud of our team, and hope we take home a few of the statues, but I will confess that I was hoping we'd get a few of the acting nominations as well. But there's always next year.'
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are set for Monday, 14 September at the Peacock Theater in LA. Martin says he hopes to be there, but can't promise anything just yet – sounds a bit like everything in his world, so fair enough.