George RR Martin releases 5th novel today!

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Things have certainly changed for Martin, 62, since his book tour for A Game of Thrones in 1996. At a Dallas bookstore, he was thrilled to see hundreds of people until he realized they were parents and kids. "Clifford the Big Red Dog crushed me," he recalls. "There were like 12 people to see me. It was humbling."

On a recent visit to Slovenia, 2,000 fans stood in line to meet Martin, who now gets recognized in airports. "It's flattering if a little disconcerting," he says.

- USA TODAY