If the headline combined with the above image confuses you, welcome to my world a couple of hours ago. Over on his blog George R. R. Martin posted the above image with the cryptic message, “twas beauty…”

I mean, I thought I knew what it meant, but i didn’t dare hope. GRRM has been saying since the announcement that the official Dance with Dragons release date was set in stone for July 12th, but I guess part of me was still being cautious. What can I say?  You’ve hurt me too many times, George. I had hope, but with I held on to it by a thread and with bated breath.

But this statement was just made over at SUVUDU by Anne Groell which confirmed my cautious optimism:

It is true. Kong is dead.

There were a few moments of George in a spare office yesterday,

cleaning up the last bits and inserting a few new bits in longhand, while I typed the changes into the electronic files, but we are honestly and officially done.

And there is MUCH rejoicing!

So now it’s officially official. A Dance with Dragons will release on time on July 12th, and I will be reading it on my Nook by dinner time.

Reserve your copy of A Dance with Dragons from Amazon today!

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