George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, from Bayonne, New Jersey, wrote the novels on which the HBO television series "Game of Thrones" is based. He will be attending a minor-league baseball event that honors his work. Reuters

“Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin will be making an appearance in Staten Island, New York, on Aug. 8. He will be the featured guest on “Game of Thrones Night,” being hosted by the minor-league Staten Island Yankees.

The team plays in the Class-A (Short Season) New York-Penn League. The event will be held at Richmond County Bank Ballpark, near the St. George ferry terminal.

According to SILive.com, the Staten Island Yankees and Hudson Valley Renegades will wear special jerseys inspired by the popular HBO series. The TV show is based on the “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels written by Martin.

The celebrity author is expected to interact with fans of both baseball and “Game of Thrones.”

Martin notably skipped this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to focus on the sixth installment of “A Song of Ice and Fire.” The novel, which is titled “Winds of Winter,” is highly anticipated because the TV show has now used up the material from the first five novels.

As he works to finish the new novel, Martin has become selective when it comes to public appearances. But he agreed to attend the minor-league baseball game, even though the host club is a New York Yankees affiliate. Martin, a New Jersey resident, is a fan of the rival New York Mets.

To rectify the situation, SILive.com reported that the Staten Island Yankees agreed to call themselves the “Staten Island Direwolves” for one game. A direwolf is a fictional character that appears in “Game of Thrones.”

Fans can expect a lot of other “Game of Thrones”-themed activities during the special event. There will be a “Red Wedding” reenactment, photo opportunities with a baseball bat adaptation of the Iron Throne, as well as the presence of a live wolf.

Proceeds from the event will reportedly go to the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico. Tickets for the event as well as the full schedule of minor-league baseball promotional activities may be seen at the MILB website.

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