What are you reading right now? (possible RotE spoilers)

[Nuytsia]

Yeah a huge hardcover book! That's it.
I also have the huge version of ASOS!

Well I probably should have read Dreamsongs in order, but I didn't!
It's a library book so I can see me not finishing it before it's due back.
The one I referred to above was 'Only Kids are Afraid of the Dark'.

Today I read The Hedge Knight. I had to read that because I had heard there were a few short stories about Westeros.
I quite liked it, although there was a little TOO much detail on heraldry (what colour everybody's shield was and what was on it, and what their pavillion was like.....). I KNOW GRRM really seems to love that stuff.
I liked the reference to ******errrr tiny spoiler if you havent read it *****Aemon going off to his studies (later to turn up in ASOIAF as Maester Aemon). Yay someone I knew!!!!!
Then of course after I finished it I had to look up on the web who was who from the Targaryens mentioned in the story. It's mind blowing how much detail GRRM has put into the background stories of the royal lines and all the other noble houses. If I were to write I'm not sure I could go down that route...... it's quite Tolkeinesque I guess in a way.

I was also thinking about authors writing short stories. I often wonder geeee don't they use up their good ideas/ what if they want to later use one of those ideas for a novel (or a huge series of novels!)
It was quite comforting to see that this must indeed happen, as a few of the names I spotted in some of the short stories (not set in Westeros) are recycled in ASOIAF!!!