I prefer to work with grey characters rather than black and white.

But my philosophy is that plot advancement is not what the experience of reading fiction is about. If all we care about is advancing the plot, why read novels? We can just read Cliffs Notes.

His cloak was his crowning glory; sable, thick and black and soft as sin.

When you know what a man wants you know who he is, and how to move him.

The real issue lies in the North beyond the Wall. Stannis becomes one of the few characters fully to understand that, which is why in spite of everything he is a righteous man.

I've said in many interviews that I like my fiction to be unpredictable. I like there to be considerable suspense.

Give me priests who are fat and corrupt and cynical,(...) the sort who like to sit on soft satin cushions, nibble sweetmeats, and diddle little boys. It's the ones who believe in gods who make the trouble. (Tyrion)