The other details including the content of his talk and the Q&A have already been reported, so I won't repeat it, except to say that I was the one to ask if he intended to issue a pronunciation guide. I've always been a stickler for pronunciation, going back to being a lifelong Tolkien fan (the Professor was extremely particular about this, of course), so I've always wanted to know how Martin himself pronounces names. But I guess it's nice to know that Martin is pretty flexible about. His exact words were "You can pronounce it however you like."
Since I got to ask my question during the Q&A, I didn't want to hog the signing time with another question, so I just thanked him for taking the time to do this, and for writing the books and for introducing me to Jack Vance. I could tell he was pretty tired from the tour, yet he was very gracious to everyone. Although, I did notice this exchange between him and someone ahead of me: He asked her how she was doing, and she said she was tired. He said "YOU'RE tired?" He left unsaid the obvious "...how do you think I feel."
All in all, a very good experience for my first signing/meeting ever, mainly because I was extremely lucky to be have been 'upgraded' as it were. I'm positive it sucked for 75% of the people who were there who couldn't sit/hear/etc.
Not to be biased as a native New Jerseyan [ok, stop with the jokes, besides GRRM's from Jersey, too], but they really should hold these things in more spacious venues - the B&N in Paramus or Clifton would be perfect - they're huge. Plus half the crowd was probably from Jersey anyway. Or at least they could have a NYC signing and Jersey signing. I guess the organizers just didn't expect the crowd they got, but how could they not?? He's a best-seller and this was basically the only signing in the NE corridor. Ah well, I can't imagine what time he left the place, there were probably about 400-500 people there when I left. Cheers to him for putting up with it - it's gotta be harder on him than us.
I thought the funniest part was when the Hodor POV question was asked. Although a wasted question, it was still hilarious when he again mocked his editor by wondering what she would think if he had 27 pages of "Hodor hodor hodor hodor..." That drew a big laugh. (For the sticklers, btw, it's pronounced HOE-door.) Also his pronunciation of Brienne threw me, too. BREE-eh-knee, accent on the 1st syl. Always thought it was bree-EN. Well, since he gave us license to pronounce how we like, maybe I'll go with my original.