Meet Your New WiC Editor, AniBundel

Hi Everybody! I’m Ani, the new Assistant Editor here at WiC.net. I am so excited to be blogging here, you have no idea. For the last four years I’ve been blogging over at my own site Anibundel: Pop Culturess, which I started for the express purpose of having somewhere I could recap Game of Thrones.

I came to A Song of Ice and Fire via Robert Jordan, which may be the case for many of you. I grew up a book worm, child of bookworms. When I got into something, I got into it. I didn’t read one Shakespeare play, I read them all. I didn’t read one Poirot mystery novel, I read everything Agatha Christie ever wrote. So when I discovered Jordan, I tore through the first four novels. Only then did I discover the long two years waits between releases, so I proceeded to devour the entire SciFi Fantasy section of my local Crown Books. (RIP Crown Books.) Being the type of reader who would slam through a thousand page tome in an 18 hour sitting (save the walk from high school class to high school class), I got through a lot of fantasy trilogies in that time. From Piers Anthony to Tad Williams, I tried them all. Yes, the formula of many of them was the same–Campbell’s monomyth, writ in many different flavors. But I was ok with that. Like those who watch Law and Order marathons, there was comfort in knowing how it always ended.

I still remember the first time I saw Game Of Thrones in the “New Release” section. I picked it up, turned it over, and there, in the blurbs was an endorsement by Jordan himself. Of course I bought it. Somewhere in the middle, I still remember thinking that the world building was very well done. Though I could easily see where this was going, with Noble Ned as Our Hero, I would definitely pick up Book Two.

Then they chopped his head off.

As I said above, I started my blog back in 2010 with the idea that I would have a place to recap Game of Thrones and compare it to the experience of reading the books. But being ADHD and Obsessive turned out to mean short run TV shows were perfect for me. I couldn’t just stick to one series. I also write about Doctor Who (current obsession) Downton Abbey (next obsession) Face Off and Project Runway (fashion and make up are always an ongoing obsession. So much so, I cover Fashion and Cosplay as well.) Feel free to check out my work.

But Game of Thrones was my first love on these internet streets, and one I can always find something else to write about and think about and obsess over. I’m fascinated with the fashions of the characters and how it tells their stories. I like to take a critical eye to the where the show is faithful to the source material, sometimes to its own detriment, and where it is having trouble being faithful because what you can tell on a page doesn’t translate well to screen. I love the art the show and the books inspire. From the art images of characters from different perspectives, to the youtube mashups, to the cosplay, it’s amazing what a few thousand words and forty hours of TV can inspire other minds to do.

So here’s what I’m hoping to do here, besides bring you the latest news, gossip, and speculation about Season Five. As a recapper coming from the book reader perspective, I’ll be doing a re-read of Books Four and Five this winter to refresh myself before the Great Merger Season comes upon us. I’ll do some deep dives into characters, what they wear and how it relates to the historical figures they are (or aren’t) based on. As for the rest of it…I want to know what you want to see! Take the poll below and let me know what kind of posts you’re looking for.

[polldaddy poll=8282867]

Finally, I know you all don’t know me. I’ve read this site for years, but I’ve never spoken up, and I’ve never engaged with you guys. I’m sure you have questions for me. Feel free to ask in the comments. I’ll be on and off all day today, but I’ll try to answer as best I can to any and all (and hopefully mostly GoT) related questions.

• Published on 09/03/2014 at 9:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 12:40 PM CDT