George R.R. Martin: 'Not dead yet'

When news of George Martin's death broke late Tuesday, it didn't take long for some to confuse the legendary Beatles producer with George R.R. Martin, author of the wildly popular Game of Thrones books.

At least one news outlet published an obituary accompanied by a picture of George R.R. Martin, though legions of his readers who understood the difference tweeted humorous remarks about how the author could not be allowed to die until he had finished the ongoing saga.

• George Martin, Beatles producer, dead at 90

George R.R. Martin, writing from Santa Fe, N.M., tweeted this in response to the mix-up: "Not Dead Yet."

"While it is strangely moving to realize that so many people around the world care so deeply about my life and death, I have to go with Mark Twain and insist that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. It was Sir George Martin, of Beatles fame, who has passed away. Not me," he wrote in a blog post linked to the tweet.

"He will be missed. I never met Sir George (I did meet Paul McCartney once, for about a minute, while waiting for the valet to bring my rental car up at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills), but like many millions of others, I loved the Beatles, and Martin's contribution to their music is worthy of recognition and honor.

"As for me, I am still here, still writing, still editing, still going to movies and reading books, and I expect to hang around for quite a while yet, thank you very much.

"But thank you all for caring."