Happy Birthday, br George R.R. Martin!.br George Raymond Richard Martin br turns 74 years old today.br Here are five br fun facts about the br fantasy novelist.br 1. He made money as a kid br by selling monster stories.br 2. He credits comic br books for inspiring br him to start writing.br 3. Martin's first piece br of published writing was br a fan letter in a 'Fantastic br Four' comic book.br 4. HBO’s 'Game of Thrones' is based on his book series, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire.' .br 5. Martin bought a home br across the street from his br own in Santa Fe and built br a library tower inside.br Happy Birthday, br George R.R.