ti Mikkel: writer on house of the dragon & a knight of the seven kingdoms + author of the archivist
Written by: Milla Nguyen
Ti Mikkel’s Biography:
Ti Mikkel is an acclaimed television writer making her debut as a novelist with “The Archivist”, the first in a genre-bending trilogy nearly a decade in the making. Raised in small-town Indiana by a family of golfers, she studied German in Colorado and Germany before undergoing spinal fusion surgery for advanced scoliosis—a turning point that set her on a new path. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where a chance internship led to working as George R.R. Martin's writing assistant. She has since joined the writing teams of HBO's House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. She now splits her time between the U.K. and Florida with her English husband and their Chihuahua, Brisket.
Author’s Note:
Ti Mikkel is bringing complex time machines, fiery dragons, and riveting worlds to life – all from the tip of her pen. Mikkel is naturally expressive and imaginative, traits that certainly come in handy when developing all-consuming stories. A notable aspect of her career is that she is well-versed in both screenwriting and literary writing. It was truly an honor to interview a creative who is authentic and honest, unafraid to speak about the hardships of being a writer. While the road to pursuing passions is never easy, Mikkel advises readers to take “the hard road and the one less traveled by.” She emphasized, “You just might learn something new each time.”
Her Calling
Mikkel was born in a small town in Indiana. As she recalled the memories of her childhood neighborhood, she spoke of the endless cornfields and tall woods that stretched towards the horizon. Ever since a young age, she had always tapped into her imagination, often daydreaming about the worlds she created in her mind. She said, “I was constantly imagining different worlds and characters. I had one foot in the real world and one foot out a lot of the time. Even in school, which probably wasn't ideal.”
Her Hero’s Journey
She was accepted into the University of Colorado Boulder where she received a Bachelor of Arts in German. She subsequently studied abroad in Germany, where she fully immersed herself in European culture. To this day, her German degree has informed the stories she wants to create. She said, “I have always been captivated by WWI and WWII. I consume every book, documentary, movie and tv show on either topic. It's my plan, and it has been for a long time, that studying German and its history will eventually pave the way to a future project. A book or feature, maybe a pilot. I've even gone as far as to promise my husband, who is English and a Royal Air Force veteran, that I will one day pen a story about the world wars that have shaped us.”
A Fateful Encounter with George R.R. Martin
While some filmmakers claim to have discovered their passion for storytelling early on, Mikkel didn’t find hers until later in life. One fateful day, her older brother recommended George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”, a novel series that served as the blueprint for HBO’s hit television adaptations, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. She explained, “When I read George's A Song of Ice and Fire series, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. At the time, I didn't know what "it" was, but I eventually moved out to Los Angeles. I had no plan, no money, and no connections. Looking back, it's a wonder I lasted more than five minutes. I think my super power was simply being too bull-headed to quit.”
House of the Dragon: Which team are you?
She finally arrived in Los Angeles, which is known as the beating heart of Hollywood, film, and entertainment. The stars aligned, and George R.R. Martin asked her to become his writing assistant, a position that’s not easy to come by. After working closely with him on his novels, she was brought on board for the writers’ room of House of the Dragon. I asked her if there were any scenes of episodes that lingered in her mind after the seasons ended. She mentioned season 1, episode 1, when Aemma Targaryen struggles to give birth to her son, Baelon, and ultimately dies in the process. She recalled the intense performances of the actors, “A scene that will forever haunt me is the tragic Aemma/Baelon birth scene. I was there the day it was filmed, and I can still hear the screams. Absolutely brutal.” Another pinnacle moment in the series is season 2, episode 8, when Daemon Targaryen bends the knee to Rhaenyra Targaryen, his wife and queen. Prior to that moment, the audience questioned if he would rather take the crown for himself. Mikkel said, “Daemon bending the knee to Rhaenyra gave me chills. I can't talk about season three, but ask me this question again next year.” Well, we’re certainly in for a ride next season.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Venturing into New Realms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new Game of Thrones spin-off, is set to premiere on January 18, 2026. While Mikkel can’t spoil all the surprises within the season, she reiterated her excitement for fans to watch the series, “I signed on because the series is based on the "Dunk and Egg" novellas, which I have been fangirling over for ages. And with Ira Parker at the helm, I was a "hell yes" from the beginning. In House of the Dragon you're in a palace. In this series, you're in a tent. It's a shift in focus. We're not with kings and queens, we're with the smallfolk, a hedge knight and his squire.” She added, “It's a show about passion and integrity and doing the right thing. You still get the fighting, of course, the intrigue...and now a sliver of whimsy.”
The Archivist: Ti Mikkel’s World
Most recently, Mikkel released her genre-bending debut novel, in which science fiction, action, and romance collide. The story follows the protagonist, Cora Moreau, a twenty-two-year-old who has always lived a quiet life in Durango, Colorado. She's never had a boyfriend and has rarely ventured far from home. But after a life-altering surgery, she uncovers a shocking secret: her blood holds extraordinary, untapped power. A major aspect of Cora’s character is that she struggles with scoliosis in her day-to-day life. I asked Mikkel about her inspiration for this specific detail, “I was diagnosed with scoliosis around age 11, and it was a really bad case. Going through middle school, high school, and college is hard enough if you're normal, but you add in something that makes you "other," and every day is a fresh hell. So, Cora's struggle is deeply personal. It's a scary thing, leaving myself so emotionally exposed, but I don’t care who or what your background is; all of us can unite in the way pain shapes us.” The main focal point of the novel is Cora’s romance with Nick, a bodyguard hired by her father to protect her in a world that is unfamiliar to her. Needless to say, Nick is broody, handsomely attractive, and kind to Cora in all the right ways. However, readers can see that there’s much more to Nick than meets the eye. Mikkel said, “Buckle up. Book two will take you places and show you a side of Nick that might scare you. ” A teaser for what’s to come.
Talking about Tour
Fresh off wrapping up her multi-city book tour, Mikkel reflects on her experiences. To start, George R.R. Martin even made an appearance to support Mikkel during her book signings. She spoke candidly about the tour: from sleepless nights on planes to exhilarating days meeting fans to doing the hard things in between. She said, “Some people are born to go out on stage and be amazing. Personally, I found myself being nervous. Being honest about where I am, where I messed up, and where I want to go grounds me. When I do these Q&As now, I just expose the raw truth. This is hard, but I’m glad I’m out here doing it.”
Food for Thought for Emerging Writers
Writing is a layered art form, and it is a two-sided coin. On one side, a writer’s story can connect people emotionally and give them the courage to express themselves. From the reader's point of view, stories serve as a means to initiate discussions about vulnerable truths and foster community. That being said, many young writers struggle to put their pen to the page, afraid of the outcomes ahead. I asked Mikkel if she had any advice for emerging writers. She said, “I always begin with character, and I build from there. If I'm struggling or stuck, I go back to basics and pull out the writing prompts. I'll write a journal entry in the mind of a character. Let's call him Bob. I will describe Bob's day or share a memory about a time when he was most afraid. You'll be surprised what rises to the top, what breaks through, if you simply enrich a character's backstory.”
In Her Down Time
In her free time, when she’s not working, she enjoys doing Peloton and long walks outside. She loves playing and snuggling with her dog. When she’s in the States, she takes her husband to Disney and Universal theme parks. She quipped, “I love full immersion and corndogs.”
Future Plans In Store
Regarding future plans, Ti has a lot in store. She will continue to develop House of the Dragon and A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, as well as other television projects in the works. As mentioned above, she has a head start on the future books of the “Archivist” trilogy. She also mentioned that, storywise, she would like to venture into space. Epic, grounded science fiction or maybe a western.
Acknowledgements & Thanks
Looking back on her career, she thanks her parents, her husband, her cousins, and her friends for supporting her. She added, “George R.R. Martin, the master of the page, and showrunners Ryan Condal and Ira Parker. I am constantly in awe of what they do. Being around them makes me better.”
