‘Winds Of Winter’ Release Date Pushed To 2017? George R.R. Martin Admits Having Assistants Whose Job Is To Ensure People Don’t Bother Him

Despite George R.R. Martin’s efforts to finish Winds of Winter before the premiere of Game of Thrones Season 6, the author previously extended his sincerest apologies for failing to meet his deadline. Fans showed their support, but some still wondered if there was hope for the book to come out this year. However, a latest report by Ecumenical News suggests that Winds of Winter is likely to be finished in 2017.

GRRM explained on his blog that while he’s aware of everyone’s disappointment, no one could possibly be more dissatisfied than him.

“You’re disappointed, and you’re not alone. My editors and publishers are disappointed, HBO is disappointed, my agents and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed… but no one could possibly be more disappointed than me.”

Martin is known to be a meticulous novelist which could explain the reason for the Winds of Winter release date delay. At the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, he also revealed that as opposed to what others thought, he wasn’t experiencing a classic writer’s block.

“Writer’s block isn’t to blame here, it’s distraction. In recent years, all of the work I’ve been doing creates problems because it creates distraction. Because the books and the show are so popular I have interviews to do constantly. I have travel plans constantly. It’s like suddenly I get invited to travel to South Africa or Dubai, and who’s passing up a free trip to Dubai?”

Nonetheless, in 2015, GRRM opted to turn down several events. “I have too much to do. Too many things on my plate. Son of Kong foremost amongst them,” he announced on his blog. Son of Kong is his nickname for Winds of Winter.

This year, the novelist has five scheduled appearances. It isn’t known yet if he will likewise cancel some of these in order to work on his highly-anticipated novel.

• Feb. 26-28: Mysticon, Roanoke, Virginia
• May 27-30: Balticon 50, Hunt Valley, Maryland
• Aug. 17-21: MidAmericon 2, World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention, Kansas City, Missouri
• Nov. 11-13: Tucson 43, Tucson, Arizona
• Dec. 4-5: Gudalajara International Book Fair, Guadalajara, Mexico

GRRM doesn’t write when he travels. “I don’t write when I travel. I don’t write in hotel rooms. I don’t write on airplanes. I really have to be in my own house undisturbed to write,” he said during the film festival. When he’s at home, he relies on the help of his assistants, whose main responsibility is to ensure people don’t disturb him when he’s writing.

The Song of Ice and Fire series has seven books and five were already published. Even if the Game of Thrones show will most likely finish before the books, fans have the assurance that the HBO program won’t spoil the books. GRRM already pointed out notable differences between the show and the novels. Some characters who passed away in the series are still alive in the novels and the other way around.

One of the reasons why fans are eager to put their hands on Winds of Winter is to uncover the truth behind Jon Snow’s death. In the finale episode of Game of Thrones Season 5, the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch met his death. However, most fans refused to believe he’s gone for good. The fans even came up with conspiracy theories, and while Kit Harrington already said that his prominent character’s dead, some questioned HBO’s latest marketing materials bearing Jon’s bloodied face.

[Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images]