George R.R. Martin Opens Up About THE WINDS OF WINTER Delay and Why He Still Hasn’t Finished It
Fans of Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire have been waiting for over a decade for George R.R. Martin to finish The Winds of Winter. Now, the author has once again addressed the reason behind the long delay, and it’s not because he’s lost interest.
During his recent appearance at New York Comic Con, Martin joined fellow novelist Joe Hill, who couldn’t resist bringing up the long-awaited sixth book.
Hill jokingly referenced The Winds of Winter by asking Martin a question about the New York Giants instead. Martin didn’t dodge the subject and admitted that he’s always had a complicated relationship with deadlines.
“I know there’s all this controversy about Winds of Winter and how late it is, but I’ve always had trouble with deadlines. And I don’t feel happy breaching contracts or missing a deadline or anything like that.”
Despite the years of waiting and fan frustration, Martin insists that he hasn’t abandoned the story or the world of Westeros, offering these reassuring words:
“Yes, I do love Winds of Winter. I’m still interested in it, I’m still working on it.”
But as any long-time fan knows, Martin’s creative interests extend far beyond the Seven Kingdoms. Martin confessed that he’s equally passionate about his other projects, including Wild Cards and the AMC drama Dark Winds.
“But honestly, I love these other things, too.”
Since the release of A Dance with Dragons back in 2011, Martin has kept busy with television and collaborative ventures tied to his universe.
He currently serves as executive producer on HBO’s hit prequel House of the Dragon, which has already delivered two intense seasons. He’s also co-creating and executive producing another Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set to premiere in January 2026.
It’s been a long wait for readers eager to dive back into Westeros, and you’ll have to keep waiting. But, his comments make it clear that The Winds of Winter is still very much alive. It’s just sharing space with a few other worlds inside Martin’s mind.