‘The Winds of Winter’ Release Date Nears as George RR Martin Rumored Done with Writing?

By Erik Pineda
George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, author of the 'Song of Ice and Fire' fantasy series that is the basis of the television series 'Game of Thrones.' Martin has confirmed that he is working on the Winds of Winter in his blog.  Photo: REUTERS / Denis Balibouse

"The Winds of Winter" is already a completed job only George RR Martin is keeping mum about it. That is the latest rumor going around as TWoW fans would want to believe release date of the book, already six years in the making, is happening real soon. One report even suggested the sixth instalment to the novel "A Song of Ice and Fire" could come out following the July 16 premiere of "Game of Thrones" Season 7.

UPROXX is basing its claim on the recent hint provided by GoT actor Liam Cunningham, who plays Ser Davos in the HBO fantasy-drama series, that there will be "a launch and something special happening this year for the premiere." And the excitement further ramped up when GRRM recently posted on his blog about Valyria, saying judgment time will descent upon the mighty city soon.

Then the same report posed the question: "What if delaying season 7 into July was just to get the book released in conjunction with the show?" Could it be that HBO has accommodated a request from Martin and moved the GoT premiere, which in the past years was scheduled around April, just so for TWoW's publication to coincide with the airing start of GoT Season 7?

Highly likely and considering that lately Martin has been hard at work finally deliver the long-delayed book. In a new blog post, the GoT creator confirmed his workload was up to his neck these days that he was forced to skip on extra-curricular activities.

"I've been working so much of late that I have fallen way behind in my reading (sob) and my filmgoing," GRRM wrote. But the complaining Martin was quick to add he's able to catch some TV time amid the current busy schedule.

Vanity Fair picked up on the latest GRRM updates and affirmed the author indeed got busy on a project and opted out of other undertakings. He must be on to something and that could be the chief reason Martin had elected to free up significant amount of time and focus on that project.

That project has to be The Winds of Winter, UPROXX insisted in a separate report, adding it's possible too that Martin "went on and finished A Dream of Spring as well."

However, such a scenario contradicts with the recent post from GRRM, in which he made clear that while working on the pilot scripts for the Game of Throne spinoffs he remains committed to finalizing TWoW. And work on the book is definitely still ongoing.

Later on, Martin even explained why no regular updates were given on TWoW. And that's because there is no news to break as the volume remains unfinished and not ready to publish. He even suggested that a 2017 release date for The Winds of Winter is essentially a moonshot for now, also advising it's best for fans not to get their hopes too high on getting hold of the book anytime this year.

Martin said there are good TV shows to binge on while waiting for Game of Thrones Season 7, which can very well apply to those holding their breath for The Winds of Winter 2017 release date. It would be prudent to check on other book titles too as it could prove a long wait before TWoW is ready for page flipping.

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