Fans have expected the release of "Winds of Winter" for years, and while there is still no exact date, author George R.R. Martin has explained in a recent interview the real reason why the book is taking so long.
According to Indie Wire, GRRM was asked at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival why the "Winds of Winter" release date has taken this long.
"Writer's block isn't to blame here, it's distraction. In recent years, all of the work I've been doing have created problems because they create distraction. The books and the show are so popular, and 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?" the 67-year-old author revealed.
"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. Through most of my life, nobody bothered me, but now, everyone bothers me every day. I have assistants and minions whose main job is to make sure people don't bother me so I can actually get writing done," he added.
True enough, the author offered the same explanation when he sat down with Entertainment Tonight last April, according to The Inquisitr.
Impatient fans should cut the author some slack. He also wants to have the "Winds of Winter" released in time for "Game of Thrones" Season 6. In fact, he said in the interview that he already canceled two convention appearances in order to finish the book since having it done before "GOT" Season 6 is really important to him, too.
In addition to all the "distraction", GRRM also shared to BBC Radio his writing style, which adds to the further delay of "Winds of Winter." While he's able to produce five to six pages during good days, they don't happen frequently, and on most days, he still struggles coming up with a good plot line for the book.
However, despite all this grim news on the "Winds of Winter" release date, there is hope that the highly anticipated novel will be released in the middle of "GOT" Season 6.
According to Vine Report, the upcoming book in Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice" series could be released later than expected. Despite a late release, at least impatient fans wouldn't have to wait too long.
International Design Times also reported that the scheduled "Winds of Winter" release date is now slated for the first quarter of 2016. Some fans reportedly claimed that they saw a "Game of Thrones" crew holding a manuscript during production, while others say the TV series' directors have already read the novel and are already coming up with plans on how to translate it into the small screen.
Meanwhile, "Game of Thrones" is slated to air in April 2016.