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It seems like George R.R. Martin has reached his limit with the constant speculation about how he spends his time, especially in relation to his long-awaited book, Winds of Winter. In a recent conversation with Time, the acclaimed author addressed the ongoing jokes about how the dire wolves (which had gone extinct) became a reality before his book, which is now 13 years late.
Martin acknowledged that the book is significantly behind schedule, saying, “There’s no doubt Winds of Winter is 13 years late. I’m still working on it.” He went on to explain that he has periods of productivity, but at other times, other projects and obligations—like meeting deadlines for various HBO series—divert his attention. He also mentioned that the other ventures he’s involved in, like his renovated movie theater and newly opened bookstore, have become a point of contention for some fans.
He clarified that these projects are unrelated to his work on the book and do not significantly interfere with it, saying, “I swear, I opened a bookstore and people say, ‘Why is George R.R. Martin opening a bookstore when he should be writing Winds of Winter?’ I don’t actually work in the bookstore, you know.” Martin also humorously pointed out that, while he owns a movie theater, he isn’t involved in the day-to-day running of it either.
Referring to the direwolf photo-op, Martin stressed that it did not detract from his progress on the book, despite the public’s tendency to exaggerate and assume that one venture is impacting the other. He made it clear that it’s not a matter of “either/or,” as many people might think.
For Martin, it seems like a combination of having other creative outlets and maintaining a balance between business and writing, though fans still eagerly await the next installment in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.