George R.R. Martin recently acknowledged that 'The Winds of Winter' is 13 years overdue, attributing the delay to distractions from HBO deadlines and other projects.

In a recent interview with Time, he reassured fans that he is still actively working on the book, experiencing periods of progress despite these distractions.

Martin described 'The Winds of Winter' as 'the curse of my life' due to the intense scrutiny from fans regarding his writing progress.

He addressed criticism about his involvement in side projects, such as opening a bookstore and a theater, clarifying that these do not consume excessive amounts of his time.

Despite the distractions, Martin emphasized that he faces no budget limitations or executive pressures while writing, allowing him to shape the book as he envisions it.

Fans remain uncertain about the release date of 'The Winds of Winter', with no new information available at this time.

Martin revealed that he has written approximately 1,100 pages of 'The Winds of Winter,' but still has hundreds more to go, describing it as a complex and lengthy book.

He reassured fans that he is working on the novel almost daily, although he admits the pace is slower than both he and the fans desire.

In March 2025, he expressed that his writing on 'The Winds of Winter' is progressing 'pretty well' despite the lengthy delay.

His distractions also include various Game of Thrones spin-offs, such as 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms', which is set to premiere on HBO this summer.

Throughout the interview, Martin reiterated that his time spent on other endeavors does not mean he is neglecting his writing responsibilities.

After Martin shared a photo with a real-life dire wolf, fans expressed their frustration over the book's delay, leading to humorous comments about his writing progress.