We all know that the next season of ‘Game of Thrones‘ is going to be covering material in George R.R. Martin‘s upcoming novel ‘The Winds of Winter’ and now we’ve found out exactly why the book has been so delayed. With the fourth book in the series having taken four years to write and ‘A Dance With Dragons’ taken six, there is a lot of concern as to the how long it will be until we see the sixth installment. Some are concerned that writer’s block is to blame but unsurprisingly the famed author has just been distracted. Before you get peeved about that, it is the very popularity of his work that has caused this distraction to begin with!

Here is what Martin has had to say about his delays:

“Writer’s block isn’t to blame here, it’s distraction. In recent years, all of the work I’ve been doing creates problems because it creates distraction. Because the books and the show are so popular 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?”

I mean let’s be honest no one can blame him for wanting to take advantage of these kind of offers. Thankfully he, at least, decided to skip writing an episode for the sixth season of the show in order to get more time in on the next book. That being said it is still frustrating having to wait so long for the next chapter. But he isn’t at these conventions non-stop so what about the travel time? Well that doesn’t work with his writing style as:

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 did bother 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.

I think the simple solution is for Martin to start boycotting every major event that he is invited to until he has time to actually sit down and get back into his writing groove. Short of that, lets just hope we can see a late 2016 release. It will be a bit entertaining that the shoe will now be on the other foot and fans of the novels will have a few major plot points covered on the show before they can read it. On a more serious note, though, I am happy that Martin’s fame is giving him so many travel opportunities and that we as a fan base are able to give him so much support.

Are you concerned that our fandom is keeping away one of the most well known creators away from giving us more to read? Share your thoughts below!

Source: Screen Rant