Game of Thrones author blogs that he missed book deadline

THE new season of the HBO hit will start airing in April while author George R.R. Martin is still writing the latest book in his fantasy series.

WINTER is not coming.

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin says he missed a December 31 deadline to finish The Winds of Winter, the latest book in his fantasy series.

That means the HBO season based on that sixth novel will start airing in April, while he’s still writing.

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The words “you won’t like it” appeared Saturday on Martin’s blog, reporting the missed deadline.

“THE WINDS OF WINTER is not finished,” the talented author explains.

“Believe me, it gave me no pleasure to type those words. You’re disappointed, and you’re not alone. My editors and publishers are disappointed, HBO is disappointed, my agents and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed ... but no one could possibly be more disappointed than me.”

Martin says he wanted to say he’s delivered The Winds of Winter for publication, but estimates it’ll take months more if all goes well.

“I suppose I could just say, ‘Sorry, boys and girls, still writing,’ and leave it at that. It will be done when it’s done. Which is what I have been doing, more or less, since ... well, forever,” he said in his blog.

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Martin apologised to fans eagerly awaiting the next instalment of the series in which characters warn of impending doom with the phrase, “Winter is coming.”

And he says he’s been working with HBO to ensure the series reflects the as-yet-unfinished book.

“So when you ask me, will the show spoil the books’, all I can do is say, ‘yes and no’, and mumble once again about the butterfly effect. Those pretty little butterflies have grown into mighty dragons. Some of the ‘spoilers’ you may encounter in season six may not be spoilers at all ... because the show and the books have diverged, and will continue to do so,” he said.