How young we once were, to wonder whether George R.R. Martin’s The Winds of Winter might arrive in stores early enough to avoid Game of Thrones Season 6 spoiling Jon Snow’s fate. The two Song of Ice and Fire tales have long-since diverged, but does Martin have a 2017 plan to get Winds of Winter out before Season 7?

Last heard reminding us all of impending doom under a Trump presidency, Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin offered another brief LiveJournal update on his Winds of Winter progress, which will soon intensify in 2017. It’s far from likely that any publication date would beat Game of Thrones Season 7's summer premiere, but we’re at least making progress!

This is my last scheduled event for 2016. My appearance schedule for 2017 is very limited, and will remain so until WINDS is completed. So if you want to meet me or get a book signed, this will be the last chance for a good few months…

Were there any lingering question, that should at least shut down prior reports that a March 2017 release date had been earmarked. Meanwhile, it remains an open question what, if any of Winds of Winter was spoiled by Game of Thrones Season 6, given producers have claimed only three major twists to have been gifted by the revered author. Martin has steadily released excerpts from the new book as well, but had no update on a release by the franchise’s recent 20th anniversary.

Winter may be here, both in real life and on HBO, but its Winds are still gathering speed.

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