‘Winds Of Winter’ Author George R.R. Martin Will Reportedly Release A ‘Game Of Thrones’ Story In 2017

George R.R. Martin is taking his sweet time releasing “Winds of Winter,” but fans may just forgive him when they hear what he’s got in store for them in 2017. No, it’s not a release date for the latest installment in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels. It’s something far more exciting, at least for avid “Game of Thrones” fans.

Martin is reportedly working on a short story set in the same universe as the HBO original series. According to both Screenrant and Watchers on The Wall, the story will be included in a collection called “Book of Swords.” The book’s description does not reveal any further details about Martin’s story, though there is some speculation that it will be an excerpt from “Fire and Blood” — another “A Song of Ice and Fire” book Martin is working on. The book will release in 2017, though an exact date has yet to be pinned down.

The news is exciting, but has raised questions about when “Winds of Winter” will be released. Martin revealed on his blog earlier this month that the book is “not done yet.” He went on to say that he was still working on it, however. The author hoped to be further along by now, but hit a few bumps along the way in his writing. He remains hopeful that he’ll be able to get “Winds of Winter” out in 2017.

“Not done yet, but I’ve made progress,” he wrote. “But not as much as I hoped a year ago, when I thought I’d be done by now. I think it will be out this year (but hey, I thought the same thing last year).”

Martin’s comments on his blog came amid speculation that the book would be available to hopeful readers in early 2017. In October, GamenGuide reported that the book was in the proofreading stage, though Martin maintained that he was still hundreds of pages from being done with “Winds of Winter.” The author never directly addressed these rumors.