'Winds Of Winter' Update: No 'Deal' With HBO To Delay Release

George RR Martin has slammed rumors about “Winds of Winter” being complete in his recent blog post. The author said that he is still writing the book and emphasized that there is no agreement between him and HBO or the producers of “Game of Thrones” to delay the launch of the books.

Trouble started after Ian McElhinney, the actor who played Barristan Selmy in the “Game of Thrones” TV series, said in an interview at the Epic Con in St. Petersburg, Russia that Martin has already completed the last two books of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. The actor said that Martin has a “deal” with the “Game of Thrones” producers that he will not publish the last two books until the series is completed.

McElhinney said that “Winds of Winter” and “A Dream of Spring” may be released a month or two after the “Game of Thrones” finale episode airs. McElhinney’s character is dead on the show but is alive in the books. The actor said that he is “intrigued to know” what happens to his character in the books.

Addressing the rumors, Martin took to his blog and described the situation as “idiocy on the internet.” The author confirmed on the record that “Winds of Winter” has not been completed and he has not even started writing “A Dream of Spring.”

Martin pointed out that publishers around the world, along with him, would make millions when a new book in “A Song of Ice and Fire” is released. As far as HBO and “Game of Thrones” producers are concerned, the author said that his books help create interest in the show and vice versa, which means that there is no incentive for anyone to delay the release of the book.

“ There is no ‘deal’ to hold back on the books,” Martin said. He added that HBO and the “Game of Thrones” producers would have been “thrilled” about the release of a new book in his series, and no one would have been “more delighted” than the author himself.

Martin confirmed that “Winds of Winter” is still not complete, and he asked the fans not to believe everything they read on the internet. Meanwhile, the author is currently promoting his “Wild Cards” book series.