Many fans have been waiting for the release of “The Winds of Winter.” HBO’s Game of Thrones may be over but the waiting game for the sixth A Song of Ice and Fire book is still on. While avid followers of the book series continue to air their frustrations over the book’s countless delays, George R.R. Martin, 71, revealed he feels the same way.

The American novelist, during an interview with WGN radio, revealed how the manifold deferrals have made him feel frustrated, just like his fans. George said the success of the book series and “Game of Thrones” have opened a lot of opportunities for him. In fact, he has been flying in and out of the United States to attend conferences, meetings and other events that have something to do with his books and write-ups. These happenings, however, have contributed to the delay of “The Winds of Winter.”

George R.R. Martin also described his huge following as a “mixed blessing” during the interview with The Chicago Tribune reporter John Kass. The veteran writer expressed his joy over the fact that there are a lot of people who support him and his novels. However, George said he did not like that a number of his followers are “extremely impatient” and “full of their own ideas” about what should happen next in both book and television series.

George RR Martin
Writer George R. R. Martin attends the 70th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images/Rich Polk

In July, George revealed to Entertainment Weekly that he does not feel any pressure to complete “The Winds of Winter” and “A Dream of Spring” when “Game of Thrones” was still on the air. “There was a point when the show was coming out in April and my editors said if I could finish the book by December they’d rush it out,” he said. “And the pressure I felt that fall was the greatest pressure I’ve ever felt and then at a certain point it became apparent I’m not going to finish it by then,” George added.

George R.R. Martin added that he does want to compromise the quality of "The Winds of Winter" just because a lot of readers have been pressuring him to release the book. He said there is no point in putting much pressure on himself now that “Game of Thrones” is over. "I’m writing the book. It will be done when it’s done,” he said.