Luke Kerr 
Game of Thrones fans have been begging and pleading for years for George R.R. Martin to finish the sixth book in his series, The Winds of Winter. To the point, where many have become resigned to the possibly it might never happen.
Well, there is a glimmer of good news from beyond the wall, or at least from New Mexico.
Martin updated his personal blog and revealed he how he was drowning in his many commitments, but has found solitude in an isolated New Mexico cabin during COVID. He reflects on what brought him to this point and shares how his assistants take two week shifts to support him as he writes.
“My life up here is very boring, it must be said. Truth be told, I hardly can be said to have a life. I have one assistant with me at all times (minions, I call them). The assistants do two-week shifts, and have to stay in quarantine at home before starting a shift. Everyone morning I wake up and go straight to the computer, where my minion brings me coffee (I am utterly useless and incoherent without my morning coffee) and juice, and sometimes a light breakfast. Then I start to write. Sometimes I stay at it until dark. Other days I break off in late afternoon to answer emails or return urgent phone calls. My assistant brings me food and drink from time to time. When I finally break off for the day, usually around sunset, there’s dinner. Then we watch television or screen a movie. The wi-fi sucks up on the mountain, though, so the choices are limited. Some nights I read instead. I always read a bit before going to sleep; when a book really grabs hold of me, I may read half the night, but that’s rare.
I sleep. The next day, I wake up, and do the same. The next day, the next day, the next day. Before Covid, I would usually get out once a week or so to eat at a restaurant or go to the movies. That all ended in March. Since then, weeks and months go by when I never leave the cabin, or see another human being except whoever is on duty that week. I lose track of what day it is, what week it is, what month it is. The time seems to by very fast. It is now August, and I don’t know what happened to July.“
But it is good for the writing.
He ends the post by teasing one of his most beloved characters:
“My life is at home, on hold, and I am spending the days in Westeros with my pals Mel and Sam and Vic and Ty. And that girl with no name, over there in Braavos.”
In 2018 Martin asked prolific horror author and icon Stephen King “How do you write so fast?” Their conversation is worth watching, but one has to wonder if he is using any of King’s suggestions?
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