Publishing insider clarifies new rumor about The Winds of Winter

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Speculation about The Winds of Winter

Credits: Bantam Spectra

Shawn Speakman commented on the volume of manuscript pages Martin has completed for The Winds of Winter. He noted the challenges of fitting all the material into a single book. Speakman’s statement echoed similar concerns Martin shared in a 2018 blog post. Speakman said:

“So I try to respect George’s space and not ask him directly.But I know how many pages have been sent to Harper Voyager. I know how many pages he’s roughly gotten completed otherwise. I talk to his editor Anne Groell probably monthly. And I know how many pages they can physically put in a book. And he is either at that amount or nearly. So it’s more about whether they will convince him to split Winds of Winter or if he will hold out for the ending that he has been wanting to do.”

Fans immediately speculated that The Winds of Winter would be split into two volumes. A similar situation occurred with A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, originally planned as a single book. Martin resisted splitting the novel then and has publicly expressed his desire to avoid repeating that decision.

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Shawn Speakman clarifies his remarks

Credits: Shawn Speakman

After the speculation intensified, Speakman clarified his remarks on Reddit. He explained that his comments were based on publicly available information and industry knowledge. He denied having any private insights into Martin’s current progress. Speakman said:

“My information is purely speculative based on the amount of manuscript pages George has said (on his Not a Blog, on Colbert Show, etc.) he’s completed and how many pages a book can physically contain within a binding. I have not spoken to George in at least two years. And while I talk to his editor fairly often due to my work with Terry Brooks, we rarely discuss George and how his writing is going.”

Speakman emphasized that his comments were taken out of context during the Bend the Knee podcast. He clarified:

“He took my words and meaning out of context. And if I knew something beyond what I said above, I certainly would never share it as it is not my news to reveal. Hope this clears up the confusion.”

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What’s next for The Winds of Winter?

While the speculation has added excitement, fans are still waiting for concrete updates from Martin himself. The author continues to work on the sixth installment, which promises to be another monumental entry in the series.

Martin has shared glimpses of his progress over the years, but no official release date has been announced. Though the prospect of splitting The Winds of Winter remains uncertain, Martin’s commitment to delivering the story in his envisioned format remains steadfast. Until an official announcement, fans will continue to speculate and eagerly anticipate the next chapter in the series.