'Winds Of Winter' Is Coming In 2016, Says GRRM

George R.R. Martin delights in driving his readers crazy — this we know is true. He gleefully beheads our favorite characters, he taunts us with glimpses of chapters to come, like the 'Winds of Winter' excerpt he released earlier this week, and then he snickers as he twists his plot once more. But, thank god, even he knows when it’s time to talk straight. Which is why Martin promises to finish The Winds of Winter in 2016, before Game of Thrones' Season 6 airs.

“I wish it was out now,” Martin told Entertainment Weekly on Friday. “Maybe I’m being overly optimistic about how quickly I can finish. But I canceled two convention appearances, I’m turning down a lot more interviews — anything I can do to clear my decks and get this done.”

Time isn’t on his side. He’s got to feed the beast that is a fast-paced television series. When HBO’s Game of Thrones Season 5 premieres on April 12, it will catch up with several A Song of Ice and Fire storylines.

So he’s gotta work quick to get new material out there.

But the author is optimistic. Martin told EW, in true Martin form, that he just came up with a big, super-awesome plot twist. Also in true Martin form, he gave just enough of a hint to make deduction impossible but guessing delectable.

“This is going to drive your readers crazy,” said Martin. “But I love it ... this is something that seems very organic and natural, and I could see how it would happen. And with the various three, four characters involved… it all makes sense. But it’s nothing I’ve ever thought of before. And it’s nothing they can do in the show, because the show has already—on this particular character—made a couple decisions that will preclude it, where in my case I have not made those decisions.”

What does he mean? Gah.

If making a million guesses as to what exactly George is talking about doesn't quite quench your Games of Thrones thirst, take heart. Season 5 of Games of Thrones IS SO SOON. And the new book, like winter, is coming.

Images: Giphy