Fantasy author George R.R. Martin is tired of hearing that he won’t complete his highly anticipated novel, “The Winds of Winter”. In a candid blog post this week, the creator of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series addressed fans’ skepticism with a mix of sarcasm and genuine passion.

Martin sarcastically echoed criticisms he’s heard over the years, writing that he’ll “never finish WINDS” and even if he does, he won’t complete the final book, “A Dream of Spring”. He playfully mocked suggestions that he should be replaced by another writer or that he’s lost interest in the franchise.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek tone, Martin made it clear that he still deeply cares about the characters that made him famous. “The Starks and Lannisters and Targaryens, Tyrion and Asha, Dany and Daenerys, the dragons and the direwolves, I care about them all,” he wrote.

The author also expressed frustration that fans seem singularly focused on the “Game of Thrones” universe, ignoring his other creative projects. He highlighted several short stories and anthology works that he’s passionate about, including “A Song for Lya” and “This Tower of Ashes”.

In addition to addressing his writing, Martin announced an exciting new project: adapting Howard Waldrop’s 1989 novella “A Dozen Tough Jobs” into an animated feature. The project, which reimagines the Twelve Labors of Hercules, is a collaboration with Lion Forge Entertainment.

“It saddens me that he did not live long enough to see the film; I hope we do him justice,” Martin wrote about Waldrop.

While fans continue to eagerly await the next installment in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, Martin’s latest blog post suggests he remains committed to his craft, even if progress seems frustratingly slow.