Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin is thankfully taking the COVID-19 and social-distancing recommendations seriously. The writer and small business owner has updated his fans on his status during the pandemic and confirmed that he is using this time to finish his highly anticipated novel The Winds of Winter. Westeros may not be the most uplifting place to ride out the worldwide health crisis, but Martin has never been one to write stories with happy endings.Martin has been famously working on the sixth book in his A Song of Fire and Ice series, which he must complete before writing and releasing the seventh and final instalment, A Dream Of Spring. A Dance With Dragons, the fifth book in the series, was released in 2011 and took Martin six years to write. Since releasing A Dance With Dragons, the award-winning HBO series
Game Of Thrones, which was based on Martin’s books, has come and gone, passing the timeline of Martin’s series and leaving showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss to write their own ending to the series.[video_embed id='1924158']RELATED: Musicians are playing live concerts and urging fans to social distance[/video_embed]Updating fans via his personal blog, the 71-year-old writer confirmed that he is following the advised safety precautions and self-isolating in his New Mexico home. “For those of you who may be concerned for me personally… yes, I am aware that I am very much in the most vulnerable population, given my age and physical condition,”
writes Martin. “But I feel fine at the moment, and we are taking all sensible precautions. I am off by myself in a remote isolated location, attended by one of my staff, and I’m not going in to town or seeing anyone.”Martin confirmed that he’s using his time wisely, delighting fans with the news that his self-isolation is including ample writing time. “Truth be told, I am spending more time in Westeros than in the real world, writing every day. Things are pretty grim in the Seven Kingdoms… but maybe not as grim as they may become here.”Martin has famously suffered from writer’s block throughout the creation of The Winds of Winter, having been forced to push back the release date several times. Considering the current state of the world, the outbreak of COVID-19 may be the depressing inspiration Martin needed to figure out where the Starks, Greyjoys, Lannisters and Martells go next.In his post titled ‘
Strange Days,’ Martin also updated fans on the status of the small businesses he runs in his home of New Mexico. “Strange days are upon us,” writes Martin. “As ancient as I am, I cannot recall ever having lived through anything like the past few weeks.”The author confirmed that Meow Wolf, his arts and entertainment company, would be shut down for the foreseeable future. Martin also made the decision to close the doors to his small theatre, the Jean Cocteau Cinema, and cancel all events related to his non-profit Stagecoach, which provides classes and workshops in TV and film production for kids. “Despite the shutdowns, we will continue to pay our employees at Stagecoach and the Jean Cocteau, for the foreseeable future,” noted Martin, who confirmed that his indie bookstore Beastly Books will remain open and will ship to customers as long as it’s safe to do so. “With quarantines, lockdowns, and social isolation on the menu everywhere, and all the usual entertainment venues closing their doors, reading is the best way to pass the empty hours.”It looks like we may finally pass the empty hours with The Winds of Winter. And until then, yet another viewing of
Game of Thrones.[video_embed id='1924127']RELATED: How to stop touching your face[/video_embed]
