Next 'Game of Thrones' book may be out this year

If you've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the next book in George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, the fantasy writer has an update.

It's been a year since Martin last spoke about the status of The Winds of Winter, the sixth instalment in the seven-part fantasy series.

On Tuesday, a reader commented on Martin's blog, asking about how far along the book had come. Martin replied, "Ah, you sweet summer child. I have years of experience with this that tells me otherwise.

But okay, I will try it your way.

Not done yet, but I've made progress. But not as much as I hoped a year ago, when I thought to be done by now.

I think it will be out this year. (But hey, I thought the same thing last year)."

Martin gave the San Diego Comic-Con a miss in 2015 and 2016 and has scaled back on his public appearances to concentrate on completing the book.

The author is often dogged by fans to write faster and finish the series. The last book in the series, A Dance with the Dragons, released in 2001 after a five year gap.

Game of Thrones, HBO's TV series based on the books, raced ahead of Martin's storyline in its sixth season, leaving fans hoping for Winds of Winter before season 7 begins in summer 2017.

Will The Winds of Winter's publication beat GoT's summer release? Here's hoping.