George R.R. Martin has broken a long silence to explain why he has been quiet in 2026, citing grief, depression and the toll of ageing rather than directly addressing the status of his long-awaited novel The Winds of Winter. Writing on his "Not a Blog", the 77-year-old author described the year as one of the most stressful of his life, acknowledging both positive milestones and personal hardship. The admission offers the clearest insight yet into the prolonged delay of the book, now more than a decade overdue, though he stopped short of giving a direct update on its progress.

Martin apologised for his lengthy absence from blogging, saying the demands of recent months had become overwhelming. He spoke of losing friends, battling sadness and depression, and warned that "the worst may be yet to come", while also noting there had been "dreams coming true" amid the difficulties. He also reflected on turning 77 last September, remarking that growing older "is no fun", but said there had been good times too, summing it up simply as "just life".