George RR Martin has shared a candid update on his health and the long-awaited novel The Winds of Winter in his first blog post in nearly six months. The Game of Thrones author, who turns 78 next month, admitted he has been struggling both mentally and physically.
First blog post in months
In a post dated August 4, 2026, Martin wrote: “Remember me? It’s been a while, I know. My last blog post went up here on February 19. The posts that came after were made by my mighty minions.” He explained that despite having a supportive team, he has “kept falling further and further behind.”
The author described the past year as “stressful, to say the least,” with both “great things” and “nightmares.” He mentioned losing friends and battling “sadness and depression,” adding, “The worst may be yet to come.”
Age and writing progress
Martin, who turned 77 last September, reflected on aging: “Getting old is no fun.” He acknowledged that his posts may be “short and rushed” as he tries to catch up with his assistants' help.
The Winds of Winter, the sixth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, has been in progress for 15 years. Martin is also working on a fourth Dunk and Egg short story. He has previously stated that if he doesn't finish the series, it will remain unfinished.
