Game of Thrones season 6: George RR Martin doing 'anything he can' to get new book The Winds of Winter ready before next series is broadcast

Martin has turned down conventions and interviews to focus on the novel

A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin is known for the long time he takes to write his lengthy fantasy novels (Getty Images)

George RR Martin is going to be doing nothing at all bar writing until his next novel The Winds of Winter is complete. At least that's what he'll have you believe, as the 67-year-old is determined to see the book on shelves before season six of Game of Thrones hits HBO.

Fans have been waiting since 2011 for the sixth instalment in his A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, on which the popular TV show is based. Finally, it's sounding hopeful that we'll actually see it in the not too distant future.

"Maybe I'm being overly optimistic about how quickly I can finish, but I cancelled two convention appearances (San Diego Comic Con and World Convention), I'm turning down a lot more interviews - anything I can do to clear my decks and get this done," he told Entertainment Weekly.

Martin also decided against writing a Game of Thrones episode this year as he has done in previous seasons, to focus entirely on the A Dance With Dragons follow-up.

Concerns have been growing that Game of Thrones will catch up with and eventually take over Martin's storylines, resulting in a spoiler nightmare for fans of both the TV and novel series.

Some fans and journalists have even raised the question of whether Martin will finish the Westeros saga before he dies, to which he responds "f**k you".

Martin will be announcing the official release date for The Winds of Winter on his blog to avoid rumours and false reporting.

The US writer shared a new 6,700-word chapter with readers over Easter with Sansa Stark at the forefront.