It appears that like everyone else, author George R.R. Martin is equally thrilled regarding the release of "Winds of Winter," his sixth novel of the "Song of Ice and Fire" series - which is also the source material for the hit HBO television drama series 'Game of Thrones.' Recently, the author said that he is working to release the book at the earlier and teased that there will be a major twist for one key character.

IB Times reports that during a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Martin said, "I wish it was out now. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic about how quickly I can finish. But I canceled two convention appearances, I'm turning down a lot more interviews - anything I can do to clear my decks and get this done."

Referring to the worldwide pressure on him to complete the book, Martin clarified that he has made it a priority. At the same time, the author teased a plot twist that will drive readers crazy. Reputed for writing appalling events and ghastly deaths, the critically acclaimed author revealed that this time he is not writing a shocker for nor reasons.

According to Martin, he would like the shocking events emerge naturally and organically from the characters as well as the situations. At the same time, the author said his shocking twist in "Winds of Winter" is something that cannot be implemented in the 'Game of Thrones.' He explained, "The show has already - on this particular character - made a couple decisions that will preclude it, where in my case I have not made those decisions."

While the novels in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series have been the basis for 'Game of Thrones,' several storylines have already strayed from the book. Generally, the stories in "A Song of Ice and Fire" are in keeping with one another, but as far as the fates of some characters are involved, the HBO series has already taken some liberties.

Nearly all the material in the first five published books of the "Song of Ice and Fire" has now been used up, while 'Game of Thrones' Season 6 is currently under in production. Meanwhile, Martin has been constantly speaking about his desire to release the sixth book as soon as possible, and a recent post on his live journal Not A Blog has offered his fans hope the release date will be soon.

In the blog, Martin wrote about traveling to a wedding and a baseball event in the East Coast. He concluded with a faint hint that the book may already be in the hands of his publishing house. "And while I will be traveling, my army of minions will be here at the old homestead, toiling in the paper mines," he wrote.