Nov 01, 2016 06:28 AM EDT By Eileen De Santos, UniversityHerald Reporter

"The Winds of Winter" is reportedly nearing its release. There have been rumors that the author is currently proofreading the novel to meet the book's March 2017 deadline.

Proofreading And Release Date Rumor

There have been rumors that George RR Martin has already finished "The Winds of Winter" and is currently being proofread. The rumored release date was sparked by an Amazon France website, which listed the book's release date on March 9, 2017. However, the controversial page has since been taken down, according to the Independent.

Some believed that the Amazon French site inadvertently revealed release date without prior approval from the Amazon head office. If the date is accurate, this means that the gap with the last GOT book, "A Dance With Dragons" and the upcoming one, is around six years. However, many have also pointed out that it could be an honest mistake and "The Winds of Winter" will not be released on that date.

Book Publishers Deny 2017 Release Date

Random House, Voyager/Harper Collins Books flatly told reporters that no release date yet has been sent, but will inform the public immediately if there is one. The interest among GOT fans is at a fever pitch right now, as the HBO "Game of Thrones" series is currently working on its seventh season. Several excerpts from "The Winds of Winter" book have also been released in 2015.

The only indication that the book is up for publication is its serial number. Martin and the publishers obtained an ISBN for "The Winds of Winter" book.

Author Apologizes For Delay

Martin continues to apologize for the delay of "The Winds of Winter" novel. He has acknowledged that he is a bit "slow" in writing the book, but there have been rumors that the delay was caused by the author working on two books instead of just one. The other book is reportedly a "Game of Thrones" prequel novel.

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