George R.R. Martin has released a chapter from a yet-unpublished book in the "Game of Thrones" series - the basis of the hit HBO TV show - but says he's not done writing.
The 67-year-old author published an excerpt from the sixth book in the series, titled The Winds ofWinter, on his online journal on Tuesday night.
"You want to know what the Sand Snakes, Prince Doran, Areo Hotah, Ellaria Sand, Darkstar and the rest will be up to in Winds of Winter? Quite a lot, actually," Martin wrote in a blog post. "The sample will give you a taste. For the rest, you will need to wait."
The text follows the journey of Arianne, the daughter of Doran Martell, to the castle of Mistwood that is the home of the Mertyns. Her character has not appeared in the television series.
The author noted that the new sample chapter does not mean he is finished writing the book, pointing to a photo on the blog showing him with a monkey on his back.
The five volumes in Martin's series - officially titled A Song of Ice and Fire - were published between 1996 and 2011.
The popular TV show has covered the story arcs in the volumes published so far. The current season six, which began airing late last month, is the first not based on Martin's books.
Martin missed an original deadline for Winds of Winter in late October and announced in January that he would not be able to finish the manuscript in time for the scheduled publication early this year.
More than 20 million fans tune in to each episode of Game of Thrones, featuring Machiavellian intrigue and bloodcurdling violence as feuding clans in seven mythical kingdoms struggle for power.
