George R.R. Martin passed on a 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 cameo to write 'The Winds of Winter'

George R.R. Martin is taking his responsibility to complete The Winds of Winter VERY seriously. The Song of Ice and Fire author told Entertainment Weekly that he turned down a Game of Thrones Season 8 cameo in order to focus on writing his long-awaited novel.

“David and Dan invited me to a cameo in one of the final episodes, which I was tempted to do,” Martin told EW. “But I didn’t think just for the sake of a cameo I could take the time to return to Belfast.”

Fans have been waiting on The Winds of Winter since A Dance With Dragons' 2011 publication. Since then, Thrones hit the airwaves, became a smash hit, won a boat load of Emmys, and released eight seasons (we're counting the last one too because...yeah it's not gonna happen). The show even took a year off, which only heightened anticipation for Season 8 instead of yielding any new material from the author.

Martin actually did have a cameo in the original, unaired Thrones pilot, as a guest at Daenerys' and Khal Drogo's wedding. When Daenerys was recast, the scenes were cut (read more about that bonkers version of the pilot here).

Game of Thrones returns April 14. The Winds of Winter will publish someday.