‘Winds of Winter’ Release Date: George R.R. Martin Hints at Book’s Completion, Declares ‘Winter is Coming’

George R.R. Martin has given fans some real hope that his highly anticipated book, "Winds of Winter," is near completion. "Winds of Winter" is the sixth book in "The Song of Ice and Fire" series, which the HBO medieval drama "Games of Thrones" is based on.

Over this past weekend, Martin took a break from writing to attend a minor league baseball game between the Staten Island Yankees and Hudson Valley Renegades at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. According to fans who attended that game, which was promoted as "Games of Thrones Night"/ "Meet George R.R. Martin Night," Martin gave a mini speech after the Yankees, renamed the Direwovles for one night, was up 10-1.

"And remember, winter is coming," the author had stressed at the end of his speech, according to The Rolling Stone.

Based from Martin's warning, fans are speculating that the book is near completion and could be released very soon. The last book in the series that Martin released, "A Dance of Dragons," was in 2011.

Martin, who has been pressured to finish the book, seemed to have a lot of fun at the baseball game.

"It's pretty weird but it's only like a seven on the weirdness scale," Martin said about the whole event.

The promotional night was filled with many "Games of Thrones" themes. The teams traded their regular uniforms for House Stark and House Lannister uniforms while a record-break 7,529 fans showed up with some of them dressing up as characters from the book. Not only did the teams and fans dress up, they also quoted several lines from the book/TV show.

The crowd reportedly had cheered, "Shame! Shame! Shame!" for every strikeout on House Lannister's side. The chant is in reference to Cersei Lannister's walk of shame in season 5.

The event was set up as a fundraiser for New Mexico's Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, which is a non-profit rescue center for wolves.