Hey @Tony Soprano can I ask you a question? Why do you think that GRRM won't send WINDS in this winter . . . like next week? The book is already allegedly too big for a binder and he began working on WINDS in 2005 after he cut FEAST from DANCE (which was also too big for a binder) so it could be edited and rewritten several times then published that same year. This question just befuddles me because I'm of the educated opinion that GRRM could have merely sent in WINDS last winter . . . or the winter before last . . . or the winter before the winter before last. Save the rest and remainder for "A Dream of Spring" to be written and edited then rewritten and edited ad nausem in 2027 perhaps. The precedent was already established when GRRM caved into publishing partner pressures to cut "A Feast for Crows" out and apart from "A Dance with Dragons" in 2005 basically because it's too big for a binder! Thoughts?!?
It's rather simple. As the late television producer Don Ohlmeyer once famously said; "the answers to all your questions is money". Not only is GRRM a renowned author he's also a businessman at the end of the day. He'll drag this out for as long as it takes until the price is right.