A representative for George R. R. Martin told The Hollywood Reporter last year that the best-selling author will be cutting down on appearances to focus on writing the next installment in the Song of Ice and Fire series, and Martin’s latest blog post seemed to imply that he’s close to finishing that highly-anticipated novel. Martin informed fans on Monday that he will have to cancel his scheduled appearance at November’s World Fantasy Convention, but added the hopeful caveat that he might change his mind if he proves able to “complete and deliver Winds of Winter before these cons roll around.”

Martin attended last year’s World Fantasy Convention in Saratoga, New York, and because he considered it “a wonderful con” in “a terrific town,” he intended on returning this November despite not being a guest of honor. However, in a blog post on Monday, Martin revealed that he will have to back out of attending both the World Fantasy Convention and this year’s San Diego Comic Con.

“I have too much to do. Too many things on my plate. Son of Kong foremost amongst them,” explained Martin.

Fans of Martin know that “Son of Kong” is an inside joke the author uses to refer to Winds of Winter on his blog. While its no news that Martin is trying to finish Winds of Winter, since he’s been working on it since its predecessor A Dance with Dragons was published in 2011, fans who have been anxious that HBO’s Game of Thrones series is rapidly catching up with the Song of Ice and Fire book series are expressing relief that Martin is taking his writing very seriously this year.

To further tease fans, Martin added that his World Fantasy and Comic Con cancellations are not set in stone, and that he’ll still attend if he’s able to finish the series’ next installment before November.

“I reserve the right to change my mind should I complete and deliver The Winds of Winter before these cons roll around,” wrote Martin.

The author’s publisher previously said there were no plans for publication of the novel in 2015, but since Martin has promised to never “play games with news about the books” and always be “straightforward and to the point” with his updates, this may be a strong indicator that he’s close to finishing Winds of Winter.