George R.R. Martin To Cameo on Syfy’s ‘Z Nation,’ Plus ‘Winds of Winter’ News?

It’s grown old hat to accuse Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin of stalling on the franchise’s sixth installment The Winds of Winter, most recently by the revered author’s Sharknado cameo, so we have good news and bad. Martin will put in a zombified appearance on Syfy’s Z Nation, but may also finally drop Winter in 2016, according to reports.

Entertainment Weekly broke word of Martin’s Z Nation Season 2 cameo, adding a few pictures of the undead author signing his work as well (note that A Promise of Spring is a deliberate diversion from the series’ rumored final title A Dream of Spring). Martin will appear in the eighth episode as himself, belonging to a “Collector” who preserves celebrity zombies.

Said Martin of the tongue-in-cheek (possibly ripped out of cheek) cameo:

I just want to prove to my fans that even in the Zombie Apocalypse, the Song of Ice and Fire books will still come out!

On that subject, where Martin sat out the two prior Game of Thrones seasons to continue work on The Winds of Winter, likely allowing the HBO rendition to eclipse his published work, a new (translated) radio interview with Spanish publisher Alejo Cuervo seemingly confirms The Winds of Winter on track for a 2016 release: (H/T Pajiba)

Radio Host: “The sixth book will be?”

Cuervo: “It is expected next year.”

Radio Host: “In English, but in Spanish when will it be?”

Cuervo: “We have been promised the manuscript in advance of the release in English which we will translate, there won’t be a big difference.”

Radio Host: “But you are equally sure it will be next year?”

Cuervo: “Well, let’s see, confident…but a meteor could fall.”

Of course, there’s no guarantee The Winds of Winter will sufficiently outpace the HBO series for very long, whenever the book arrives in 2016, but literary fans will certainly look forward to it all the same. In the meantime, take a gander at the Z Nation cameo above, and resist your urge to yell at George R.R. Martin to get back to work.