Few authors understand the expectations surrounding a gigantic fantasy series better than Brandon Sanderson, but even he isn’t interested in judging George R.R. Martin for the extraordinarily long wait for The Winds of Winter. Instead, Sanderson thinks people should remember that there’s an actual person sitting behind the unfinished manuscript. Speaking with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt at FanX Salt Lake, Sanderson was asked about writers dealing with pressure from fandoms who are eagerly waiting for their next books.

Brandon Sanderson Officially Defends George R.R. Martin’s 15-Year ‘Winds of Winter’ Delay, Collider