I'm simply posing a question for discussion.
- Exposure GOT is reaching a much wider audience now with the show than the book ever would alone. If exposure to his work is what he's after, focussing on the show makes sense.
- Longevity He is old, his books cannot carry on once he's gone, but the show can (ala the world of Star Wars and George Lucas). His time would be better spent working on an outline of stories for the producers after he's gone than writing the books (if he wants the stories to continue).
When a novelist sells a story for production as a tv show or movie they sell it. They might get royalties, they might not. The show is its own thing and the people who own the rights to the show have primary interest in the success of the show. As far as GRRM is concerned that deal is done. Yes it benefits his book sales and will be a huge benefit when the new book is released. That's a benefit hoe got the second he sold the rights to make it into a television series. He can't focus on the series. It doesn't belong to him. Please try to get that point. He doesn't own the TV series.
LOL, the TV series will live on and not the books. Be serious.
The story ends. I know you've been silly about that point in the past, but this is not a soap opera. The story ends. Book six will come out sometime and then the final book seven might come out if he lives long enough to write it. That's it. That's where it ends.