While waiting for George R.R. Martin's next book, "Winds of Winter," to be released, here are some information and rumors about the sixth installment of his "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga to chew on.

Stannis is still alive

An avid fan asked the author on Aug. 19, if King Stannis Baratheon is still alive, by writing, "alright mr Martin, lets cut the cr*p, is Stannis alive or dead."

On Aug. 26, 2015, GRRM confirmed via his online journal that Baratheon is not yet dead, meaning, fans could be reading about him on "Winds of Winter."

"In my books? Alive, beyond a doubt," Martin wrote.

Time noted that Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) was already "presumed" to have been killed in the HBO series, "Game of Thrones," by Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). However, viewers of the show never really witnessed the killing of Baratheon last season, so there's also a chance he would still be in Season 6.

GRRM still working on Book 6

"I scripted one episode every season. So the last two seasons I have not done that, simply because I am too busy with the book, that book being "The Winds of Winter," the next book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series," Martin told New York Jets' D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

A great ending may unfold for the underdogs

Although the book series is loaded with heartbreaking events, especially for the Starks, Martin may find a way to give them the redemption they deserve.

"But I've always been drawn to the underdogs, to the characters who had some particular problem. Jon Snow who is a bastard or Arya who is a little tomboy girl who doesn't fit what a girl was suppose to be or Brienne who is big and ugly and is a woman warrior at a time when women weren't suppose to be warriors. That kind of thing always attracts me," Martin shared with Ferguson.

Another character may die soon

Martin revealed on Spiegel Online that while he was at Hamburg, he pictured how one character in the book will die, noted WinterisComing.net. Although, he or she may not die in the sixth book, it just promises another set of interesting events to happen in the series, leading to the demise of the character.

A path to a bittersweet ending

The 66-year-old writer told Observer that he envisions a "bittersweet" ending reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary masterpiece, "Lord of the Rings." Martin, who is a fan of the book, said that it influenced him enough to also yearn for that kind of ending.

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