Late last year came the sad news: The Winds of Winter, the next installment in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, wouldn't be finished before the return of HBO's Game of Thrones in April. That meant the show would reveal key plot points, character deaths and more that have yet to happen in the books as a result of Martin continually missing the deadlines set by his publishers.

While the book may release before the end of the year, Conan O'Brien wondered what exactly was taking the now world-famous author so long. What is Martin doing with all his time if he isn't writing? Isn't that his job?

The answer may shock you. As this skit reveals, Martin is doing anything but writing. Instead, he shops for a new mattress, goes to a kid's birthday party and steals their candy, drives go-carts, takes walks outside in a bubble and sometimes, robs alcohol stores at gunpoint. Why Martin, who is more than a little wealthy thanks to the huge success of Game of Thrones, needs to steal liquor is anybody's guess, but perhaps the answer is he would simply rather do anything other than return to his computer and start typing?

It's a funny take on a not-so-funny situation, as more than a few fans are disappointed in being unable to read the next chapter in the series before the sixth season of Game of Thrones airs. That being said, as long as Martin's next book delivers what fans want, you likely won't find too many people complaining when it does finally arrive, however, long from now, that might be. You can watch the Conan skit below.