Having thought about it for 24 hours *we're into SPOILER territory here on in folks* - Edit 1
Before modification by Wibble at 28/07/2011 01:45:00 PM
I think I know why it is the way it is.
After 13 years and 13 books, and having concluded a number of storylines and characters in Changes, he needed more time to plan what was next. Rather than start pulling a Jordan or a Martin, he instead wrote a cliffhanger, used that as a filler story (mildly entertaining, keeps fans happy, but doesn't move anything forwards massively that we know off), and bought himself time to work on Cold Front.
In fact i'd be amazed if he hasn't been working on Cold Front and the arcs that follow whilst writing Ghost Story.
EDIT - next posts are all spoilertime
After 13 years and 13 books, and having concluded a number of storylines and characters in Changes, he needed more time to plan what was next. Rather than start pulling a Jordan or a Martin, he instead wrote a cliffhanger, used that as a filler story (mildly entertaining, keeps fans happy, but doesn't move anything forwards massively that we know off), and bought himself time to work on Cold Front.
In fact i'd be amazed if he hasn't been working on Cold Front and the arcs that follow whilst writing Ghost Story.
EDIT - next posts are all spoilertime