You have some valid points DiapDealer.
However I think money is not a relevant part of equation for GRRM. I mean, it's not like he needs one more million to live and write more books. Let's be real, commercial side plays an insignificant role here imo.
I don't know who does the calendars, I highly doubt they have much text on them, you know
As for companion books, it's not unusual for a writer to want to write those. Terry Pratchett has written several of them for Discword, as well as cookbooks
It rounds up the world nicely.
I think he is a bit burned out on ASOIAF tbh, and he likes to diversify his work to other things. I mean who doesn't? Can you really blame him for that?
I still think he writes primarily for himself. On the other hand, after GOT show, books have blew up in popularity 100x and he's got a whole new base of fans. I think we can all agree to that.
I think that with this new audience came new pressure. GOT for some people is the best thing since sliced bread, and they want to get their ending or final story no matter what.
People really just need to take a chill pill. The world will not go down if he doesn't finish. There are so many fantasy books out there, to read. The problem is I suppose large portion of this new audience doesn't read other fantasy and they are just hung up on this particular story.
Maybe I need to clarify what I mean by "for himself". I didn't mean he doesn't want them to be read. Of course he does. He's a writer.
What I mean is, he writes them in his own pace, with his own ideas, without serving the audience. He doesn't take suggestions by his biggest fans he personally knows. I don't think he will take any kind of pressure either and be like:
I'm so sorry people! I'll write faster! Forgive me!
That will not happen. If people start foaming at the mouth, demanding endings, it will not speed up Martin's writing process.