An article....

An interesting article here (link lifted from Lee Goldberg) on the shrinking role of publishers as gatekeepers. "Writers are bypassing the traditional route to bookstore shelves and self-publishing their works online. By selling directly to readers, authors get a larger slice of the sale price." Mentioned (inevitably) is J.A. Konrath: "'I doubt I'll ever have another traditional print deal,' said the author of 'Whiskey Sour,' 'Bloody Mary' and other titles. 'I can earn more money on my own.'"