Hi, thanks for writing in. You're right, it's a double-edged sword. That adage of "don't quit your day job" is sounding more and more true. Not only does one have to be a great writer but also a savvy businessperson--to know what appeals to the market. I think though that the publishing industry should be seen as a service rather than an evil entity that has all the solutions. Actually, I championed a lot of the web to print authors in the past, but the fall of the POD has made me much more guarded. Even though people might adore it on the web, it doesn't automatically translate to a cash sale over the counter or an actual sale at an online bookstore. I think that it's great that you're continuing to write despite all of the hardship. It's also nice that your work is being recognized; the visibility should do well for future works, no? It gets you a leg in the door, if nothing else. :)

Nowadays I've heard that academic publishers (yet another niche market) are asking potential authors to fork out their own money (upwards to $10,000) for an initial print run, so that the editors who believe in their work can justify bringing it up to the marketing department even if it doesn't sell well. It's a strange world that we live in if academia is ruled by marketing people. *sigh*