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Eventually enough people will have eReaders that a fair number of authors will be able to make a living selling only ebooks. We're already getting close, but I bet at some point (soon) Amazon will be selling eReaders for under $99, or giving them away free when you sign up for an Amazon Prime account. As this happens, authors will be able to start publishing ebooks directly and just cutting the publishers out of the loop. Once a few authors make this transition, and can prove they can make a living, it will become a flood of authors leaving publishers. Eventually we'll also see our first blockbuster ebook author along the lines of a J.K. Rowling or Stephanie Meyer -- one of those books that just everyone has to have. Just wait until someone makes millions without a publisher.
Do you think that as this starts happening publishers will suddenly discover that the prices they're charging for ebooks is too high, and the royalties they're paying authors for ebooks is too low? Or will they be left trying to sell books on their back list for exorbitant prices and trying to hold on to aging authors who don't like change?
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