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I'm not a "serious" ebook author. I don't consider writing "work." It is the act that frees me from that tasks that are my true work. I'm mainly interested in perfecting my art, which I would do even if I were isolated in a cave, but the prospect of feedback from readers is what draws me out. I price my novel low because I want to reach people willing to take a chance with an unknown indie author. I want to see how much my writing resonates by harvesting reviews.
But I understand the problem from the perspective of a serious author who is trying to make a living (or supplement their income). They may perceive that they are being undercut by all of us $1.99 or less "hacks." One solution, is for the truly serious writer to go through the vetting process of being selected by an actual publisher. This automatically gives the reader a reason to pay the extra money.
I also don't think that underpricing is harmful. It's not a zero sum game. The more people we engage in reading, no matter what the price, the more every writer benefits. I'll pay full price for a hardcover if it's something that I really want. I'll also ignore an ebook priced at 3.99 if I'm casually browsing. So, I apologize to any serious writer who feels harmed by my pricing, but it's giving me the results I seek - unforced, honest, critical reader reviews at a rate of one per 50 sales. That wouldn't happen if I charged 9.00 per download.
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