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This topic comes up in a lot of his other blog posts. He cites both never-published-before authors, and already published authors using pen names being successful.

However, I don't really see how an unknown name can become successful without self-promotion just by putting a book "out there". They would have to get insanely lucky and get a high profile review without soliciting it.

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Agreed. The smart authors who are going indy are having to think of themselves as entrepreneurs not just writers. Making contacts, delegating tasks that aren't to their strength (covers is a very good example here), promoting their work, it's all part of the package as an indy, because they are making themselves a publisher.

Sadly many don't get that and still want to JUST write, but I think Konrath and a few others who are busting their ass or at least used to will get through to a lot of the rest, and the others will either get lucky or fail.

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