Your friend is misinformed. The game has changed, and many, many people are earning a living through their writing. You need to have more than one novel out there, however, and it takes time (and a little bit of talent).

Now that the gatekeepers are disappearing, it’s a lot easier for writers to get their work to the public. Readers have never chosen to read books by publishing house. They choose authors. Once you get that following, you’re good for life.

A friend of mine who tried to publish novels for decades (and finally did so only through Amazon) was asked by his then boss if he planned to leave if he got published. My friend replied that the average income from writing of writers in the US was a bit over $4000 per year, which included people like Stephen King and John Grisham.

He’s published a fantasy/crime thriller novel recently, and is working on space opera:
http://www.amazon.com/Kassandras-Song-Bruce-H-Bretthauer/dp/1461034701 (adv.)

Thanks for the support, Michael. I’m actually getting my first payment from Amazon next week. CreateSpace pays in 30 days, Kindle Direct Publishing in 60. It’s official. I’m a professional now, getting paid for my writing! It’s only a matter of time before I make enough to quit my day job.

I am sorry to see Israel pulling its punches against Hamas. There is no excuse for such poltoonery. As I have posted before, Israel ought to go in and kill every Hamas, Islamic Jihad, et bloody cetera “militant” they can catch. Smash Hamas to pieces. Otherwise, Hamas will recover quickly (wth that billion smackers the Emir of Qatar has promised them, or what’s left of it after the bigshots take their cut). Then it will be poised, together with Hezbollah and perhaps other enemies, to shower tens of thousands of rockets down on Israel when next there is a coordinated attack on Israel. The Sunni states and the Iranians with their puppets will cooperate for that purpose, never doubt it. If the Ikhwan takes over in Jordan too, Israel will be vunerable from three sides once again.

Lots of people seem to think that the Ikhwan-dominated Egyptian government will be so preoccupied with Egypt’s plethora of economic problems (not to mention the really important stuff, like covering those scandalous women in headscarves at least) to get very involved in a war with Israel, that they will pay lip-service and little more to Hamas’ war and concentrate on internal affairs. I suspect this view is mistaken. They may try that at first, but as the situation in Egypt deteriorates, the temptation will grow to unify the people behind them by aiming their ire at an outside enemy. Who better for that purpose than the Jews? They may even convince themselves that, now they have all that shiny, new American equipment just like Israel has, they can win by a repeat of the 1967 or 1973 strategies. There is really no reason to think that the situation will not deteriorate, and quickly too.

Off topic: I received my copies of “Darkness Rising” today. Prompt service. They will go as gifts to friends this season.

Israel ought to smash her enemies piecemiel, before that cooprdinated attack comes.