Most writers aren't in the business for the money. They are writers because they have this unyielding urge to create stories and share them with others. However, if you can't bring your stories to the readers, you've already lost the war. The high cost of paperback books is going to be the downfall of the publishing industry as it stands today. Now, even a lot of paperback books cost over fifteen dollars, and most readers can't afford to pay that much for a single book, much less purchase two or three from their favorite authors.
Electronic publishing is a unique way to reach the reading public.
With the growth of the internet, more people than ever are on line. By lowering the cost of the book to something the public can afford, electronic publishers are filling a gap in the marketplace created by the high cost of publishing today. In addition to the above, electronic publishing will be able to reach a multitude of on-line readers that typical book stores haven't been able to reach, simply by virtue of brick and mortar construction. With electronic books, authors might get less in royalty payments, but the sheer volume of books sold will more than make up any lost revenue. The Internet is world-wide.