Hugh Howey had a great idea for a story: the great numbers of people who are making good income (often even enough to quit their 'day' jobs) from self-publishing their own work. They number in the thousands now, I'd imagine, people quietly switching over to follow a dream and making it. Not making it big -- though some do, it's like you said, that's been way overdone -- but making it well. Paying their mortgages, or their kids' college tuitions, and more.
To me, that's a big deal because I think most people are under the impression that all self-pubbers are either like James / Andre / Hocking, or are abject failures with one or two forced sales on friends and family.
To me, that's a big deal because I think most people are under the impression that all self-pubbers are either like James / Andre / Hocking, or are abject failures with one or two forced sales on friends and family.