Actually, if you're talking about advances with the $2k, I got far more than that - another reason you need an agent. And I held my last book hostage until I'd received my advance b/c I figured it would be the last money I saw. To be honest, if it wasn't the last in a series, I wouldn't have written it b/c I already suspected trouble, but I wasn't about to leave my readers hanging, despite not being paid much to work. (sigh)
Dorchester was a great place for mid-list writers to launch a career, especially those that wrote out of the box. My books were not only in bookstores, but had great Walmart, Target and grocery store distribution and not all new authors get that. Back in the money days, they also paid for co-op and I had front-store and endcap placement at B&N.
It's a real shame all the way around - for the authors that are getting screwed now and for the new authors that will not find a place for out-of-the-box writing anytime soon, except for epubs or small presses.
peakbloom - Thanks and I hope you get something for your toubles. At the very least, you know to start cultivating another market. Good luck and glad I could help!