Well, probably a more accurate way to say it is from the article >very successful authors (your JK Rowlings and James Pattersons) help pay the bills for the le

Well, probably a more accurate way to say it is from the article >very successful authors (your JK Rowlings and James Pattersons) help pay the bills for the less successful books The editors don't just take home the money. They're paid a normal salary, and the publishing company uses the money to make additional risks. But these risks are mostly spent on editing costs.