This topic comes up in a lot of his other blog posts. He cites both never-published-before authors, and already published authors using pen names being successful.
However, I don't really see how an unknown name can become successful without self-promotion just by putting a book "out there". They would have to get insanely lucky and get a high profile review without soliciting it.
Agreed. The smart authors who are going indy are having to think of themselves as entrepreneurs not just writers. Making contacts, delegating tasks that aren't to their strength (covers is a very good example here), promoting their work, it's all part of the package as an indy, because they are making themselves a publisher.
Sadly many don't get that and still want to JUST write, but I think Konrath and a few others who are busting their ass or at least used to will get through to a lot of the rest, and the others will either get lucky or fail.
However, I don't really see how an unknown name can become successful without self-promotion just by putting a book "out there". They would have to get insanely lucky and get a high profile review without soliciting it.