"...he's a better writer than most of us ever would have guessed." I doubt it. Even if he's producing more work than I care to dwell on, it's still shit work from a shit writer.

Man, I hate that guy.

It's probably a different, but also well-known (sci-fi) writer's pseudonym. In times where publishing companies are shuttering left & right, it seems hugely unlikely that a new author "living off the grid" could get published by a major house.