Arlen, David, thanks.
I hope one does come along, because these images definitely merit it.
Something like that did happen to me. After I retired (from a molecular biology career), I took up photographing and writing about aquatic insects, and posted about it on the internet. After a few years a publisher noticed and offered me a book deal. It wouldn't have happened otherwise; I was not into chasing opportunities or meeting deadlines at that point.
Arlen, Understood. I always found working to please others was just that, work, whereas working to please myself was a joy. As an illustrator I always worked for others, as a photographer I have always worked for myself, producing what ever I wanted and worrying about how to turn a buck from the resulting images as an afterthought. Don't get me wrong, it's not a business model I'd recommend to others.
As an example, earlier in the year I was offered a gig that any sane working photographer would have given their right arm for, but for which I would have had to relinquish control. Although flattered I wasn't even tempted. I guess money has never been my driving force and also guess it's why I'm not wealthy.
This is among my favorite sorts of images. The capture of a nearly-monochrome scene in color is striking. My daughter photographs scenes with limited color palettes remarkably often. I find that they seldom appear to me. I'm a little jealous. 
David, it's something for which I keep an eye open, but honestly rarely find, or rather rarely produce to my own satisfaction. When it works it works, though just not often enough.
;-)
